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He isn't just a great scorer. Can't believe some people still call him a scorer. He became a great all-around player over the years. He is elite on both ends of the floor this season. Regarding KD/LBJ in 2012 finals, a peaking more experienced 28 LBJ with a more talented team and coaching should be expected to outplay and beat a 23 KD. Current KD is way better than that KD and facing him in finals again would be a totally different story. Tonight Kevin outplayed him. Not saying he should be called best in the game just for that but this win counts in their H2H meetings and it's as legit as any win. Kevin needs to bring this play in the playoffs of course in order to be called player of the year or the best. There is no way around that. Showing his best in the playoffs is extremely crucial for him this season because that's what matters the most. LBJ is the best in the game unless KD does great in the playoffs and outplays him in the finals which is something possible btw. He showed he can outplay him tonight. I guess we should wait and see what happens.

90sgoat wrote:MJ was asked: Kobe or Lebron and he answered KD, so there's that, the true heir.

And we know what a great talent evaluator he is based on his time in Charlotte. He has led his team to more name changes than playoff series victories

KD_Steph wrote:He isn't just a great scorer. Can't believe some people still call him a scorer. He became a great all-around player over the years. He is elite on both ends of the floor this season. Regarding KD/LBJ in 2012 finals, a peaking more experienced 28 LBJ with a more talented team and coaching should be expected to outplay and beat a 23 KD. Current KD is way better than that KD and facing him in finals again would be a totally different story. Tonight Kevin outplayed him. Not saying he should be called best in the game just for that but this win counts in their H2H meetings and it's as legit as any win. Kevin needs to bring this play in the playoffs of course in order to be called player of the year or the best. There is no way around that. Showing his best in the playoffs is extremely crucial for him this season because that's what matters the most. LBJ is the best in the game unless KD does great in the playoffs and outplays him in the finals which is something possible btw. He showed he can outplay him tonight. I guess we should wait and see what happens.

KD has made big strides as an overall player over the years. My comment was specifically about this matchup historically. And please stop with the revisionist stuff about Lebron having such a more talented cast in 2012. Lebron was clearly a better player than Durant at that time, yet his team was an underdog for a reason. An oft forgotten aspect of that series. And that's without even getting into the fact that OKC was healthier too

Also, it's a wonder how you had Lebron being 5 years older than Durant in the 2012 finals when he's not even 4 full years older (about 3 years 9 months). Are these guys aging at different rates?

Thread doesn't need to get filled with nonsense, just ignore the obvious trolls.

Not sure why respected posters are getting baited like this.

90sgoat wrote:MJ was asked: Kobe or Lebron and he answered KD, so there's that, the true heir.

He also drafted Kwame Brown. He Drafted Adam Morrison. He traded for Desagana Diop. Traded the face of his franchise in Gerald Wallace for nothing.

Yeah, I will just take anything MJ says about player evaluation with a grain of salt.

I think he meant that Durant has more of a unique all time elite level skillset, compared to the other two, which is true.

KD_Steph wrote:He isn't just a great scorer. Can't believe some people still call him a scorer. He became a great all-around player over the years. He is elite on both ends of the floor this season. Regarding KD/LBJ in 2012 finals, a peaking more experienced 28 LBJ with a more talented team and coaching should be expected to outplay and beat a 23 KD. Current KD is way better than that KD and facing him in finals again would be a totally different story. Tonight Kevin outplayed him. Not saying he should be called best in the game just for that but this win counts in their H2H meetings and it's as legit as any win. Kevin needs to bring this play in the playoffs of course in order to be called player of the year or the best. There is no way around that. Showing his best in the playoffs is extremely crucial for him this season because that's what matters the most. LBJ is the best in the game unless KD does great in the playoffs and outplays him in the finals which is something possible btw. He showed he can outplay him tonight. I guess we should wait and see what happens.

Do people actually say he is just a scorer? I didn't realize I was living in 2012 again, is the world ending this December?

In all seriousness, Kevin Durant is a fantastic player. He is the 2nd best player of the past decade and a complete player. He is a better scorer than Kobe Bryant and a better defender than most of the NBA. I don't think there is any question around his ability to be able to outplay LeBron James, especially in the regular season. He has done that for many games over his career, not as many as LeBron, but a good amount and I would venture to say 30-40% of their games were either a wash or advantage KD.

What Durant did in the post-season last year really put the nail in the coffin for me for him as a player. It cemented his Legacy, to me, as a player who will go down as a top 25 player of all-time, with a ceiling hovering around top 15 and right up there with Kobe Bryant. His ability to have an effect (affect?) on both sides is something few players have had at his level.

As far as comparing him to LeBron, I hate the comparisons. It is like when everyone compared Kobe to Jordan, then LeBron to Kobe, then LeBron to MJ, then KD to LeBron. They are all different players who have different strengths and weaknesses. They all bring something different to the table, and we should respect and appreciate what they have to offer rather than focus on why Durant isn't or won't be LeBron, or why LeBron can't possibly achieve what Jordan did. It takes away everything we love about these all-time greats; their uniqueness.

Colbinii wrote:

KD_Steph wrote:He isn't just a great scorer. Can't believe some people still call him a scorer. He became a great all-around player over the years. He is elite on both ends of the floor this season. Regarding KD/LBJ in 2012 finals, a peaking more experienced 28 LBJ with a more talented team and coaching should be expected to outplay and beat a 23 KD. Current KD is way better than that KD and facing him in finals again would be a totally different story. Tonight Kevin outplayed him. Not saying he should be called best in the game just for that but this win counts in their H2H meetings and it's as legit as any win. Kevin needs to bring this play in the playoffs of course in order to be called player of the year or the best. There is no way around that. Showing his best in the playoffs is extremely crucial for him this season because that's what matters the most. LBJ is the best in the game unless KD does great in the playoffs and outplays him in the finals which is something possible btw. He showed he can outplay him tonight. I guess we should wait and see what happens.

Do people actually say he is just a scorer? I didn't realize I was living in 2012 again, is the world ending this December?

In all seriousness, Kevin Durant is a fantastic player. He is the 2nd best player of the past decade and a complete player. He is a better scorer than Kobe Bryant and a better defender than most of the NBA. I don't think there is any question around his ability to be able to outplay LeBron James, especially in the regular season. He has done that for many games over his career, not as many as LeBron, but a good amount and I would venture to say 30-40% of their games were either a wash or advantage KD.

What Durant did in the post-season last year really put the nail in the coffin for me for him as a player. It cemented his Legacy, to me, as a player who will go down as a top 25 player of all-time, with a ceiling hovering around top 15 and right up there with Kobe Bryant. His ability to have an effect (affect?) on both sides is something few players have had at his level.

As far as comparing him to LeBron, I hate the comparisons. It is like when everyone compared Kobe to Jordan, then LeBron to Kobe, then LeBron to MJ, then KD to LeBron. They are all different players who have different strengths and weaknesses. They all bring something different to the table, and we should respect and appreciate what they have to offer rather than focus on why Durant isn't or won't be LeBron, or why LeBron can't possibly achieve what Jordan did. It takes away everything we love about these all-time greats; their uniqueness.

You'd be shocked how many casuals to begin this season said he was just a scorer...oh and i loved what you said i think we need to appreciate individual greatness and their talent as opposed to the constant comparisons.

Wall34 wrote:

Colbinii wrote:

KD_Steph wrote:He isn't just a great scorer. Can't believe some people still call him a scorer. He became a great all-around player over the years. He is elite on both ends of the floor this season. Regarding KD/LBJ in 2012 finals, a peaking more experienced 28 LBJ with a more talented team and coaching should be expected to outplay and beat a 23 KD. Current KD is way better than that KD and facing him in finals again would be a totally different story. Tonight Kevin outplayed him. Not saying he should be called best in the game just for that but this win counts in their H2H meetings and it's as legit as any win. Kevin needs to bring this play in the playoffs of course in order to be called player of the year or the best. There is no way around that. Showing his best in the playoffs is extremely crucial for him this season because that's what matters the most. LBJ is the best in the game unless KD does great in the playoffs and outplays him in the finals which is something possible btw. He showed he can outplay him tonight. I guess we should wait and see what happens.

Do people actually say he is just a scorer? I didn't realize I was living in 2012 again, is the world ending this December?

In all seriousness, Kevin Durant is a fantastic player. He is the 2nd best player of the past decade and a complete player. He is a better scorer than Kobe Bryant and a better defender than most of the NBA. I don't think there is any question around his ability to be able to outplay LeBron James, especially in the regular season. He has done that for many games over his career, not as many as LeBron, but a good amount and I would venture to say 30-40% of their games were either a wash or advantage KD.

What Durant did in the post-season last year really put the nail in the coffin for me for him as a player. It cemented his Legacy, to me, as a player who will go down as a top 25 player of all-time, with a ceiling hovering around top 15 and right up there with Kobe Bryant. His ability to have an effect (affect?) on both sides is something few players have had at his level.

As far as comparing him to LeBron, I hate the comparisons. It is like when everyone compared Kobe to Jordan, then LeBron to Kobe, then LeBron to MJ, then KD to LeBron. They are all different players who have different strengths and weaknesses. They all bring something different to the table, and we should respect and appreciate what they have to offer rather than focus on why Durant isn't or won't be LeBron, or why LeBron can't possibly achieve what Jordan did. It takes away everything we love about these all-time greats; their uniqueness.

You'd be shocked how many casuals to begin this season said he was just a scorer.

I would believe it. I really only talk basketball to a few close friends who know very little about basketball but show interest in my interests, and then this board.

He's been GSW's best player this season.

It was asinine to call him only a scorer. He's an all-around superstar. Had a fantastic game. Not many who could outplay Lebron the way KD has done at times in the RS.

Strawman arguments just flying on this thread tonight from a couple posters. I'm assuming the "only a scorer" reference relates to my post earlier in the thread (post #392) about their matchups historically (and I didn't even use the phrase in quotes). Possessing reading comprehension at even a junior high school level would give one the ability to understand that I was speaking about the dynamic in their matchups over the years, and not KD as it relates to today. The assertion that Durant has played Lebron to "a standstill" over their *careers* is pretty silly given the facts

Apparently Lebron was 0-5 with 2 turnovers when guarded by Kd but i cant recall 5 possessions he was on him, remember 2 tho for sure.

The reason for KD's improvement this season. Plays hard every game in order to get interviewed by Rose. The real MVP.

Finals match-up between these two will be one for the ages. I entered the season slightly mad about KD leaving. I always wanted him to get a title with WB but they guy is hard to hate. He's so good. This is his best defence too. Should prob make a all defensive team.

This is certainly his best play this season. Just insane. It's extremely hard to block LBJ like that.

GSP wrote:Apparently Lebron was 0-5 with 2 turnovers when guarded by Kd but i cant recall 5 possessions he was on him, remember 2 tho for sure.

Man, Lebron definitely wants no part of Durant now if this was the case.

JordansBulls wrote:

GSP wrote:Apparently Lebron was 0-5 with 2 turnovers when guarded by Kd but i cant recall 5 possessions he was on him, remember 2 tho for sure.

Man, Lebron definitely wants no part of Durant now if this was the case.

Yeah, I heard that LeBron is going to let Jimmy Butler walk all over him in the 1st round of the Eastern Playoffs just so he doesn't have to face Durant.

It will be fun to see Durant and LeBron in the finals face off.

90sgoat wrote:This is what it looks like when Durant has a team that can match Lebron's Miami/Cavs teams!

WOW

Talent wise his supporting cast is way better, so saying they simply "match the Cavs" is pretty inaccurate.

JulesWinnfield wrote:Strawman arguments just flying on this thread tonight from a couple posters. I'm assuming the "only a scorer" reference relates to my post earlier in the thread (post #392) about their matchups historically (and I didn't even use the phrase in quotes). Possessing reading comprehension at even a junior high school level would give one the ability to understand that I was speaking about the dynamic in their matchups over the years, and not KD as it relates to today. The assertion that Durant has played Lebron to "a standstill" over their *careers* is pretty silly given the facts

If this is about me referencing "casuals say KD is just a scorer" comment i was not referencing you at all i just want to make that clear.