Race to the MVP.

[Run DLC]

LeBron isn't even playing at his highest level right now and his numbers are just a good as Durant's numbers. He's only attempting 6 FT per game so far and hasn't really been trying to score much, and he's still playing as good as Durant. I think Durant might win the MVP, but anyone who thinks that he's a better all-around player than LeBron shouldn't be considered a knowledgeable fan of basketball.

[28reloaded]

LeBron isn't even playing at his highest level right now and his numbers are just a good as Durant's numbers. He's only attempting 6 FT per game so far and hasn't really been trying to score much, and he's still playing as good as Durant. I think Durant might win the MVP, but anyone who thinks that he's a better all-around player than LeBron shouldn't be considered a knowledgeable fan of basketball.

Durant's a better scorer by a considerable margin. LeBron is a better playmaker by a considerable margin. THUS FAR, Durant has been the better defender this year. Rebounding is equal. LeBron is better at ball possession.

[Run DLC]

As great as LeBron is, I think that he can be better if he would play a bit more aggressive on the offensive end. He's the type of guy who'd be satisfy with just 20 points as long as he gets 8+ assists. Guys like Durant and Kobe still wants to score even if they get 28 points with only a few seconds left to play.

[28reloaded]

As great as LeBron is, I think that he can be better if he would play a bit more aggressive on the offensive end. He's the type of guy who'd be satisfy with just 20 points as long as he gets 8+ assists. Guys like Durant and Kobe still wants to score even if they get 28 points with only a few seconds left to play.

Which is why Durant is averaging 15.4 FGA per 36 and LeBron is averaging 17.9 FGA per 36

[Run DLC]

LeBron isn't even playing at his highest level right now and his numbers are just a good as Durant's numbers. He's only attempting 6 FT per game so far and hasn't really been trying to score much, and he's still playing as good as Durant. I think Durant might win the MVP, but anyone who thinks that he's a better all-around player than LeBron shouldn't be considered a knowledgeable fan of basketball.

Durant's a better scorer by a considerable margin. LeBron is a better playmaker by a considerable margin. THUS FAR, Durant has been the better defender this year. Rebounding is equal. LeBron is better at ball possession.

Better defender? Blocking more shots and getting steals doesn't make you a more all-around defender. LeBron has played great man-on-man defense in so many late down the stretch situations this year. You can ask so many basketball expects about who's the better all-around player between LeBron and Durant and they'll tell you, Durant is the better scorer and clutch-shot maker, and LeBron is the better all-around and versatile player.

[TheGarden]

As great as LeBron is, I think that he can be better if he would play a bit more aggressive on the offensive end. He's the type of guy who'd be satisfy with just 20 points as long as he gets 8+ assists. Guys like Durant and Kobe still wants to score even if they get 28 points with only a few seconds left to play.

Which is why Durant is averaging 15.4 FGA per 36 and LeBron is averaging 17.9 FGA per 36

again FGA isn't a great outlier, Durant shoots 3 more FT's per game than LeBron so that evens it out, facts are facts and its not a knock on KD but he's trying to get to LBJ's level and the fact the LBJ isn't even going hard shows how great he is and thats why I dont LBJ should get MVP because he's playing hard enough its an insult to guys like KD and Melo working hard every game, every possession

[Tien]

LeBron isn't even playing at his highest level right now and his numbers are just a good as Durant's numbers. He's only attempting 6 FT per game so far and hasn't really been trying to score much, and he's still playing as good as Durant. I think Durant might win the MVP, but anyone who thinks that he's a better all-around player than LeBron shouldn't be considered a knowledgeable fan of basketball.

LeBron's coasting = Durant playing out of his mind.

[Run DLC]

As great as LeBron is, I think that he can be better if he would play a bit more aggressive on the offensive end. He's the type of guy who'd be satisfy with just 20 points as long as he gets 8+ assists. Guys like Durant and Kobe still wants to score even if they get 28 points with only a few seconds left to play.

Which is why Durant is averaging 15.4 FGA per 36 and LeBron is averaging 17.9 FGA per 36

Durant is getting to the FT line more so far. He has gotten a lot of bs calls. At the end of the day, LeBron hasn't been playing at his highest level yet.

[OptimusOne6]

Durant is getting to the FT line more so far. He has gotten a lot of bs calls. At the end of the day, LeBron hasn't been playing at his highest level yet.

Is anyone capable of arguing one or the other without being completely biased?

Seriously, everyone who is arguing against Durant just keeps saying he gets BS calls with no evidence what so ever.

Did it ever occur to any of you that the player got to the line, because he is really good at getting to the line? Or is it always because the refs love them?

[28reloaded]

Durant shooting 8.8 FT/game=BS calls this year

I'm done withy you LeBron tots. Durant's averaging 8.9 FT/game over the past 4 years

[theokie]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

[TheGarden]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

to me the BS calls thing is questionable, he gets some 50/50 calls in his favor but thats not going to change much however the stat padding thing is more like him playing 40mpg, late into blow outs, taking teammates rebounds, giving up dunks for Perkins or Ibaka lay ups(which is more unselfish than stat padding but still stat passing in a way) small things I've noticed and others too but the point is all these numbers getting thrown around take away from the nature of the game. There's a ton numbers tell you and even more they dont

[28reloaded]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

LeBron's numbers are a result of him being a baby and always wanting the ball in his hands. He's not happy when other players have the ball, and his coaches want to keep him happy because he's a prima donna. If he's not happy, he will just take his talents somewhere else.

I'm just amazed by the change of attitude.

before it was LeBron fans propping up LeBron with numbers saying nothing but numbers mattered and that Kobe was clearly inferior to LeBron as a result. Kobe fans said Kobe didn't care about numbers and only winning titles, also LeBron stat padded playing 40+ MPG while hogging the ball.

OH HOW THE TIDES HAVE TURNED

[Protoss]

Joyner,

I don't understand the Kobe comparison. LeBron is still leading the league in PER and the Heat are the favorites to win the title again. He has both things going for him. When did Kobe ever do this? Usually when the Lakers were favorites, other players posted much more impressive numbers.

The Thunder played 11 of their 17 games at home so far.
The Heat have a better win percentage, in spite of Wade's poor season.
LeBron leads the league in PER and will very likely finish with the lead.

It's been less than 20 games into the season. One poor performance will put the other candidate ahead. We all known LeBron will finish the season with a PER of 28-30.

Just because you have more free time to post doesn't mean you're changing reality.

[og15]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

to me the BS calls thing is questionable, he gets some 50/50 calls in his favor but thats not going to change much however the stat padding thing is more like him playing 40mpg, late into blow outs, taking teammates rebounds, giving up dunks for Perkins or Ibaka lay ups(which is more unselfish than stat padding but still stat passing in a way) small things I've noticed and others too but the point is all these numbers getting thrown around take away from the nature of the game. There's a ton numbers tell you and even more they dont

Well if he didn't "pad" his assists as you are suggesting, he would technically be scoring more points. Would he then be forcing shots at the rim and padding his scoring numbers? I say that in jest, but people tend to interpret situations in certain ways if there is a lot of bias involved. That isn't padding assists, those are the most effective passes giving guys layups and dunks. He isn't Boris Diaw who over passes, and even with Diaw, it's not because he wants to pad his assists, but because he's too unselfish.

His minutes is a coach thing unless Durant is the one making himself stay in games that are already won. That's also why we have per36 minute numbers, and a lot of advanced statistics are adjusted for minutes, so that when we do look at them, we can compare rate of production. It's not like Lebron's, or most stars who don't have a stamina issue would have their production drop (or even if it does, it wont be significant enough to be noticeable) with a few more minutes a game, we've already seen him do it, and we know he maintains his production even playing up to 42-43 MPG over a whole season.

[theokie]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

to me the BS calls thing is questionable, he gets some 50/50 calls in his favor but thats not going to change much however the stat padding thing is more like him playing 40mpg, late into blow outs, taking teammates rebounds, giving up dunks for Perkins or Ibaka lay ups(which is more unselfish than stat padding but still stat passing in a way) small things I've noticed and others too but the point is all these numbers getting thrown around take away from the nature of the game. There's a ton numbers tell you and even more they dont

Kevin Durant takes his teammates rebounds? This has to be one of the most baseless and illogical arguments I've ever seen from anyone on this board.

Seriously where do yo come up with stuff? He's not playing 40 mpg or late in blowouts either. Please someone bring up the fact that he played 43 minutes against Houston and ignore that it was a 7 point game in the middle of the 4th quarter.

Giving up dunks for Perkins? You mean he's padding his stats because he passes the ball... wtf... just give it up you're embarrassing yourself.

[TheGarden]

Kevin Durant's numbers are good because of BS calls and stat padding if I'm reading this thread correctly

to me the BS calls thing is questionable, he gets some 50/50 calls in his favor but thats not going to change much however the stat padding thing is more like him playing 40mpg, late into blow outs, taking teammates rebounds, giving up dunks for Perkins or Ibaka lay ups(which is more unselfish than stat padding but still stat passing in a way) small things I've noticed and others too but the point is all these numbers getting thrown around take away from the nature of the game. There's a ton numbers tell you and even more they dont

Kevin Durant takes his teammates rebounds? This has to be one of the most baseless and illogical arguments I've ever seen from anyone on this board.

Seriously where do yo come up with stuff? He's not playing 40 mpg or late in blowouts either. Please someone bring up the fact that he played 43 minutes against Houston and ignore that it was a 7 point game in the middle of the 4th quarter.

Giving up dunks for Perkins? You mean he's padding his stats because he passes the ball... wtf... just give it up you're embarrassing yourself.

I said it can interpreted that way

Durant usually soars over Perk for a rebound and I've seen times he's gave up a dunk for an assists it's not stat padding but it can be interpreted as it

My argument is him playing 40 minutes. Night so his raw stats are skewed compared to some guys

[bbms]

No, minutes does not make difference. Amount of touches does.

Kevin Durant isn't a ball hog who wants to get involved in every play, every possession. He could be one, he has the status to demand the ball every play, like Carmelo does, and his ridiculous 34% USG screams it. He would have nice stats, but this would make Thunder predictable, and worse. He knows he does the best for the Thunder by doing his contribution with less touches. Also, Thunder plays a kind of fast pace. He has all the reasons to rack up over 20 shots a game, if he really wanted to stat pad.

Sometimes a player is valuable to a team just by moving around the court without the ball and create space for others. This is why he doesn't need to dish 8 apg to be one of the best offensive players in the league. This is also why he doesn't need to shoot 20 times per36 to be the MVP offensively for his team.

Carmelo Anthony's USG is much more stat stuffer than Durant's minutes.

Last season, Durant averaged more shots and points on losses than in wins. Why? Because Thunder plays better off him? No. Because on lead, he doesn't tire himself by being active every possession. So he can just stretch the floor and wait for clean looks. When Thunder is losing, or the game is close, than he has to make that step and be active, raise his usage. He doesn't use blowouts to stat pad at all.

[TwentyOne920]

Tim Duncan: 27 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block in a 99-95 win against the Grizzlies.

[PurpleRooster]

James is coasting right now...



But he is still clearly the best player in the NBA. Playoff LeBron is gonna be a beast this year.