Can you imagine LeBron James in the Laker offense?

DowJones · Post #1 » by **DowJones** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:40 am

My God. Say what you want about Phil Jackson's talent, but the man can flat out coach. Kobe Bryant gets to operate in great space and he has deadly talent around him. He has guys that can finish inside (Gasol and Odom), deadly shooters (Fisher, VladRad, Vu-ya-whatever) and guys that can get to the hoop. I could seriously see LeBron averaging 25 points and 15 assists per game with that type of talent and that offensive system. Bryant is a FANTASTIC player, but the advantages he has with talent surrounding him and ELITE coaching is remarkable.

Cybulski37 · Post #2 » by **Cybulski37** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:45 am

Kobe's in a great system, but that takes nothing away from him as a player. He's just phenomenal. In crunch time, it isn't the offense willing his team to victory, it's Kobe beating his man and hitting the J in his face. I think he and LeBron are on a whole nother level compared to the rest of the league, but I think Kobe is a better fit as a scorer in the Lakers offense than Bron. LeBron might be able to use his better passing ability in that type of system though.

GreenWithEnvy · Post #3 » by **GreenWithEnvy** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:47 am

its sad because Lebron has no idea what its lilke to play in an offensive system.

DowJones · Post #4 » by **DowJones** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:49 am

Sorry, I don't want this to be a LeBron vs Kobe debate. I think Kobe is a FAR better mid-range shooter than LeBron and Kobe is better on 1 on 1 defense. But what I'm saying is that with leBron's ability to pass, I think he would be MURDER in with the players Kobe has around him and the offensive system that is in place. LeBron would average a sick amount of assists per game.

That Nicka · Post #5 » by **That Nicka** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:01 am

Has anyone ever averaged over 8 assists playing in the triangle? No one dominates the ball in the triangle like LBJ does in cleveland..

but I'm sure LeBron would average 15 :roll:

CB4MiamiHeat · Post #6 » by **CB4MiamiHeat** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:02 am

Lebron being able to just go 1 on 1 would be scary.

Texas Longhorns · Post #7 » by **Texas Longhorns** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:08 am

LeBron can't shoot, so he wouldn't fit well in the triangle.

prekazi · Post #8 » by **prekazi** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:09 am

Kobe is also a great passer and triangle wouldn't allow LeBron to dominate the ball like he does in Cavs but yeah it would be great for LeBron since the kid doesn't know what is an offensive system.

10scott10 · Post #9 » by **10scott10** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:22 am

GreenWithEnvy wrote:its sad because Lebron has no idea what its lilke to play in an offensive system.

its funny cause its true.

but in allseriousness, he really needs a new coach. he is too good of a player to have a coach who believes the best offense is give it to lebron and let him figure it out.

Vincent 666 · Post #10 » by **Vincent 666** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:27 am

DowJones wrote:My God. Say what you want about Phil Jackson's talent, but the man can flat out coach. Kobe Bryant gets to operate in great space and he has deadly talent around him. He has guys that can finish inside (Gasol and Odom), deadly shooters (Fisher, VladRad, Vu-ya-whatever) and guys that can get to the hoop. I could seriously see LeBron averaging 25 points and 15 assists per game with that type of talent and that offensive system. Bryant is a FANTASTIC player, but the advantages he has with talent surrounding him and ELITE coaching is remarkable.

Is this your first year watching the NBA?

Kobe has put up better numbers than he is now with lesser talent.

Lebron in the triangle wouldnt be as effective as Kobe because he isnt nearly as good in the post nor does he come close to having Kobe's footwork.

Pancho_Pantera · Post #11 » by **Pancho_Pantera** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:31 am

Yeah, he would very likely take his game to a whole new level, which is scary cause he already dominates in that piece of crap system in Cleveland, along with those players surrounding him.

And for those of you that said no one average of 8 assist in the triangle, that's because they have never had a great point guard or a point guard that has the court vision and passing ability that Lebron has. He would literally be a reincarnation of Jordan if Lebron played in the triangle, but possibly more dominant due to his passing.

Showtime:Part2 · Post #12 » by **Showtime:Part2** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:48 am

Pancho_Pantera wrote:He would literally be a reincarnation of Jordan if Lebron played in the triangle, but possibly more dominant due to his passing.

lebron's whole game is pick and rolls and getting to the hoop and either scoring or kicking out. mj and kobe have way better post up (back to the basket) game and better footwork and way better jumpshots than lebron. lebron would suck in the triangle compared to mj and kobe.

tha_rock220 · Post #13 » by **tha_rock220** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:51 am

LeBron is the better player, but he wouldn't work as the primary scoring option in a triangle offense because, as has been mentioned before, he doesn't have the post game.

Now if the OP meant imagine LeBron taking Kobe's place on the Lakers when they were driven by Shaq, yeah I think that would be amazing. They probably would have won in 03 and 04.

Pancho_Pantera · Post #14 » by **Pancho_Pantera** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:54 am

A lot of you are comparing Lebron against Kobe and MJ in their prime, which makes it even more scary since Lebron is only 23 or whatever and he is up there with those two players. LeBron will not reach his peak until his late 20's, despite what you want to think or believe about his current game.

Ballings7 · Post #15 » by **Ballings7** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:54 am

LeBron can't dominate the ball like he has in order for Cleveland to become a better team.

He has to play off of it with consistent significance. Allowing another guy to create for himself and others (LeBron being the main of the others), in making it easier on LBJ, and the team's offense in general. A part of that probably will involve him improving his game.

Blue_Bomber · Post #16 » by **Blue_Bomber** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:58 am

Showtime:Part2 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

lebron's whole game is pick and rolls and getting to the hoop and either scoring or kicking out. mj and kobe have way better post up (back to the basket) game and better footwork and way better jumpshots than lebron. lebron would suck in the triangle compared to mj and kobe.

While the "reincarnation of Jordan" quote is a little misguided, LeBron in the triangle today could not be any worse than the "system" he has in Cleveland. The thing that would limit LeBron's ceiling within the triangle would be, like you said, his jump shot and post-game. Yet, no one really knows what his post game would be like because he is never down on the block. It's pretty amazing for LeBron to have a broken jumper, next to no offensive system (no post-ups, no easy cuts, no 1-3 pick and rolls) and group of players for the most part who can't shoot, yet he is still right up there with Kobe in the "best player" argument. Gotta applaud him for what he has achieved :clap:

Straightwitdaroc · Post #17 » by **Straightwitdaroc** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:58 am

Lebron will have his chance to take less money and be Kobe's sidekick and heir to the Lakers throne.

DowJones · Post #18 » by **DowJones** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:04 am

LeBron's outside shooting is every bit as good as Kobe's and if you don't believe me just look at the stats. His career 3-point shooting percentage is just about identical to Kobe's, despite Kobe getting far better looks throughout his career.

What LeBron needs to do is work on his mid-range shot. That is where Kobe easily trumps him at.

As for his post-game, the reason LeBron doesn't have one is that the offense doesn't run through him in the post. If it did, LeBron would sure work on it. That is exactly why I think he would dominate....can you imagine LeBron James with a post-game? Who would stop him? Imagine a 6-9/260 pound wing player posting up the other team's SF in the box. WOW.

LeBron also has better vision and passing ability than anyone the triangle has seen. LeBron would get much better looks at the hoop as well. Kobe is far better at the mid-range game, but LeBron is much better at turning the corner and finishing at the hoop.

Ballings7 · Post #19 » by **Ballings7** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:06 am

Kobe is a superior jumpshooter to LBJ...

Not going by stats, just the collectivity of footage over the years.

Showtime:Part2 · Post #20 » by **Showtime:Part2** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:07 am

DowJones wrote:LeBron's outside shooting is every bit as good as Kobe's and if you don't believe me just look at the stats. His career 3-point shooting percentage is just about identical to Kobe's, despite Kobe getting far better looks throughout his career.

What LeBron needs to do is work on his mid-range shot. That is where Kobe easily trumps him at.

As for his post-game, the reason LeBron doesn't have one is that the offense doesn't run through him in the post. If it did, LeBron would sure work on it. That is exactly why I think he would dominate....can you imagine LeBron James with a post-game? Who would stop him? Imagine a 6-9/260 pound wing player posting up the other team's SF in the box. WOW.

LeBron also has better vision and passing ability than anyone the triangle has seen. LeBron would get much better looks at the hoop as well. Kobe is far better at the mid-range game, but LeBron is much better at turning the corner and finishing at the hoop.

dude, i stopped reading when you said lebron's shot is as good as kobe's. no one bothers to step out on him when he's shooting a 3. no defender in the nba respects his 3.