2010 NBA offseason draft, FA, etc etc...

I disagree. You're neglecting to consider WHEN those hall of famers played together.

Yes, technically the early 70s Lakers had three hall of famers in Elgin, Wilt and West. Except that Elgin was way over the hill and nowhere close to the player he used to be by that point in his career. And Wilt and West were also in their final years and no longer the players they used to be. Those three never played together in their prime. If Elgin/Wilt/West had played together in 1964 you'd have a valid comparison, 1971 not so much.

Similar story with Kareem and Worthy on the 80s Lakers. Worthy came off the bench behind Wilkes his first couple years in LA. And when he later emerged as a star Kareem was nearly 40 and seriously slowing down. They were never in their prime together.

As for the Bird/McHale/Parish Celts, that HOF trio did not have the superstar credentials this one does. Not only is Lebron generally considered the No. 1 player in the League, Wade might be No. 3, and Bosh is near top 10. On those Celts, only Bird was a top 5 superstar and Parish was never even Top 15.

What makes this Lebron/Wade/Bosh trio so fascinating is not only that all three are stars, but they're all still young, about the same age (all three part of the exact same draft class) and on the early side of their prime. I don't believe we've ever seen a three superstar all simultaneously at their apex team like this before. Perhaps the closest example to it would be the 96 Jordan/Pippin/Rodman Bulls, and that group finished with a 72-10 record. It ought to be mighty interesting watching this trio simultaneously hit their peak together.

 

Sorry but that's crap. At costume party in Miami yesterday LeBron said that goal exceeded 7 Championships. Thats the standard he set for himself. For a guy that tattooed THE CHOSEN ONE on his back, nothing short of perfection is allowed.

 

I'm capable of separating a guy who has too big a mouth off the court with what he is on the court.

 

Kareem was still a force, however. MVP of the 1985 Finals. Numbers were 25.7/9.0/5.2 (shooting .604 from the field). Not quite his prime, perhaps, but equal to anything you'll see in Miami the next few years.

And remember this: Kareem and Magic were not only HOF players but Top 5 all-time players. And Worthy's a Top 50 talent. Right now Bosh is not even Top 50, Wade's somewhere in the high 30s-low 40s, and LeBron won't crack the Top 20 until/unless he has a playoff-defining performance to wash the stink off of Game 5 vs. Celtics.

 

I'm assuming those numbers are only his NBA finals numbers, I know his 85 regular season numbers weren't that impressive.

But I'll give you this, with the 80s Lakers there's about a one year window around 85 when your three superstar comparison is valid. Kareem was still playing at star calibur in 85 (although, at 37 years old, he was nowhere close to the player he used to be), and Worthy stepped up his production to borderline star levels that year (but he didn't actually become an all star until 86). I don't think the comparison applies after 85 considering how much Kareem's legs slowed down in his final seasons. But I'll give you credit for that one season.

Which only emphasizes the difference here. With Lebron, Wade and Bosh all still young and around the same age, this is a chance to see three superstars play together in their prime for quite a few years, not just a brief window. In that respect, this is something entirely new.

 

1984 final was the basketball low point of Magic's career. That summer SI ran a huge story about his selfishness and egomania. His contract (million per) was considered outlandish.

 

Apparently, you don't.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/abdulka01.html

22 points, 7.9 board a game for the regular season. Oh, not AS high . .. but that's semantics.

Anyone who doesn't think The Captain was still playing at a very effective level into the Lakers' 87-88 repeat just wasn't watching basketball.

 

I also think this year's Heat bench will not compare to any of the Laker benches in the 1980s.

Byron Scott was also not chopped liver, either.

 

No Michael Cooper or Bob Mcadoo will be on Heat Bench.

 

Here is why the standards WILL be high:

If Miami loses two in a row, Spoelstra will have to watch his back. Talk about pressure for a coach who hasn't won 50 games in a season yet. It's now assumed they win go 68-14 next year.

Much like with 2005-2006 in Miami, Riley will sense these players crave the respect of his history and not his coach's (Van Gundy then) and Spoelsta will have to go sleep with the fishes...er, uh, "spend more time with his family".

 

Translation:
Riley, being the sleaze that he is, will again knife a young coach in the back at the first opportunity so he can poach a championship and add to his glowing resume and legacy.

 

http://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/18224705107

Knicks Prez Donnie Walsh told me today that Isiah Thomas will be among Knicks GM candidates if they make a hire