What is the most impressive carry job by a star?

[Iwasawitness]

It's Hakeem

Dirk faced lebron in the finals ... If he faced a legit challenge I'd pick dirk

This might be the worst trolling attempt I’ve ever seen on this site.

[Homer38]

The Celtics had multiple injuries and the Bulls matched up terribly against the Heat. Their 12-3 record in the playoffs prior doesn’t hold much weight. The fact is the Heat had a losing record against teams with a .500 or above record (and Dallas themselves won both regular season meetings against the Heat that year). A lot of their 58 wins came against lower tier teams.

The heat definitely had an unbalanced roster. They lacked both depth and a cohesive starting five. It constantly changed throughout the season and they couldn’t find anything that clicked with the big three at PG and C. They were a deeply flawed team.

Their offensive/defensive ratings for the 2010/2011 2011/2012 are very similar. They added Battier and Birdman? They were top heavy no doubt. But most teams with 3 all star players in their prime are top heavy. Yea their roster wasnt perfect but they blew a 2-1 series lead and a double digit lead going into the 4th quarter of game 4. They blew the series. Plain and simple. The Mavs were blown out of the water against GS in the 07 playoffs. It was embarrassing. Stuff like this happens. But i dont think Miami should get a pass. They made it to the finals, won 58 games, and waltzed to the finals. Mavs loss Caron Butler during the season. Adversity happens.

I can agree with them blowing the series but we have to keep something in mind, and that’s that Dallas had their number from the beginning. Miami had flaws that could be exploited by the better teams in the league and that happened frequently throughout the season. They were much better equipped to deal with the better teams in 2012-2014.

Oh and I think you’re getting games 4 and 2 mixed up.

I could also said that the 2006 finals was even a bigger upset and collapse by the Mavs!

They had completely dominate the heat in the regular season,up 2-0 in the finals,up by 13 points with like 6 minutes left,but huge collapse at the end with Dirk(a 90% free throw shooter) missing a free throw to tie the game at the end....The mavs were even a bigger favorite in 2006 that the heat were in 2011 before the finals according to the odds too!

[BrianInPhilly]

Pulling up an old Reddit thread detailing Dirk's absolutely insane clutch play in the 2011 playoffs. Averaging 9.9 points per 4th Q the whole playoffs - On an insane 51/53/94 percentages - 67.4 True shooting %. Inc. multiple comebacks and a ton of close games where he had to deliver. If we're talking offensively, it is definitely Dirk in my opinion. In terms of secondary shot creators it is the biggest drop off from any star I can think of. He couldn't just give the ball to Kidd/Terry/Barea and take a play off - he was involved in everything offensively, even if just a decoy some plays.

If we're talking carrying on both ends obv you can make case for someone else.

Link - https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6jig73/dirk_nowitzkis_2011_playoffs_4th_quarters/

[Ice Man]

I'm not buying Dirk. The legend exceeds the totals. Sure, Dirk was clutch, but Dallas won the series mostly because - 1) LeBron and Bosh wet themselves, and 2) Dallas's role players stepped up. Dirk went 26/10 on 54% TS% for the series, with more turnovers than assists. I mean, that's fine but remarkable it was not.

For Finals, I'd easily pick Steph in 2022, carrying a team with a washed Draymond and Klay by going 31/6/5 per game, with a 63% TS%. That was truly heroic, because aside from Steph, that was a thoroughly mediocre basketball team. Andrew Wiggins was its 2nd best player, for God's sake.

[art_tatum]

Lebron has had some good carry jobs on the cavs team but imo carry jobs to win the chip should be above that. I have no idea how lebron is leading when none of his titles were carry jobs. Tho 07? When he beat the pistons was probably his best carry job. I thought the 2018 run was a little overrated bc of how weak the East was and that his team was title ready but changed kyrie with a still prime IT. 07 is more impressive.


But I'd rank these above:
Obviously dirk
Duncan 03
Hakeem
Maybe Curry 22

but there are many other older ones

[Hoopz Afrik]

Duncan in 03 has my vote.

[RoyceDa59]

Shaq in 2000 actually deserves nomination.

Most dominant peak form of all time.

[Karate Diop]

The first ever LeBron finals team that got destroyed by the Spurs had no business making it that far.

[One_and_Done]

Lebron has had some good carry jobs on the cavs team but imo carry jobs to win the chip should be above that. I have no idea how lebron is leading when none of his titles were carry jobs. Tho 07? When he beat the pistons was probably his best carry job. I thought the 2018 run was a little overrated bc of how weak the East was and that his team was title ready but changed kyrie with a still prime IT. 07 is more impressive.


But I'd rank these above:
Obviously dirk
Duncan 03
Hakeem
Maybe Curry 22

but there are many other older ones

A carry job doesn't need to result in a title, and even if it did the 2016 Cavs would qualify when you consider the quality of their opponent, and how the Cavs fared once Lebron left.

[dhsilv2]

You never want your team to be starting Hassell or Ervin Johnson, but I think Wolves fans are inclined to see their flaws more than their virtues. They were not terrible starters. What's the difference between Ervin and Rasho/Elson, or between Hassell and Udoka? Not much to be honest.

There was a significant difference between Johnson and Nesterovic, let's be honest.

Nesterovic, just one season earlier, averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds as Minnesota's starting center in 30 mpg. The 2003-04 center rotation of Johnson and Olowokandi averaged 8.4 points and 9.2 rebounds COMBINED in 36 minutes per game. The round mound of Oliver Miller also contributed 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 minutes per game

Piggy backing on this

Olowokandi might be one of the most interesting careers ever. In 2004 these are per 100 stats

Regular season 16.2 PTS 14.3 TRB 4.0 BLK 0.9 STL 1.4 AST (sounds good so far). 3.1 TOV 8.0 PF ORTg 90 44.6 TS%

OK that ended up pretty bad, but the playoffs

7.4 PTS 8.8 FGA (keep this in mind) 12.4 TRB 0.5 AST 2.6 BLK 0.5 STL 4.1 TOV 11.9 PF 70 ORTg 38.3 TS%

Now keep in mind this is a guy who played over a quarter of the playoff minutes available. In that time he took 8.8 shots scoring 0.84 points per attempt, generated half an assist for every 4.1 turnovers or a 1 to 8.2 assist to turnover ratio. And did so getting a foul every 8.4 possessions.

In per game numbers, in 15 games (2 he started) he averaged 2.5 field goal attempts, 3.3 fouls, 1.1 turnovers, he had 2 assists in 15 games, and added 2.1 points. This was a center, who got 2 starts in the playoffs who was shooting 32% and was confident enough to keep taking shots. And was drawing over 3 fouls in less than 15 minutes a game.

Over his 14 games, he had 10 with a negative game score, which is supposed to be a single game PER.

And I know some of this was he was just hacking shaq. But he was at 3 PF's a game against Denver and his minutes were cut and he was sat a few games against the kings...one of such games he had the amazing line of 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers, and 1 personal foul in 3:09 on the floor.

Just a truly all time bad player.

[bledredwine]

I would also say that Jordan in 98 deserves an honorable mention. The 98 Bulls are the oldest team to ever win it all. Rodman was an aging alcoholic who did WWE instead of practicing during the finals who washed out of the league afterwards, Pippen only played 44 games during the regular season and had a migraine in game 6, which is the only game in Finals history where 1 player(Jordan) outscored all of his teammates.

98 Jordan not only should be on this list, but should be the answer.

He's the only player to win a chip with only one teammate in double digits (scoring)...
in a very defensive series.......

Jordan - 33.5 PPG
Pippen - 15.5 ppg literally half the amount on lower efficiency

Then look at gamescores

Jordan - 21.4
Scottie - 13
Kukoc - 11.5

and the rest far behind with 5.4 Ron Harper and lower, in a championship win.

That's unheard of.
It's so weird but also no surprise that this isn't in the poll, given OP is a Lebron stan.

[Kobe187]

Jordan 91,92,93
Kobe 08,09
Iverson 01

[MavsDirk41]

Their offensive/defensive ratings for the 2010/2011 2011/2012 are very similar. They added Battier and Birdman? They were top heavy no doubt. But most teams with 3 all star players in their prime are top heavy. Yea their roster wasnt perfect but they blew a 2-1 series lead and a double digit lead going into the 4th quarter of game 4. They blew the series. Plain and simple. The Mavs were blown out of the water against GS in the 07 playoffs. It was embarrassing. Stuff like this happens. But i dont think Miami should get a pass. They made it to the finals, won 58 games, and waltzed to the finals. Mavs loss Caron Butler during the season. Adversity happens.

I can agree with them blowing the series but we have to keep something in mind, and that’s that Dallas had their number from the beginning. Miami had flaws that could be exploited by the better teams in the league and that happened frequently throughout the season. They were much better equipped to deal with the better teams in 2012-2014.

Oh and I think you’re getting games 4 and 2 mixed up.

I could also said that the 2006 finals was even a bigger upset and collapse by the Mavs!

They had completely dominate the heat in the regular season,up 2-0 in the finals,up by 13 points with like 6 minutes left,but huge collapse at the end with Dirk(a 90% free throw shooter) missing a free throw to tie the game at the end....The mavs were even a bigger favorite in 2006 that the heat were in 2011 before the finals according to the odds too!

- 2011 Mavs added Marion, Chandler, and Kidd (although Kidd was old)

- 2006 Dirk is not the same as 2011 Dirk in the playoffs

- Mavs could never handle prime Wade. He is the one superstar player who always got the best of them

- 2011 Miami Heat had 3 all star players in their prime. Not a great bench or not, they crapped the bed in the finals. Especially James. But yea, Mavs should have won in 06 but i wouldnt call them losing to Miami a worse choke job compared to Miami in 2011 but you do you.

[MavsDirk41]

Lebron has had some good carry jobs on the cavs team but imo carry jobs to win the chip should be above that. I have no idea how lebron is leading when none of his titles were carry jobs. Tho 07? When he beat the pistons was probably his best carry job. I thought the 2018 run was a little overrated bc of how weak the East was and that his team was title ready but changed kyrie with a still prime IT. 07 is more impressive.


But I'd rank these above:
Obviously dirk
Duncan 03
Hakeem
Maybe Curry 22

but there are many other older ones

A carry job doesn't need to result in a title, and even if it did the 2016 Cavs would qualify when you consider the quality of their opponent, and how the Cavs fared once Lebron left.

2018 Cleveland Cavs

James
Love
Smith
Korver
George Hill

2018/2019 Cleveland Cavs
Love played 22 games
Smith 11 games
Korver 16 games

Most of the games played were:
Osman 23 years old
Collin Sexton 20 years old
Nance Jr. 26 years old
Clarkson 26 years old
Hood 26 years old

Maybe they wanted to rebuild?

[Homer38]

I can agree with them blowing the series but we have to keep something in mind, and that’s that Dallas had their number from the beginning. Miami had flaws that could be exploited by the better teams in the league and that happened frequently throughout the season. They were much better equipped to deal with the better teams in 2012-2014.

Oh and I think you’re getting games 4 and 2 mixed up.

I could also said that the 2006 finals was even a bigger upset and collapse by the Mavs!

They had completely dominate the heat in the regular season,up 2-0 in the finals,up by 13 points with like 6 minutes left,but huge collapse at the end with Dirk(a 90% free throw shooter) missing a free throw to tie the game at the end....The mavs were even a bigger favorite in 2006 that the heat were in 2011 before the finals according to the odds too!

- 2011 Mavs added Marion, Chandler, and Kidd (although Kidd was old)

- 2006 Dirk is not the same as 2011 Dirk in the playoffs

- Mavs could never handle prime Wade. He is the one superstar player who always got the best of them

- 2011 Miami Heat had 3 all star players in their prime. Not a great bench or not, they crapped the bed in the finals. Especially James. But yea, Mavs should have won in 06 but i wouldnt call them losing to Miami a worse choke job compared to Miami in 2011 but you do you.

Both were major choke job....At least the heat won the title the year after....The mavs won 67 regular season game the year after their choke job in 2006 but they had even a bigger choke job in 2007 against the 8th seed warriors in the first round.....

[Homer38]

Lebron has had some good carry jobs on the cavs team but imo carry jobs to win the chip should be above that. I have no idea how lebron is leading when none of his titles were carry jobs. Tho 07? When he beat the pistons was probably his best carry job. I thought the 2018 run was a little overrated bc of how weak the East was and that his team was title ready but changed kyrie with a still prime IT. 07 is more impressive.


But I'd rank these above:
Obviously dirk
Duncan 03
Hakeem
Maybe Curry 22

but there are many other older ones

A carry job doesn't need to result in a title, and even if it did the 2016 Cavs would qualify when you consider the quality of their opponent, and how the Cavs fared once Lebron left.

2018 Cleveland Cavs

James
Love
Smith
Korver
George Hill

2018/2019 Cleveland Cavs
Love played 22 games
Smith 11 games
Korver 16 games

Most of the games played were:
Osman 23 years old
Collin Sexton 20 years old
Nance Jr. 26 years old
Clarkson 26 years old
Hood 26 years old

Maybe they wanted to rebuild?

Read on Twitter

How many time that a team won a playoffs series when the other team had 5 of the 6 best scorer in the serie?!...It was almost the same thing vs pacers in the first round that year.J.R Smith was washed like crazy in 2018,Love was on decline and Korver was old....George Hill was their second best player who was not young too

[MavsDirk41]

A carry job doesn't need to result in a title, and even if it did the 2016 Cavs would qualify when you consider the quality of their opponent, and how the Cavs fared once Lebron left.

2018 Cleveland Cavs

James
Love
Smith
Korver
George Hill

2018/2019 Cleveland Cavs
Love played 22 games
Smith 11 games
Korver 16 games

Most of the games played were:
Osman 23 years old
Collin Sexton 20 years old
Nance Jr. 26 years old
Clarkson 26 years old
Hood 26 years old

Maybe they wanted to rebuild?

Read on Twitter

How many time that a team won a playoffs series when the other team had 5 of the 6 best scorer in the serie?!...It was almost the same thing vs pacers in the first round that year.J.R Smith was washed like crazy in 2018,Love was on decline and Korver was old....George Hill was their second best player who was not young too

Lol you know Boston was missing Irving and Gordon Hayward right? Tatum was a rookie and Brown was in his second year. Terry Rozier starting? Im not overly impressive with that Boston team considering the injuries they had especially.

Alright pal it was stil impressive but not Jordan vs Birds Celtics in 86 playoffs impressive.

[MavsDirk41]

I could also said that the 2006 finals was even a bigger upset and collapse by the Mavs!

They had completely dominate the heat in the regular season,up 2-0 in the finals,up by 13 points with like 6 minutes left,but huge collapse at the end with Dirk(a 90% free throw shooter) missing a free throw to tie the game at the end....The mavs were even a bigger favorite in 2006 that the heat were in 2011 before the finals according to the odds too!

- 2011 Mavs added Marion, Chandler, and Kidd (although Kidd was old)

- 2006 Dirk is not the same as 2011 Dirk in the playoffs

- Mavs could never handle prime Wade. He is the one superstar player who always got the best of them

- 2011 Miami Heat had 3 all star players in their prime. Not a great bench or not, they crapped the bed in the finals. Especially James. But yea, Mavs should have won in 06 but i wouldnt call them losing to Miami a worse choke job compared to Miami in 2011 but you do you.

Both were major choke job....At least the heat won the title the year after....The mavs won 67 regular season game the year after their choke job in 2006 but they had even a bigger choke job in 2007 against the 8th seed warriors in the first round.....

Yea pal Dirk, and the Mavs, choked in 07 against GS. 100% no doubt. What is your point?

[Homer38]

2018 Cleveland Cavs

James
Love
Smith
Korver
George Hill

2018/2019 Cleveland Cavs
Love played 22 games
Smith 11 games
Korver 16 games

Most of the games played were:
Osman 23 years old
Collin Sexton 20 years old
Nance Jr. 26 years old
Clarkson 26 years old
Hood 26 years old

Maybe they wanted to rebuild?

Read on Twitter

How many time that a team won a playoffs series when the other team had 5 of the 6 best scorer in the serie?!...It was almost the same thing vs pacers in the first round that year.J.R Smith was washed like crazy in 2018,Love was on decline and Korver was old....George Hill was their second best player who was not young too

Lol you know Boston was missing Irving and Gordon Hayward right? Tatum was a rookie and Brown was in his second year. Terry Rozier starting? Im not overly impressive with that Boston team considering the injuries they had especially.

Alright pal it was stil impressive but not Jordan vs Birds Celtics in 86 playoffs impressive.

Hayward play only 5 minutes in the entire season and Kyrie was out for their entire playoffs run....But no matter against who,this is very hard to win a playoffs series when 5 of the 6 best scorer of the series are from the other team.....

[PierceFan4ever]

98 Jordan