OT: Poll - best player in the league?

[Indeed]

I can only think Dirk is one of the best player in terms of speaking good things about others.
Like he said good things about Bargnani, now Durant.

[JackedFinancier]

How convenient to run this poll right after Lebron James is defeated by Kevin Durant's Thunder last night. At least wait until the end of the series, but ultimately, they are two different players. If one wins the championship over another, there will still be people arguing for the other player as a result of his completely different skill set.

[Landomar]

Durant is a better pure scorer than LeBron, but it's close. LeBron is better at passing / creating for others, rebounding, and defense. If you're looking at overall impact, LeBron is the best player in the NBA, but Durant is probably #2 right now.

Where do people get this idea that Lebron is a better rebounder than Durant? You realize Durant passed Lebron's career high in boards this year, right?

Rebound Rate, James vs. Durant

2012 - 12.6 vs. 11.8
2011 - 11.4 vs. 10.3
2010 - 11.1 vs. 11.0
2009 - 11.9 vs. 9.6
2008 - 11.1 vs. 6.9

James has been a better rebounder than Durant for Durant's entire career. Looking at the last three years, Durant has improved to the point where they are almost the same. James is still a bit better though.

[CPT]

I think I'd take LeBron for a season, but KD for one game.

I'm not sure how I should vote though.

[Legal Non-Conforming]

Durant plays the team game better, LeBron is a better one on one player. It's not that LeBron doesn't want to play the team game or can't but Miami's Big Three don't complement each other particularly well. LeBron would be better off playing with Dwight Howard and a quality team of lesser players. It would be interesting to see him play for a real coach too--someone who had real authority. There is still an organic dimension missing to LeBron's game--the whole remains less than the sum of its parts.

[J-Roc]

LeBron James is the best player in the NBA.

[ash_k]

I still pick LeBron even though my regular season MVP vote went to KD

LeBron covered Perkins, Harden, KD and Westbrook in the same game; who does that?!

I am still unsure why some say Kobe is declining: in his last 3 playoff games in 4 days vs OKC, the man scored 36,38 and 42 (3 playoff games in 4 DAYS!!) he is just fine

[Jimmy The Greek]

KD, better team player and still 5 years younger than LBJ. And by team player I mean he doesn't roll his eyes every time a teammate (not named Wade) misses a shot.

[fredericklove]

I still pick LeBron even though my regular season MVP vote went to KD

LeBron covered Perkins, Harden, KD and Westbrook in the same game; who does that?!

I am still unsure why some say Kobe is declining: in his last 3 playoff games in 4 days vs OKC, the man scored 36,38 and 42 (3 playoff games in 4 DAYS!!) he is just fine

Declining in physical aspect, you can't ignore that decline.

[fredericklove]

KD, better team player and still 5 years younger than LBJ. And by team player I mean he doesn't roll his eyes every time a teammate (not named Wade) misses a shot.

Or go hate crime mode on chalmers.

[Zeno]

A team of 5 Lebrons beats a team of 5 Durants virtually every time.

However two identical teams, one with Lebron and one with Durant go 7 games. In the end I think Lebrons team wins though.

[Raps in 4]

Durant.

Lebron is the more complete player, but he lacks that killer instinct that KD has.

[sanity]

Can't claim killer instinct until the series is over imho. As far as I'm concerned Kobe is still the most dangerous player in the league in a clutch possession. If Durant's team wins I think that puts him above James as far as having killer instinct pretty easily. As bad as James has been in some games, he has had some historical-worthy playoffs games when his team needed it

[whoknows]

A team of 5 Lebrons beats a team of 5 Durants virtually every time.

However two identical teams, one with Lebron and one with Durant go 7 games. In the end I think Lebrons team wins though.

I'm not convinced this would be the case....
Durant is the taller player, better shooter and his release is so high, nobody (including LBJ) can defend against it. And KD is a very good defender.

KD also seems to be the player who can focus longer and a lot better than LBJ, and mental strength is what would probably tip the balance in favour of KD.
Also I think KD is the more intelligent player between the two, I'd vote for higher IQ and mental strength over brute force any day.

[Thesachman19]

This is funny. Heat in 6. Durant has the luxury of having a supporting cast, LeBron's seems to go AWOL too often, and that's why they lost game 1. Put LeBron on the Thunder and Durant on the Heat and OKC win in 4.