Thoughts on LeBron starting over Tatum in the Olympics? Is it unfair veteran privilege?

ArksNetsSince99 · Post #21 » by **ArksNetsSince99** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:33 am

baldur wrote:Is Tatum better player than lebron?

No -short answer

Fõćk No - long answer

dautjazz · Post #22 » by **dautjazz** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:36 am

Lebron is still better.

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KG Leonard · Post #23 » by **KG Leonard** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:41 am

Current LeBron is nowhere near Tatum but they won't be starting the 5 best players anyway.
This team is full of great players that they can afford to start Lebron for his legacy, historical rep only. He isn't Embiid the best big or Curry the best spacing shooter who has to start. Kawhi, Tatum are best current SF/PF.

JB2 · Post #24 » by **JB2** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:45 am

Embiid, Davis, Bam
LeBron, Tatum
KD, Kawhi
Ant, Book
Steph, Hali, Jrue

Feels correct to me...

Anticon · Post #25 » by **Anticon** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:45 am

AussieCeltic wrote:Tatum is clearly better than current Lebron. This isn’t even an argument

By what measure? There's plenty of stats that don't place Tatum as first or second all NBA.

durden_tyler · Post #26 » by **durden_tyler** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:49 am

i hate LeBron, but no way ANYONE is starting over him for "legacy" and stature purposes. Don't worry, the way these Team USA will dominate most teams, everyone will get their 18-22 minutes-- equal sharing of minutes for all.

LordCovington33 · Post #27 » by **LordCovington33** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:51 am

ScrantonBulls wrote:As we all know LeBron is starting over recent NBA champion Jayson Tatum. At this stage in their careers Tatum is likely better than LeBron. This comes shortly after we saw the nepotism that got Bronny drafted. Quite frankly, that nepotism made me completely sick to my stomach, and my thoughts are with the potential draftee that didn't get drafted because of Bronny.

Is this a display of veterans privilege? LeBron has the resume, but Tatum is better right now. How is this AT ALL fair?

If that made you feel completely sick to your stomach, I think starting LeBron over Tatum is the least of your worries. Chill and just remember it’s just a game. No need to get yourself so worked up over things so trivial.

Ballerhogger · Post #28 » by **Ballerhogger** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 3:54 am

Triple M wrote:I think only 4 starters were named

Bron, Curry, KD and Embiid

5th starter could be Kawhi, Tatum or Ant
Maybe even Jrue or AD for defense

Should be AD

AussieCeltic · Post #29 » by **AussieCeltic** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 4:13 am

Anticon wrote:
AussieCeltic wrote:Tatum is clearly better than current Lebron. This isn’t even an argument

By what measure? There's plenty of stats that don't place Tatum as first or second all NBA.

Aside from the fact he’s been all nba first team 3 years in a row.

In those 3 years he’s won a championship, finals the other time and conference finals the other year.

azcatz11 · Post #30 » by **azcatz11** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 4:16 am

Bill Simmons was talking about this on the pod. It is weird that Tatum isn’t going to start.

Post #31 » by **infinite11285** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 4:29 am

AussieCeltic wrote:
infinite11285 wrote:
AussieCeltic wrote:Tatum is clearly better than current Lebron. This isn’t even an argument

This is not the point. The gap in performance between Tatum and the first opponent coming off the bench is wider than Tatum starting against the opposing team's starters. In addition, LeBron has a better skillset to benefit the starters earlier in the game than Tatum.

This isn't a my guy vs your guy thing. It's purely strategic.

I doubt it’s strategic. The gap in performance between Lebron and the first opponent off the bench is still a huuuuuuuuge margin. It’s more optics than anything.

Tatum has been the 2nd best American player behind Embiid the last 2 seasons. It should be Embiid, Tatum, Curry and everyone else can fall in line after that.

Tatum is a shooter, a killer, and not a distributor. Do you think that bodes better for the starting lineup to set the tone than a natural passer?

AussieCeltic · Post #32 » by **AussieCeltic** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 4:56 am

infinite11285 wrote:
AussieCeltic wrote:
infinite11285 wrote:
This is not the point. The gap in performance between Tatum and the first opponent coming off the bench is wider than Tatum starting against the opposing team's starters. In addition, LeBron has a better skillset to benefit the starters earlier in the game than Tatum.

This isn't a my guy vs your guy thing. It's purely strategic.

I doubt it’s strategic. The gap in performance between Lebron and the first opponent off the bench is still a huuuuuuuuge margin. It’s more optics than anything.

Tatum has been the 2nd best American player behind Embiid the last 2 seasons. It should be Embiid, Tatum, Curry and everyone else can fall in line after that.

Tatum is a shooter, a killer, and not a distributor. Do you think that bodes better for the starting lineup to set the tone than a natural passer?

He averaged 7 assists in the NBA finals including 12 in game 2 and 11 in game 5. I’d say he’s a pretty good playmaker these days.

He’s also by far the better defender at this stage in their careers.

Wouldn’t it be better for James to play off the bench AD given they’ve played together for 5 seasons?

RB34 · Post #33 » by **RB34** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:12 am

People are calling Tatum overrated but watch LeBron barely get back on defence. It’s 2024, Bron isn’t Bron anymore.

picc · Post #34 » by **picc** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:16 am

Jason Kidd started over CP and Deron on the redeem team. It is what it is. And Lebron is much closer to Tatum than Kidd was to those two in 2008.

You can't not start Lebron. And I loathe the guy. It would just be wrong.

NZB2323 · Post #35 » by **NZB2323** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:41 am

CP3 and Wade didn’t start on the Redeem team.

And shouldn’t this be Durant vs. Tatum? Tatum plays most of his minutes at power forward, and has been better than Durant since 2022.

Either way, I don’t think it really matters.

jfs1000d · Post #36 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:43 am

Triple M wrote:I think only 4 starters were named

Bron, Curry, KD and Embiid

5th starter could be Kawhi, Tatum or Ant
Maybe even Jrue or AD for defense

Why they name starters. So dumb

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jfs1000d · Post #37 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:44 am

Blazing_royale wrote:Bron > Tatum

Not right now.

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jfs1000d · Post #38 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 5:45 am

Optms wrote:Tatum is overrated. Just tossing that out there.

Because he didn’t dominate scoring while leading dominant Boston to an nba title as he led said team in points, rebounds and assists in the playoffs.

Got it.

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Chokic · Post #39 » by **Chokic** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 7:07 am

Tatun is slightly overrated that being said Lebron has no business starting over Tatum dude is over the hill and ppl still clinging onto his name like he's still a top 10 player.

DonaldSanders · Post #40 » by **DonaldSanders** » Tue Jul 9, 2024 7:13 am

I like what LeBron brings on offense, but I am concerned overall about defense. LeBron and Curry on the court together is deadly, so to me it's KD that should hit the bench with Tatum starting. I feel like KD is a bit more all-around now on O, where Steph/LeBron both have their specialties still working. LeBron the freight train to the rim, Steph with deeper shooting.

There needs to be at least one athletic defender that is in his prime on the court. I'd prefer:
Curry
Jrue
LeBron
Tatum
Embiid

That gives you a rim protector that is also a beast on O, 2 guys to chase the best players on the other team, and 2 older but still crazy good players on offense.