2015-16 NBA Thread (feat. the Wives)

Eh, the Jordan/James debate is definitely of the dead-horse variety. But there is a history of LeBron's teams underperforming in the playoffs (based on seeding) and of LeBron shrinking from the moment.

It hasn't been the case for the last few years, but it was definitely there awhile ago and it's a hard thing to overcome. There is a great difference in that regard between him and Jordan, Magic et al.

 

And that 45-point, 15-rebound game at Boston in Game 6 in 2012 with the Heat down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals just didn't happen, eh?

 

This reads like a 93Devil post from 2011.

 

Not really. But if you want to excuse him for the fourth quarter of the entire finals series against the Mavs, I suppose that's your right.

 

Just like I excuse Jordan for his first six years full of "failure."

 

It's funny that you mock Devil, because in the whole time this debate has been going, your irrational "I will brook no criticism of LeBron James!" is the weirdest thing about it all.

You can keep telling yourself that losing to all-time great teams like the '80s Celtics and Pistons is like the failures of LeBron's teams against inferior opponents. You will always be wrong on that.

 

LeBron did not fail against inferior opponents. The team that he is employed by did.

Even in the world of Hero Ball, individuals do not compete in the NBA. Teams do.

 

Yada yada yada.

LeBron absolutely failed in the finals against the Mavs. The others, when a team wins 15 more games than its opponent and then loses in the playoffs, it's noteworthy.

 

You certainly believe you've got a silver bullet stat, but it's not. There are numerous reasons why a team might lose in the playoffs to a team that did not do as well in the regular season, not all of which support your point. But you've chosen to believe that the only possible explanation is the one that does.

 

All-time great teams like the Warriors and the Spurs?

Also, I don't rail against every anti-LeBron comment. I think it's ridiculous when people look at his track record in the postseason and think that "disqualifies" him from all-time greatness.

He could never win another playoff game and he'll still be one of the top 5 basketball players who ever lived.

 

If your supporting facts for how good a basketball player is at basketball include the result of a team competition in which one team defeated another team, you've already lost.

 

Jordan would've willed Kevin Love's shoulder and Kyrie Irving's ankle back together before the Finals last year.