2014 NBA Playoffs thread

Statistically it was pretty close. But I'm sorry, Memphis, the LA Clippers and the Spurs is a WAY tougher road than Charlotte, Brooklyn, Indiana. Playing Memphis in the first round put Durant against better defense than James faced in the entire Eastern Conference playoffs with the possible exception of Indiana.

 

I don't think the majority of people here are making that argument. They're saying they'd take Jordan over him and you interpret that as people saying that LeBron sucks.

 

They'd take Jordan over him for stupid reasons.

 

The last two pages have had myriad attempts to argue that Durant is better than LeBron solely because Durant won this year's MVP award.

 

The argument with Durant is that LeBron's status as the best of his era is far more in doubt than Jordan's was at any point of his prime. It's difficult to compare eras, but one way you can is how much a player dominated his peers. I would argue that Jordan was a much clearer "best" player of his era than James is and, yes, I would argue that James was not the best player in basketball this season.

I don't think there was ever really doubt that Jordan was the best player of his era at any time during the 8-year stretch in question outside of the year and a half he was playing baseball. I think there's a much stronger argument to make for Durant now than there ever was for one of Jordan's contemporaries and, at the other end of LeBron's current stretch, there was still a strong argument to be make for Kobe, especially in the 2009 season when Bryant was leading the Lakers to a championship with Pau Gasol as LA's second best player.

There has been more doubt about LeBron's individual supremacy in his own era than there ever was during the height of Jordan's dominance. And, with Durant still on the rise, I don't see that changing.

 

I believe only one poster has been pushing that view, albeit in more than one attempt. Not exactly what I'd call "a myriad."

 

If James is going to get blasted compared to Jordan because he's a measly 2-3 in NBA title series, then how does Durant become better than James while going 0-1?

A lot of the doubt about James' supremacy is based on two things. 1. Memories of Jordan, real and imagined. 2. The Decision. If, say, James took a year-and-a-half off to spend more time with his family take the heat off of David Stern to suspend him for gambling play baseball, rather than make his free agency decision during a live TV event, perhaps he would be better respected. Stupid, but true.

 

Ask Brian Griffin.

In the same year he criticizes Lebron for being beat by by Duncan he gives Durant a pass for losing to Duncan even though he had a superior team. Teams win these things not individual players.

Apparently he thinks it's is a one on one battle only when it fits his ridiculous narrative.

 

Well, there's zero question if this draft is for just the next season. But if this hypothetical draft is for the future, I'm thinking a lot of GM's would look at age 29 vs. age 25 and go with the younger of the two.

 

Listen, I love Durant. He's the 2nd-best player in the league.

LeBron is the king and there is no dispute. You're trying too hard to make Durant something he isn't.

Someone else said it, to the effect, what is so wrong with LeBron being 9.8 and Durant being 9.4?

What kind of hair are you trying to split?

 

A short (and partially smart-ass) answer would be that Durant has the handicap of playing for a team that was dumb enough to trade James Harden.

 

Because The Decision, fake glasses and steals per game.