Now let's talk about what the Spurs can learn from Alabama: after blowing the big game (2010 Iron Bowl in our case, championship last year in theirs), you show what you're all about by winning the next TWO titles.
Jordan is unquestionably the most clutch athlete I've ever seen. Based on those numbers, though, it looks like Lebron could catch up with him in the number of walk-off shots. That's strange because Lebron never struck me as a buzzer-beater guy. Also, are those regular season and playoffs or just playoffs?As far as stats and being the most talented guy on his team/affecting the game it's comparable but there is one huge difference that separates 'equal-ness'. Jordan isn't just the GOAT from an offensive and defensive complete player standpoint...he's the most CLUTCH player ever. Never mind the countless times he carried his team to victory....he had 22 game winning walk off shots at over a 50% accuracy. Lebron has 14 right now around 40% accuracy and Kobe has 28....but he's only about 30% accurate. I'd say LeBron vs Kobe is an interesting debate but Jordan is in a league unto himself.
It's regular season and playoffs combined. Lebron could catch up on total shots but it's the % that's amazing. At the same % rate Lebron would have to be 22/55 at 40% to catch MJ....so it would have taken MJ 12-13 less Clutch attempts for the same amount of 22 buzzer beater walk-offs. Kobe is the real shocking one because he's been compared to MJ forever but he misses far more than he makes even though he has the most at 28 winners....but it does play into he selfish just 'jack-it-up' reputation.As far as stats and being the most talented guy on his team/affecting the game it's comparable but there is one huge difference that separates 'equal-ness'. Jordan isn't just the GOAT from an offensive and defensive complete player standpoint...he's the most CLUTCH player ever. Never mind the countless times he carried his team to victory....he had 22 game winning walk off shots at over a 50% accuracy. Lebron has 14 right now around 40% accuracy and Kobe has 28....but he's only about 30% accurate. I'd say LeBron vs Kobe is an interesting debate but Jordan is in a league unto himself.
Jordan is unquestionably the most clutch athlete I've ever seen. Based on those numbers, though, it looks like Lebron could catch up with him in the number of walk-off shots. That's strange because Lebron never struck me as a buzzer-beater guy. Also, are those regular season and playoffs or just playoffs?
1st - He may be the most naturally gifted -- but if LJ is the "Best Player in the World" where would you rank Leonard? Because he was the best player in the series -- when it was all on the line -- and I doubt anyone would rank Duncan, Parker and Genobili (sp?) -- as Top 10 talent anymore --Why must he be compared to MJ? Because MJ's the greatest? Lebron is the best player in the world. No one can dispute that.
The immediate talk of Lebron's future and how he'll never be MJ is stupid. It completely ignores the job the Spurs did. Folks got upset because ABC went to Colt McCoy immediately after the game in 2010 rather than interviewing Bama players and celebrating the win. That's what is happening with people constantly discussing Lebron rather than the Spurs.
lol, wut?Jordan left NC after his sophomore year and took a year off to play baseball, then came back in the middle of the 95 season.
Agreed. Team effort beat the best individual player. SA worked extremely well togther; I think they averaged 25+ assists in their wins which probably accounted for almost half of their baskets made. LeBron led his team in almost every statistical category (including minutes played) in almost every game. He wasn't the reason the Heat lost. The way the Spurs played and lack of secondary help are the reasons the Heat lost. Just like our game against LSU in the Superdome, I think it was evident, the Spurs were more focused and "into" the series/game than the Heat were and they won almost as convincingly as we did (revenge/redemption is a great motivator).I don't think it's really debatable as to who the best player in the league is. It's LeBron, hands down.
But last night looked like a five on one pickup game. LeBron had very very little help from anybody after the first six minutes. As good as he is individually he can't beat a very intelligent and fundamentally sound basketball team like the Spurs by himself--and last night that's pretty much what he was trying to do.
I'll give San Antonio all the credit rather than criticizing LeBron's performance. They played absolutely brilliant basketball this entire series. I think it was one of the all time great team performances ever.
Agree with you and Sip, and I will add Popovich is the best coach in the business.Agreed. Team effort beat the best individual player. SA worked extremely well togther; I think they averaged 25+ assists in their wins which probably accounted for almost half of their baskets made. LeBron led his team in almost every statistical category (including minutes played) in almost every game. He wasn't the reason the Heat lost. The way the Spurs played and lack of secondary help are the reasons the Heat lost. Just like our game against LSU in the Superdome, I think it was evident, the Spurs were more focused and "into" the series/game than the Heat were and they won almost as convincingly as we did (revenge/redemption is a great motivator).
But Sip, can you be the best if you can't even motivate your own team?I don't think it's really debatable as to who the best player in the league is. It's LeBron, hands down.
But last night looked like a five on one pickup game. LeBron had very very little help from anybody after the first six minutes. As good as he is individually he can't beat a very intelligent and fundamentally sound basketball team like the Spurs by himself--and last night that's pretty much what he was trying to do.
I'll give San Antonio all the credit rather than criticizing LeBron's performance. They played absolutely brilliant basketball this entire series. I think it was one of the all time great team performances ever.
That's (one of the area's) where I draw the line as well. Lebron doesn't inspire the love of the fans or his team like Jordan did. The Heat, including Lebron about half the time, were flat as a tire. Lebron had some amazing runs but the other half of the time he looked exhausted. Part of that is Spoelestra's fault but at times he looked like he didn't want it but he wanted to want it. Say what you will about the lack of help, but the team feeds off the energy of its best player. I've always thought Lebron deferred the leadership role to Wade.But Sip, can you be the best if you can't even motivate your own team?
Lebron has four years on MJ at his age because Lebron skipped college and never left to play baseball. I'm saying that if Jordan had never left the game, he might've had seven or eight consecutive championships. I don't think anyone would've beaten the Jackson-coached Bulls. Also, Jordan won a championship in college (he hit a buzzer-beating three to win it if I'm not mistaken). But no one ever mentions that when talking about his legacy.lol, wut?
People don't like Lebron because he's a feminine hygiene product the size of Jupiter. It took me a while to admit that he is as good as he is, Jordan being my boyhood hero, but for the most part he's deserving of the praise he's given.
One thing that is never mentioned with Jordan in regards to his legacy is that Lebron has four additional years in the NBA in regards to his age. Jordan left NC after his sophomore year and took a year off to play baseball, then came back in the middle of the 95 season. If not for the latter excursion, he may have won seven or eight (consecutive) championships instead of three-peating twice. Also Jordan is a seven-time champion--one of them came in college.
Jordan hit a jumper with 17 seconds left to put UNC up by 1. There were no 3 pointers in 1982.Jordan won a championship in college (he hit a buzzer-beating three to win it if I'm not mistaken).
You are right about MJ since he was 6-0 in the finals but Larry lost 3 times in the finals and Magic 4 times (albeit to each other at times).LeBron is Peyton Manning. Everything about him looks & feels like the making of a GOAT candidate. Then you start looking at rings....and you start making excuses about his teammates and how they let him down. MJ, Larry, Magic.....they willed their teams to win. Their teammates played better because these superstars willed them to.
IMHO this is why LBJ loses the GOAT argument every time.
Lebron will finish his career with more championships than Larry. He already has as many Finals MVP awards. While Lebron has sometimes underperformed in the Finals, he's been outstanding in the playoffs in general. Peyton has a mind-boggling number of first-round exits. During his last two Super Bowl runs, his teams cake-walked through the AFC because it was a weak conference. You can't compare Lebron's playoff success to Peyton's.LeBron is Peyton Manning. Everything about him looks & feels like the making of a GOAT candidate. Then you start looking at rings....and you start making excuses about his teammates and how they let him down. MJ, Larry, Magic.....they willed their teams to win. Their teammates played better because these superstars willed them to.
IMHO this is why LBJ loses the GOAT argument every time.
No competition?? Dude you are kidding right? Except for that 1991 Lakers final they faced the #1 Western Conference team in 5 out of the 6 Finals. But...That was an awesome 1991 Pistons team still they had to get by and it's because MJ bulked up and they finally put the pieces together.There was no real competition for the Jordan Bull teams - they beat an aging Laker team (after Magic pulled up in game one with a hamstring), Portland and Phoenix, Seattle and the Jazz twice. Had the Pistons not gotten older, I am not sure they ever would have overcome Daly's Bruisers.
Jordan simply never had a rival - like Bird and Magic, Russell and Wilt, even a Duncan-Lebron type thing.
And who the heck is Lebron's rival? The youngster Durant, who, in my opinion, still doesn't "get it" (I'm hoping he will soon). Or is it 38-year-old Tim Duncan? Or Kwahi Leonard? Or is it Paul George? Except for Durant, none of those guys come close to the competition Jordan faced, and we haven't seen Durant's best yet--not even close.There was no real competition for the Jordan Bull teams - they beat an aging Laker team (after Magic pulled up in game one with a hamstring), Portland and Phoenix, Seattle and the Jazz twice. Had the Pistons not gotten older, I am not sure they ever would have overcome Daly's Bruisers.
Jordan simply never had a rival - like Bird and Magic, Russell and Wilt, even a Duncan-Lebron type thing.