Around the NBA: Playoff Edition #2

[PMONSTER]

Playoff points per game, starting with MJ's second year -

44
36
36
35
31
35
35

LeBron's past 5 years

26
27
30
26
34

So that would be one thing.

Defense

Mental toughness

Footwork

[PlayerUp]

If Jordan didn't retire and won 8-9 straight championships would we be having this conversation still?

[MC3]

Murray just outplayed Harden. And our lottery pick 24 year old senior couldnt get off the bench against fu*** Celtics. THANKS GAR!

Please somebody end my misery and put a bullet in me. Cause I have no strenght to do it alone.

[realEAST]

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Why does this dude, Nick Wright, look like a neanderthal?

What I find the funniest in all this is towards the end when he says that the real test would be if aliens landed, who'd get chosen to play them - I taught we solved that one already. And yeah, we won, still standing.

[Rerisen]

Cavs without LeBron are still a top team in the east.

Look up how the Cavs did this year when LeBron was off the court. They were TERRIBLE. Worse than the Bulls without Jimmy Butler. Kyrie and Love are the luckiest players in the NBA. They couldn't lead a horse to water, but they have LeBron there to bail them out.

They were horrible without him however, they often rest other guys when he's out too, and that team just has a weird vibe, like when LeBron is resting they accept those games as scheduling losses. And sometimes they do pick games they know would be tough to rest him. The effort is really poor in them.

I'm sure they'd be bad without him regardless, but if he were like injured the whole year and they had no other choice, I think they would have a little bit different attitude mentally and probably scrap up a better performance on average.

[MisterRoy]

Defense

Mental toughness

Footwork

Showing up when your team needs you...every time, not just recent memory.

[DuckIII]

That was Pax's guy until Jerry insulted him about defense.

I remember. I was furious he even got an interview. Fraud coach.

I'd still have rather seen MD with young Rose than VDN.

VDN sucked, to be sure. But Rose got out of the gates just fine under him. And regardless, I think Rose is basically an "anti-D'Antoni" point guard. Those two would have been a terrible fit together.

[TheStig]

I remember. I was furious he even got an interview. Fraud coach.

I'd still have rather seen MD with young Rose than VDN.

VDN sucked, to be sure. But Rose got out of the gates just fine under him. And regardless, I think Rose is basically an "anti-D'Antoni" point guard. Those two would have been a terrible fit together.

I don't know about that. Harden was a very heavy ISO pound the ball SG and he has done well.

I would agree with the OP. I think MD could have helped Rose. And that team with Rose, BG, Deng, Salmons, Noc, Noah and Miller would have been a 50 win team and exciting with him.

[Southpaw]

Murray just outplayed Harden. And our lottery pick 24 year old senior couldnt get off the bench against fu*** Celtics. THANKS GAR!

Please somebody end my misery and put a bullet in me. Cause I have no strenght to do it alone.

But our rookie is "NBA Ready"!!!

[DuckIII]

I'd still have rather seen MD with young Rose than VDN.

VDN sucked, to be sure. But Rose got out of the gates just fine under him. And regardless, I think Rose is basically an "anti-D'Antoni" point guard. Those two would have been a terrible fit together.

I don't know about that. Harden was a very heavy ISO pound the ball SG and he has done well.

Harden has always been able to pass with vision and shoot 3s though.

I can't really think of a high quality player recently that would be a worse fit to run D'Antoni's system than Rose.

[the ultimates]

The Lebron sycophants can't have it both ways." Look at the number Lebron is putting up he going to be in the top 3 in so many categories when compared to Jordan". He should Lebron came into the league at 19 Jordan at 21. Then Jordan took a year off to play basketball during a prime year at age 30. So that's three full seasons of counting stats that no matter what will favor Lebron

Then the assists. Yes Lebron is the more gifted passer but lets not make it seem like Jordan didn't pass the ball at all. He finished his career with 5.3 asts per game. That's more per game that shooting guard contemporaries in Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars and Mitch Richmond.

Last but not least the fact the experts will tell you the eastern conference as a whole has been weak. Wasn't it just two weeks ago people were calling the Celtics the worst one seed in eastern conference history after being down 2-0 to the Bulls? Over the last past 5 seasons the best teams in the conference other than Cleveland were Toronto and Atlanta. Compare that to when the Bulls ascended to the top of the east and had to fight off the Knicks, Pacers, Heat (with Mourning, Hardaway and Mashburn). At what point do we obviously acknowledge Lebrons greatness and say he should be dominating these much weaker teams without the hyperbole or silly Jordan comparisons?

[kyrv]

Harden falling flat on his face and D'Antoni dying by the three in the postseason is a perfect storm of delight for me.

Dat Morey though.

Trots out flawed roster after flawed roster. And how many coaching hires does he get?

[kyrv]

The Lebron sycophants can't have it both ways." Look at the number Lebron is putting up he going to be in the top 3 in so many categories when compared to Jordan". He should Lebron came into the league at 19 Jordan at 21. Then Jordan took a year off to play basketball during a prime year at age 30. So that's three full seasons of counting stats that no matter what will favor Lebron

Then the assists. Yes Lebron is the more gifted passer but lets not make it seem like Jordan didn't pass the ball at all. He finished his career with 5.3 asts per game. That's more per game that shooting guard contemporaries in Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars and Mitch Richmond.

Last but not least the fact the experts will tell you the eastern conference as a whole has been weak. Wasn't it just two weeks ago people were calling the Celtics the worst one seed in eastern conference history after being down 2-0 to the Bulls? Over the last past 5 seasons the best teams in the conference other than Cleveland were Toronto and Atlanta. Compare that to when the Bulls ascended to the top of the east and had to fight off the Knicks, Pacers, Heat (with Mourning, Hardaway and Mashburn). At what point do we obviously acknowledge Lebrons greatness and say he should be dominating these much weaker teams without the hyperbole or silly Jordan comparisons?

Wow. Touch 'em all.

Lebron has also peed down his legs in the playoffs, and passive aggressively quit on his team in the playoffs.

[the ultimates]

The Lebron sycophants can't have it both ways." Look at the number Lebron is putting up he going to be in the top 3 in so many categories when compared to Jordan". He should Lebron came into the league at 19 Jordan at 21. Then Jordan took a year off to play basketball during a prime year at age 30. So that's three full seasons of counting stats that no matter what will favor Lebron

Then the assists. Yes Lebron is the more gifted passer but lets not make it seem like Jordan didn't pass the ball at all. He finished his career with 5.3 asts per game. That's more per game that shooting guard contemporaries in Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars and Mitch Richmond.

Last but not least the fact the experts will tell you the eastern conference as a whole has been weak. Wasn't it just two weeks ago people were calling the Celtics the worst one seed in eastern conference history after being down 2-0 to the Bulls? Over the last past 5 seasons the best teams in the conference other than Cleveland were Toronto and Atlanta. Compare that to when the Bulls ascended to the top of the east and had to fight off the Knicks, Pacers, Heat (with Mourning, Hardaway and Mashburn). At what point do we obviously acknowledge Lebrons greatness and say he should be dominating these much weaker teams without the hyperbole or silly Jordan comparisons?

Wow. Touch 'em all.

Lebron has also peed down his legs in the playoffs, and passive aggressively quit on his team in the playoffs.

Not to mention the Warriors choking away a 3-1 series lead. It's become 75% Lebron (ignoring Irving outplaying Curry a two time mvp). 20% Draymond Green idiocy and only 5% worst finals choke of all time. Lebron's great player but his legacy shouldn't need to looked at through thick rose colored glasses this soon.

[Proven_Winner]

The Lebron sycophants can't have it both ways." Look at the number Lebron is putting up he going to be in the top 3 in so many categories when compared to Jordan". He should Lebron came into the league at 19 Jordan at 21. Then Jordan took a year off to play basketball during a prime year at age 30. So that's three full seasons of counting stats that no matter what will favor Lebron

Then the assists. Yes Lebron is the more gifted passer but lets not make it seem like Jordan didn't pass the ball at all. He finished his career with 5.3 asts per game. That's more per game that shooting guard contemporaries in Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars and Mitch Richmond.

Last but not least the fact the experts will tell you the eastern conference as a whole has been weak. Wasn't it just two weeks ago people were calling the Celtics the worst one seed in eastern conference history after being down 2-0 to the Bulls? Over the last past 5 seasons the best teams in the conference other than Cleveland were Toronto and Atlanta. Compare that to when the Bulls ascended to the top of the east and had to fight off the Knicks, Pacers, Heat (with Mourning, Hardaway and Mashburn). At what point do we obviously acknowledge Lebrons greatness and say he should be dominating these much weaker teams without the hyperbole or silly Jordan comparisons?

Wow. Touch 'em all.

Lebron has also peed down his legs in the playoffs, and passive aggressively quit on his team in the playoffs.

Not to mention the Warriors choking away a 3-1 series lead. It's become 75% Lebron (ignoring Irving outplaying Curry a two time mvp). 20% Draymond Green idiocy and only 5% worst finals choke of all time. Lebron's great player but his legacy shouldn't need to looked at through thick rose colored glasses this soon.

I think when it's all said and done lebron will be looked at as probably the closest thing to Jordan but as you point out there's no way you can say he's better. The stats are in lebron's favor heavily as you pointed out. You also didn't even have to mention the fact lebron played on one of the most stacked teams in history with all the guys in their prime. I know people bring up Jordan playing with Dennis and Pip, but we drafted Pip and we were winning even before rodman. Jordan stuck it out with us and stayed loyal to the very end. There's a reason Our arena is forever known as "The House Jordan Built".

[TheStig]

VDN sucked, to be sure. But Rose got out of the gates just fine under him. And regardless, I think Rose is basically an "anti-D'Antoni" point guard. Those two would have been a terrible fit together.

I don't know about that. Harden was a very heavy ISO pound the ball SG and he has done well.

Harden has always been able to pass with vision and shoot 3s though.

I can't really think of a high quality player recently that would be a worse fit to run D'Antoni's system than Rose.

I think Rose was able to make the appropriate passes most times. I think where he got bogged down was in the half court. More transition would have let him do what he does best and open up the floor for him.

I also don't think it's essential for the PG in MD's system to be a high volume 3pt shooter. More that he can create off the dribble and push the pace. For example, I think a prime Rondo would have been good in MD's system.

To answer your question, a guy like Melo wouldn't be good running MD's system.

[kyrv]

The biggest myth... Lebron James can defend 5 positions.

My word is that annoying.

He's had two of his matchups win Finals MVP. He should master his own position first before claiming all of them.

[kyrv]

And the assists narrative is such BS too. Jordan played in the triangle, usually off the ball.

Oh, Jordan also had the better post game. Jordan mastered footwork in the post, meanwhile if Lebron can't over power you in the post, he doesn't know how to move his feet to get himself a better shot.

Right and if he is not allowed to push off with his forearm when he drives its like he completely shuts down.

I love Lebron's left Popeye elbow.

DeRozen asked a good question. How does a top athlete in their 30s with mega miles on them get stronger and faster? I'll apply Occam's Razor here.

[kyrv]

Cavs without LeBron are still a top team in the east.

Look up how the Cavs did this year when LeBron was off the court. They were TERRIBLE. Worse than the Bulls without Jimmy Butler. Kyrie and Love are the luckiest players in the NBA. They couldn't lead a horse to water, but they have LeBron there to bail them out.

They were horrible without him however, they often rest other guys when he's out too, and that team just has a weird vibe, like when LeBron is resting they accept those games as scheduling losses. And sometimes they do pick games they know would be tough to rest him. The effort is really poor in them.

I'm sure they'd be bad without him regardless, but if he were like injured the whole year and they had no other choice, I think they would have a little bit different attitude mentally and probably scrap up a better performance on average.

This is on the money from what I can tell. If Lebron were to miss a month, Love and Irving would have crazy numbers.

If Lebron won, I wouldn't scream, he should be top 5, but I think there are more deserving people. Then again the criteria is whatever each voter decides it is.

[kingkirk]

Controversial take, I know, but it's noth unfathomable to think that when it's all said and done, that LeBron had the better career and Michael had the better peak. It's certainly on the table if LeBron keeps playing like this for another 3 seasons and starts moving into number 1 on so many categories.

[immediately regrets posting this]