The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 7)

[GSP]

Lol I was thinking if Heat make it LeBron will win fmvp and if Boston makes it AD will

I think Bron is gonna get that FMVP regardless, he's gonna be gunning for it and I don't think he's going to be okay just being a playmaker and controlling the game, and letting AD get 35 while he finishes with a 15/10/10 stat line. He knows how important a fourth FMVP is even though he's clearly the best player on the team. Just look at how much crap Curry gets even though he was clearly the best player at least in 2015 on his team.

Not just 4th Fmvp but no player has had 3 Fmvps on 3 different teams yet

[dcstanley]

Which team do you guys think the Lakers would rather face in the Finals? I was surprised to hear Cranjis think the Lakers match up better with the Heat

Miami is a much tougher matchup with Jimmy/Crowder/Iggy/Djr defense on the wings. They prolly have the best zone defense in the league even tho La does fine scoring on zones

Bam might be the only big that can at least compete with Ad.

Boston isnt making it anyways. Embiids basic ass averaged 30 on 60ts against our terrible bigs. Ad would prolly average close to 40 and start looking like peak Finals Shaq

I don't think the combination of Jimmy/Crowder/Iggy/DJR presents a bigger challenge than Smart/Brown/Tatum/Semi (if he sees the floor). 2020 Lebron actually seems to struggle more against smaller defenders that fit Smart's archetype than he does a defender like Butler. Jones is far too slight to defend Lebron and I think Iggy playing significant minutes is a net positive for the Lakers since that means Robinson, Herro, or Dragic isn't on the floor.

[zimpy27]

Don't think Iggy can defend LeBron like he used to in GSW anyway

[Dupp]

It really depends how lebron guns for it. If he’s just trying to get up way more shots and score more that could potentially mess with the teams dynamic a bit.


However it’s pretty obvious to me that Lebrons really not even going close to balls to the wall. He has a lot more to give so if he just plays hard at 100% for every quarter of the finals it’ll be a natural gunning.

[Dupp]

Don't think Iggy can defend LeBron like he used to in GSW anyway

Forgot about Iggy. He’ll probably find a way to have a high impact as always. **** him go Boston

[nzahir]

Don't think Iggy can defend LeBron like he used to in GSW anyway

I agree, he is even falling out of their rotation rn

He isn't cooked, but not the same guy from 3-5 years ago

And Iggy was never locking down Lebron, lets not act like there wasn't Draymond, Bogut, Klay, Barnes, KD, and heavy hel[ coming at Lebron, especially in 2015

Lebron still put up 51 on their heads with Iggy and Draymond as the main defenders in 2018

[trickshot]

Lol I was thinking if Heat make it LeBron will win fmvp and if Boston makes it AD will

Dont like looking beyond teams but if Lakers make the finals and if they face and beat the Heat, I think AD will be FMVP. They run a zone defence AD is the key to beating.

Watch on YouTube

Even if they stick to man D they have some good individual wing defenders. I dont think they will stick to man D because their roster is loaded with guys Lebron can abuse on switches. They know this and play zone to hide those guys

On an unrelated note i find it funny throughout this whole postseason Lebron still hasn't faced any defence tough enough to force him matchup hunting. So much for struggling in the west

[JulesWinnfield]

Has anyone felt this confident in a Lebron team winning the title at this point in the playoffs? Because I never felt quite this level of confidence with 7 wins to go. Not even in 2013 given Wades knee situation and how crappy he looked for much of those playoffs.

[Ursusamericanus]

Has anyone felt this confident in a Lebron team winning the title at this point in the playoffs? Because I never felt quite this level of confidence with 7 wins to go. Not even in 2013 given Wades knee situation and how crappy he looked for much of those playoffs.

Same here, I was just thinking about this a few days ago. I was very confident before the 2012 finals (unlike the pundits) but not as much as I am now. It feels very likely he'll win his fourth at this point and I'll be super happy for him.

Now someone please do an anti-jinx.

[xb3at band1tx]

Still think Denver has a few shootouts in them, hope LA can shut that down.

[Baski]

I kind of feel the same way. LeBron shields all the other stars from criticism. Giannis losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Kawhi losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Yet lebron criticism never leaves the news cycle. He was getting it when I was in middle school, he’s getting it now that I’m in my last year of law school, and he got it every year in between. No one else has ever gotten that treatment in any sport, and no one will ever get it again.

This is so true it's hilarious. To add to your examples, look at how Giannis basically holding the Bucks hostage after his own failure is being treated as your typical run of the mill FA discussion. Dude has unfollowed his teammates, had a private meeting with ownership to discuss their fates, and has put out a statement that the Bucks better do anything he asks or he's gone. This is not normal in any sense, and yet I haven't seen anything close to the bashing Lebron got for his Cavs 2.0 and Lakers team-building endeavours.
Kawhi was on track to being forgiven for absolutely wrecking the Clips' future if not for this postseason collapse. Feels like no player is worth criticism if he isn't Lebron.

[Ursusamericanus]

Re: FMVP, as a longtime LeBron fan, I don't personally care whether or not he gets it so long as the Lakers win the championship. If anything, it'll be nice to have a finals where he isn't having to carry such a scoring load. Odds are he'll get it anyway following this rant with the media but AD winning it would be fine. May well depend on whether they play Miami or Boston.

Still... just prioritize getting the championship. And focus on beating the Nuggets first.

[MyUniBroDavis]

I kind of feel the same way. LeBron shields all the other stars from criticism. Giannis losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Kawhi losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Yet lebron criticism never leaves the news cycle. He was getting it when I was in middle school, he’s getting it now that I’m in my last year of law school, and he got it every year in between. No one else has ever gotten that treatment in any sport, and no one will ever get it again.

This is so true it's hilarious. To add to your examples, look at how Giannis basically holding the Bucks hostage after his own failure is being treated as your typical run of the mill FA discussion. Dude has unfollowed his teammates, had a private meeting with ownership to discuss their fates, and has put out a statement that the Bucks better do anything he asks or he's gone. This is not normal in any sense, and yet I haven't seen anything close to the bashing Lebron got for his Cavs 2.0 and Lakers team-building endeavours.
Kawhi was on track to being forgiven for absolutely wrecking the Clips' future if not for this postseason collapse. Feels like no player is worth criticism if he isn't Lebron.

Doesnt he do this every year tho, i know he did last year

[dcstanley]

Has anyone felt this confident in a Lebron team winning the title at this point in the playoffs? Because I never felt quite this level of confidence with 7 wins to go. Not even in 2013 given Wades knee situation and how crappy he looked for much of those playoffs.

Same here, I was just thinking about this a few days ago. I was very confident before the 2012 finals (unlike the pundits) but not as much as I am now. It feels very likely he'll win his fourth at this point and I'll be super happy for him.

Now someone please do an anti-jinx.

I completely agree.. For that reason, it makes this run more nerve-wracking than previous championship chases. I really hope they can finish the job.

[Homer38]

Lol I was thinking if Heat make it LeBron will win fmvp and if Boston makes it AD will

I think Bron is gonna get that FMVP regardless, he's gonna be gunning for it and I don't think he's going to be okay just being a playmaker and controlling the game, and letting AD get 35 while he finishes with a 15/10/10 stat line. He knows how important a fourth FMVP is even though he's clearly the best player on the team. Just look at how much crap Curry gets even though he was clearly the best player at least in 2015 on his team.

I think LeBron might want Davis to stay very happy, so I don't think it would be a problem for him if Davis wins the FMVP if the lakers win the title.

We'll see, but I've always thought that some put too much stock on the FMVP ... It's important but players like Kobe (with Shaq) and Curry have too much heat to not win the FMVP and player like Kawhi (2014) has too much credit.

[Homer38]

Read on Twitter

[Baski]

I kind of feel the same way. LeBron shields all the other stars from criticism. Giannis losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Kawhi losing in the second round is out of the news cycle. Yet lebron criticism never leaves the news cycle. He was getting it when I was in middle school, he’s getting it now that I’m in my last year of law school, and he got it every year in between. No one else has ever gotten that treatment in any sport, and no one will ever get it again.

This is so true it's hilarious. To add to your examples, look at how Giannis basically holding the Bucks hostage after his own failure is being treated as your typical run of the mill FA discussion. Dude has unfollowed his teammates, had a private meeting with ownership to discuss their fates, and has put out a statement that the Bucks better do anything he asks or he's gone. This is not normal in any sense, and yet I haven't seen anything close to the bashing Lebron got for his Cavs 2.0 and Lakers team-building endeavours.
Kawhi was on track to being forgiven for absolutely wrecking the Clips' future if not for this postseason collapse. Feels like no player is worth criticism if he isn't Lebron.

Doesnt he do this every year tho, i know he did last year

I've heard that too, but he and his agent obviously know what they're doing and the effect such an action will have. Coupled with the other stuff, they're clearly sending a certain message.

[Baski]

About the FMVP, I can't imagine a scenario where Lebron goes all out and it somehow ends up hurting his team. His game is not like Kobe's or Westbrook's where you accept that they're gonna do what they're gonna do and pray for the best. If he's gunning for it, the Lakers are crushing the other team.

[parapooper]

Lol I was thinking if Heat make it LeBron will win fmvp and if Boston makes it AD will

I think Bron is gonna get that FMVP regardless, he's gonna be gunning for it and I don't think he's going to be okay just being a playmaker and controlling the game, and letting AD get 35 while he finishes with a 15/10/10 stat line. He knows how important a fourth FMVP is even though he's clearly the best player on the team. Just look at how much crap Curry gets even though he was clearly the best player at least in 2015 on his team.

Not just 4th Fmvp but no player has had 3 Fmvps on 3 different teams yet

Would also be in 3 different positions - PF, SF, PG

[kayess]

Couldn't respond in the previous thread so I will say:

@SideshowBob, agree we shouldn't over-bias just to give the illusion of fairness, I was merely speaking towards the attitude absolute stans have - obviously that's not everyone lol

@Heej, yes Bron was already an absolute stud in the playoffs (not saying he's on Bron's level), again it's really more of the stan's attitude. As I like to say, this thread consistently attracts the most objective posters, and are actually prone to calling Bron garbage even when he doesn't deserve it based on one play where he may be half-assing it (lmao), just because they're so worried he's not maximizing his effort towards the march to the GOAT title