The Lebron Thread | 2021 & Offseason

[nzahir]

I dislike the Christmas start, way too early.

I bet Lebron has some sway in these talks...

Mid Jan, around MLK day is at least better

Cut down to around 67-70 games?

[JulesWinnfield]

It’s a short turnaround but it’s not as if it’s a turnaround after a normal 100 or so game season (regular season and playoffs). They had a 4 month break, then played 8 seeding games (which they didn’t even expend maximum energy in after beating the Clips in the opener and basically clinching top seed) and then they played a tournament. By the time Christmas rolls around they will have played just like 30 games in the last 9 1/2 months and roughly 1/3 of those was a glorified preseason

[zimpy27]

I think LeBron will prefer the early start.

LA is a nice place to live the year-round, limited travel conditions right now. Just easier for him to stay conditioned and jump back into another season in 2 months time.

[thebigbird]

Jordan feels LeBron on his ***. Expect more comments like that moving forward. Sorry Michael, not everyone was fortunate to have their original team draft a superstar.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thesportsrush.com/nba-news-superteams-are-ruining-the-nba-michael-jordan-takes-sly-dig-at-lebron-james-and-other-stars-for-superteam-obsession/%3famp

[D.Brasco]

I think LeBron will prefer the early start.

LA is a nice place to live the year-round, limited travel conditions right now. Just easier for him to stay conditioned and jump back into another season in 2 months time.

I'm pretty sure LeBron was going over tapes and working out as soon as the finals were over. At his age it's probably better to keep things on a roll than another long layoff.

[D.Brasco]

Jordan feels LeBron on his ***. Expect more comments like that moving forward. Sorry Michael, not everyone was fortunate to have their original team draft a superstar.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thesportsrush.com/nba-news-superteams-are-ruining-the-nba-michael-jordan-takes-sly-dig-at-lebron-james-and-other-stars-for-superteam-obsession/%3famp

I think this him talking more as a team owner than as a direct comparison between himself and LeBron as players:

“I think you want to be able to have competitive balance in the league. If a player is able to choose/determine what team he wants to play for, then we are going to have a talent discrepancy in the league.”

I'm sure owners love the idea of always being able to retain their stars.

[Jdw38]

I selfishly just want more basketball for my viewing purposes during the quarantine. I also want to see Lebron play free of the latent burden of feeling the obligation to win LA a title.

[The Master]

Jordan feels LeBron on his ***.

To be honest, I think Jordan (no matter if he believes in things he says) is pretty good with his remarks that there's no GOAT in sports, and only 'best of their eras', so there's no objective way to compare Jack to Tiger, or LeBron to him.

Even if he plans Last Last Dance after #4 unofficialy, and he can say these relativized opinions because he's in pretty comfortable spot when media people still support his case for being GOAT no matter what, I can agree easily with him on that and I wish fans in general would agree as well.

[D.Brasco]

They said the only way to be considered a true Laker was to win a championship for them





It only took 2 seasons.

[zimpy27]

They said the only way to be considered a true Laker was to win a championship for them





It only took 2 seasons.

"Eyes up here Jerry"

[kayess]

Absolutely shameful that Mikan isn't on that Lakers pic.

Also, speaking of bad faith actors: voting AD #1 in the POY? I feel like guy just did that so LeBron wouldn't be unanimous lmao

[Heej]

Absolutely shameful that Mikan isn't on that Lakers pic.

Also, speaking of bad faith actors: voting AD #1 in the POY? I feel like guy just did that so LeBron wouldn't be unanimous lmao

Nahh Joey is a big AD fan. And if we're being honest he did play better than Bron for 2.5/4 series. Cuz low-key his defense was more valuable than Brons offense in the finals. I don't hate the vote

[kayess]

Absolutely shameful that Mikan isn't on that Lakers pic.

Also, speaking of bad faith actors: voting AD #1 in the POY? I feel like guy just did that so LeBron wouldn't be unanimous lmao

Nahh Joey is a big AD fan. And if we're being honest he did play better than Bron for 2.5/4 series. Cuz low-key his defense was more valuable than Brons offense in the finals. I don't hate the vote

Ah my bad then Joey, if you're reading this.

To be clear this isn't as bad as not giving unanimous votes to Shaq in 2000, or LeBron in 2013 (or MJ in a bunch of years before that), but I just think even if I make the best possible objective argument for Davis (e.g., the sustainability, or lack thereof, of his midrange shooting not mattering) he still had a slightly, but clearly worse year than James.

On playing better in 2.5/4 series: Even if we grant that, how big was the gap in those 2.5 series vs. the 1.5 series Bron played better? It's really not big either way, but the cumulative value of the gap in the 1.5 series again is just slightly bigger

Anyway moving on lmao

[Heej]

Absolutely shameful that Mikan isn't on that Lakers pic.

Also, speaking of bad faith actors: voting AD #1 in the POY? I feel like guy just did that so LeBron wouldn't be unanimous lmao

Nahh Joey is a big AD fan. And if we're being honest he did play better than Bron for 2.5/4 series. Cuz low-key his defense was more valuable than Brons offense in the finals. I don't hate the vote

Ah my bad then Joey, if you're reading this.

To be clear this isn't as bad as not giving unanimous votes to Shaq in 2000, or LeBron in 2013 (or MJ in a bunch of years before that), but I just think even if I make the best possible objective argument for Davis (e.g., the sustainability, or lack thereof, of his midrange shooting not mattering) he still had a slightly, but clearly worse year than James.

On playing better in 2.5/4 series: Even if we grant that, how big was the gap in those 2.5 series vs. the 1.5 series Bron played better? It's really not big either way, but the cumulative value of the gap in the 1.5 series again is just slightly bigger

Anyway moving on lmao

Yeaa I get ya for sure. The argument in Davis' favor is extremely hard to make, but I guess we can't begrudge him his homer pick. This guy more than anyone predicted the Lakers absolutely blitzing the league because of how high he was on AD haha. I just really wish LeBron has one last MVP run in him. Just give him a lifetime achievement MVP like we did for Kobe in 08. How much more does this guy have to prove he's #1

[nzahir]

Anthony Davis: LeBron James tells me Lakers are my team


This is hilarious. We all know whose team it is, but I guess Lebron has a way with words

https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-davis-lebron-james-tells-210017408.html

[kayess]

Nahh Joey is a big AD fan. And if we're being honest he did play better than Bron for 2.5/4 series. Cuz low-key his defense was more valuable than Brons offense in the finals. I don't hate the vote

Ah my bad then Joey, if you're reading this.

To be clear this isn't as bad as not giving unanimous votes to Shaq in 2000, or LeBron in 2013 (or MJ in a bunch of years before that), but I just think even if I make the best possible objective argument for Davis (e.g., the sustainability, or lack thereof, of his midrange shooting not mattering) he still had a slightly, but clearly worse year than James.

On playing better in 2.5/4 series: Even if we grant that, how big was the gap in those 2.5 series vs. the 1.5 series Bron played better? It's really not big either way, but the cumulative value of the gap in the 1.5 series again is just slightly bigger

Anyway moving on lmao

Yeaa I get ya for sure. The argument in Davis' favor is extremely hard to make, but I guess we can't begrudge him his homer pick. This guy more than anyone predicted the Lakers absolutely blitzing the league because of how high he was on AD haha. I just really wish LeBron has one last MVP run in him. Just give him a lifetime achievement MVP like we did for Kobe in 08. How much more does this guy have to prove he's #1

I just think that some years should 100% be unanimous (this was a tier 2 unanimous year though, behind like 2012-13, 91-93, 00-02).

Then again, 2009 -2010 weren't unanimous either, as was 97-98, 02... Travesties really but small ones in the grand scheme of things.

[Freighttrain]

Anthony Davis: LeBron James tells me Lakers are my team


This is hilarious. We all know whose team it is, but I guess Lebron has a way with words

https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-davis-lebron-james-tells-210017408.html

I think LeBron honestly wants to give AD the keys like he was willing to do for Kyrie. The problem lies in the fact that he plays at such a high level on a consistent basis it's hard for players to match that. AD has probably been the closest player to LeBron in terms of skills (and 2011 wade), but LeBron can shift to certain gears like he did in game 5 of the Denver series or games 5 and 6 of the Heat and you're thinking to yourself: why did I even think AD was on the same foot as this guy. He has spurts of absolute brilliance and AD sees that as well. It's just about waiting to see when father time comes knocking on that door because other than that I really can't see it happening. They blended so well together, they have great synergy and so there is no reason to play any differently. AD will take over the reins when LeBron can't do it consistently anymore in the playoffs, but for now, It's still LeBron's team, and league.

[nzahir]

Anthony Davis: LeBron James tells me Lakers are my team


This is hilarious. We all know whose team it is, but I guess Lebron has a way with words

https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-davis-lebron-james-tells-210017408.html

I think LeBron honestly wants to give AD the keys like he was willing to do for Kyrie. The problem lies in the fact that he plays at such a high level on a consistent basis it's hard for players to match that. AD has probably been the closest player to LeBron in terms of skills (and 2011 wade), but LeBron can shift to certain gears like he did in game 5 of the Denver series or games 5 and 6 of the Heat and you're thinking to yourself: why did I even think AD was on the same foot as this guy. He has spurts of absolute brilliance and AD sees that as well. It's just about waiting to see when father time comes knocking on that door because other than that I really can't see it happening. They blended so well together, they have great synergy and so there is no reason to play any differently. AD will take over the reins when LeBron can't do it consistently anymore in the playoffs, but for now, It's still LeBron's team, and league.

Do you really think Lebron wants to give up his team to someone?

This is the only guy who can be brought up in the convo with MJ really. He is 2 fmvps away from tying MJ. I think he wants at least 1 more if he can.

AD is great and may even match Lebron next year, but I don't think he will b/c of how much Lebron creates for others

Man those 2015 injuries **** things up so bad

Could have easily been 5 rings, 5 fmvps rn

Not even counting the 2011 choke or KD destroying 2 years of his offensive peak in Cle

[Freighttrain]

Anthony Davis: LeBron James tells me Lakers are my team


This is hilarious. We all know whose team it is, but I guess Lebron has a way with words

https://sports.yahoo.com/anthony-davis-lebron-james-tells-210017408.html

I think LeBron honestly wants to give AD the keys like he was willing to do for Kyrie. The problem lies in the fact that he plays at such a high level on a consistent basis it's hard for players to match that. AD has probably been the closest player to LeBron in terms of skills (and 2011 wade), but LeBron can shift to certain gears like he did in game 5 of the Denver series or games 5 and 6 of the Heat and you're thinking to yourself: why did I even think AD was on the same foot as this guy. He has spurts of absolute brilliance and AD sees that as well. It's just about waiting to see when father time comes knocking on that door because other than that I really can't see it happening. They blended so well together, they have great synergy and so there is no reason to play any differently. AD will take over the reins when LeBron can't do it consistently anymore in the playoffs, but for now, It's still LeBron's team, and league.

Do you really think Lebron wants to give up his team to someone?

This is the only guy who can be brought up in the convo with MJ really. He is 2 fmvps away from tying MJ. I think he wants at least 1 more if he can.

AD is great and may even match Lebron next year, but I don't think he will b/c of how much Lebron creates for others

Man those 2015 injuries **** things up so bad

Could have easily been 5 rings, 5 fmvps rn

Not even counting the 2011 choke or KD destroying 2 years of his offensive peak in Cle

Sure, but he has a different mentality to MJ's. LeBron has more joy for the success of his teammates than his own. That is the key difference in my opinion. I think he cares about winning obviously, he's one of the all-time great competitors. But he thoroughly enjoys AD's rise and shine. It's also beneficial to him. If AD can carry that torch throughout his prime, that would mean LeBron has at least 4-5 seasons of a championship window, which means one or two more rings, getting the all-time points record etc,.. If you look at the cumulative individual records between MJ and LeBron, it's not going to be close. People who grew up not knowing MJ will even think and say, how was this guy comparable to LeBron in any way? Especially if he gets to 5 or 6 rings. I'm not saying that is my criteria but it definitely helps persuade those who use the rings argument I guess.

[LeBird]

Sure, but he has a different mentality to MJ's. LeBron has more joy for the success of his teammates than his own. That is the key difference in my opinion. I think he cares about winning obviously, he's one of the all-time great competitors. But he thoroughly enjoys AD's rise and shine. It's also beneficial to him. If AD can carry that torch throughout his prime, that would mean LeBron has at least 4-5 seasons of a championship window, which means one or two more rings, getting the all-time points record etc,.. If you look at the cumulative individual records between MJ and LeBron, it's not going to be close. People who grew up not knowing MJ will even think and say, how was this guy comparable to LeBron in any way? Especially if he gets to 5 or 6 rings. I'm not saying that is my criteria but it definitely helps persuade those who use the rings argument I guess.

Even now the comparison is done, by the time LeBron retires it will just look silly.

Even if LeBron finishes with 5 chips/FMVP he’ll have gone to close to, if not more than, double the finals Jordan did and he’ll have almost every record in the book. The 6/6 argument is already cringeworthy but will look daft in light of every other thing LeBron will trounce Jordan in.