Durants weakness is always gonna be on the defensive side in pick and roll and swing defense. Hes a hell of a player but can disappear from games when it matters most. I agree hes mvp this year, but come playoff time the gloves are off and Lebron will take over.

Basketball is a team game though, and LeBron averages 7 assists per game. How many of those assists lead to three-pointers for Miami when you have Chalmers, **RAY ALLEN**, Battier, and even Bosh making threes? The correct answer is a whole lot of three's come off Lebron's assists. So when James has the ball in his hands, his team "scores" defacto nearly as much as KD does on his own.

However, Durant has VASTLY improved (and still is improving) in his assists, having increased his APG TWOFOLD since his rookie year. There's no doubt, Durant is a scoring machine.

When you talk about individual player scoring, you should keep in mind the context each player is in. The Thunder don't have a whole lot of scorers, (this was especially evident last year when Westbrook was out), and so it usually falls on Durant to score points for the whole team. LeBron was in a very similar situation in Cleveland (perhaps it was even worse than the Thunder-Westrbook!). James twice hit 30+ ppg, and he's NEVER done that in Miami. The most he's gotten is 27 PPG. He CAN score as much as KD, that's just not how he likes to play, (he now also plays slightly less minutes than KD too).

LeBron>Durant.

Interesting points! Dont get me wrong though, you wont find any bigger LeBron fans than me. I've followed him since he was in high school (I grew up pretty close to Akron). As far as I'm concerned, he's already the second greatest player to ever touch a basketball, and all he needs is to keep up this same production for a few more years and there wont be a question in my opinion.

I actually believe LeBron wouldve been the greatest ever in ANY sport, literally. You think Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham are devastating on a football field? Those guys arent half the athlete LeBron is. And can you even imagine how well LeBron couldve pitched? If he couldve perfected a curve ball he wouldve been Randy Johnson 2.0.

Oh I can find bigger Lebron and Miami fans because my brothers are and my goodness it is annoying!!lol

I just want to be clear with my opinion on Lebron.

He might be the best player in the league right now but I don't think he is worthy to be compared to Michael Jordan. He doesn't have as many shooting titles and championships as MJ and I just don't think he is this likable iconic player that the NBA makes him out to be. I know throughout the series over the summer they made mini commercials comparing MJ stats to Lebron and making it seem as though Lebron had surpassed Jordan.

I really would like to hear FRED HALE perspectives on this.

This does not change that Lebron is the best right now but I don't think he is on the level of MJ or has even surpassed him. I also think the way in which he got his championships need to be taken into consideration as well. He had to go to another team to get his championships. Didn't MJ have dry spells before he started winning championships with the Bulls? He still stayed on the team though and built a team around him. I dunno, I just don't think they are in the same category and in saying that does not mean I am not acknowledging he is the best right now.

He might be the best in the league right now but he personally isn't my favorite ball player. I like others like Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, West Brooke, Jason Terry and a few others. As far as personality, I really like Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan.

I also find Lebron to be very arrogant.

I would still consider Jordan the best to ever grace a court. I have had a multitude of debates with friends before regarding the passing of the torch to Kobe/Lebron. Nobody in my eyes was as calculated and cerebral when it came to scoring. I've never seen a more competitive person in any sport i've watched. He is the best defensive guard to ever play the game also. If his team needed a rebound he was snagging 10 a game, if they needed him to facilitate and assist he would draw the double team and make easy looks for people. But when they needed him to score he was the best ever. His team being a bunch of fill players and Scottie Pippen leads a lot more credence to how gifted he truly was.

That all being said if Lebron matches his rings and continues to elevate his game there is some merit to the comparison. Head to head I believe Lebron would give him problems in the post, but MJ would break his ankles in the open court.

I dislike it when people call LeBron arrogant. Kobe Bryant is ridiculously arrogant, and I don't feel LeBron is anywhere close to that, so from that perspective, he's likable.

Also, I am a Heat fan cause I live in Kansas and go to Jayhawk games weekly, and it's fun to watch LeBron play and see the connections to Andrew Wiggins (6'8", unstoppable slashers, play awesome defense, run the break, etc...)

Also also, Ray Allen is my all-time favorite basketball player, and he played such a critical part in the finals last year for miami!

Also also also, West Brooke!? Who's he?

Bron is so humble abd likeable its ridiculous. Lotta haters still got the blinders on unfortunately

Heat fan in Kansas, how does that even happen. Wiggins is a beast. I love watching NCAA, I've watched a bunch of Duke this year because Parker is fun to watch.

My alltime favorite baller is definitely Magic Johnson. He and Bird were the reason I started watching and fell in love with the game when they were in College.

You know who shes referring to. The typo police are in effect. I never saw it coming with Westbrook he was so average at UCLA. Even Kevin Love was just a good player, not the absolute madman we see playing for the T-wolves now. Must be a Ben Howland thing.

Being a fan in a fly over city (Denver) I would take Durant over any player in the league. LeBron was never going to stay in a small market. Too much ego. Thats kobes downfall too.

Wade is one of the greats and was unstoppable before getting injured. people will talk about getting to see him play someday.

I dont think the league is fixed but you see the refs controlling things all the time. Lebron would have to take out a gun and shoot someone in the face to get a 6th foul in an important game. When the score gets lopsided the foul calls start to change. Other sports just dont have that. NBA is still my fave sport though.

I knew there was a reason why I started watching the Heat that I forgot to mention: It started with Mario Chalmers (used to play for KU, really famous there) being a starter for Miami. He fits so well with LeBron and Wade there, being able to space the floor. He's also gotten surprisingly good.

Wiggins also scored a career high 29 points last night, he was amazing. Two or three games ago he had 2 points, so he's still developing consistency.

^Also, LeBron took less money so Miami could still sign other players. How does that equate to him having a large ego? Again just compare him to Kobe and you'll see he's not as bad as you might believe...

Moss ur right.... as a gambler I will 100% confirm refs rig scores and keep games close


Chalmers is a perfect fit for miami. Beasley has been nice too. Bitdman and oden too.

I dunno if wiggins will even be the first player taken from his own team. This draft class is gross. Dante exum just declared. Hes a tall australian pg who will be top 10

I am sorry I HAVE to say this.... For all those who say Lebron is not arrogant I just don't see how you can say that lol

The man made fun of another player's injury

And it was arrogant the way he left Cleveland without telling the owner. Don't you think he could have been more respectful being they helped him assimilate into the NBA and when he first started out?

He is very arrogant in his press conferences and when he loses. He is a very sore loser and does not know how to lose gracefully.

He disrespected the middle class the first year he played with his so called "dream team" and loss to Dallas.

He also made some disrespectful remarks toward MJ and I love MJ.

He is too cocky and his head is to swollen for me.

He is not likable. Most people I have talked too do not like him as a personality. He is not as likable as MJ.

Yea I agree.

I personally don't think there will ever be another MJ. MJ was much more than just a great ball player. He even changed the face of the game and turned it into a business with the Nike and brands. He is also very very very likable and was far more handsome than Lebron not that looks means anything but just saying.

I like to think that certain levels of greatness unfortunately will never be reachable. Once the bar is set you can not break it or repeat it ya know? Certain people are just that special and unique and MJ was definitely one of them on AND off the court.

Lol mj is a notorious dikchead

U can see his hall of fame speech for an example

If MJ played in this era people would not have such a fuzzy picture of him.

You have to be arrogant to be a top level player. Some are better at hiding it than others.

MJ was not an angel either but that still does not change the fact that he was likable.

He trashed talked (but that is apart of the sport)

He even got in fights

but


Did he make fun of other ball players injuries?

Did he blame others for his losses?

Did he insult the middle class?

Did he leave a team without telling the owner just for a championship?

Things like that are just beyond being a "little arrogant".

Even other ball players have called Lebron out on that. Dirk said he was ignorant for making fun of his injury.

He does not have good sportsmanship

I tell you one thing, MJ would not have went to another team just for a championship. He would have built a team around him like he did with the Bulls and that I greatly respect. He was not just thinking about himself.

Or maybe he saw going to another team as a failure.

I could care less about whether a player offends people.

What matters is how hard they ball. The rest is just hurt feelings.

But you made a argument that MJ would act differently in today's league.

He does not have the mindset of these ball players of today.

MJ did not have to go to another team to win a championship.

I made the argument that he would be perceived differently. What with all the increased media coverage / camera phones / etc.

There are still players with loyalty, just not LBJ. He has been really cloak and dagger in regard to his pending free agency. Maybe he will jump ship again?

I see your point and I think he will jump ship again which is why I do not think he deserves to be compared to MJ.

I think the only one that deserves to be compared to MJ is Kobe.

the guy who is not better than Dwyane Wade by any measure besides rings?

Oh no you didn't.

You can make the argument that Jordan stayed with his team when they were bad, but you can't argue against the good that's come from LeBron leaving Cleveland. I mean James rarely went inside and rarely posted up like he does now. I doubt he would have even DEVELOPED his post game if he had stayed in Cleveland. He'd still probably be taking 10123812083 threes a season and doing idiotic things like that.

Just think about it: He's 6'8", 250 lbs., finishes plays at the rim like Jordan, and handles the ball and runs as well as a point guard. How he was being used and what players the management was surrounding him with were all the wrong things.

Erik Spolestra noticed what the problem was IMMEDIATELY when he got to Miami. What did James do the first two years he was in Miami?

1. He stopped taking 1000 threes a season
2. Posted up more A LOT MORE
3. Went inside A HECK OF A LOT MORE

And what happened? He shoots a higher percentage, scores just as prevalently, and does all of this while playing less minutes than he did at Cleveland. You can argue that maybe he should have stayed with him, but you CAN NOT say that he would be as successful as he is now. I mean come on, his first year in Miami they made the finals, and they weren't swept like the only other time LeBron made a finals appearance in Cleveland.

Second the notion.

Of course jordan didn't leave..... who would with scottie pippen as a teammate??

Wade is an all timer but he isn't on kobes level

There's no comparison to be made, MJ led the league in points nearly ever year he played except for two years where his season was shortened, and two years with the Wizards when he was pushing 40. Even then, he still averaged over 21 PPG.

of course jordan didnt want to leave, he had phil ****ing jackson as his coach

lebron had mike god damn brown and the only decent teammate he had was mo williams i mean lol

Exactly.

I dont even dislike Lebron (hate Kobe though), I do think the way he left Cleveland was pretty classless but he is still so you. . But his ego is too big to stay on a small market team like Cleveland. i respect Durant for trying to build something for the people that supported him and for his unselfish play and for not whining until he gets traded to L.A. or NY.

Lol I think it's more like Phil Jackson had Michael Jordan, and Mike Brown had Lebron, but all that aside, the Cavs had a couple of decent teams. Tired of people saying that Lebron didn't have anything to work with, when in reality he had a solid supporting cast that helped him get to the Finals.

Btw, why do you think Phil didn't want to coach the Lakers last year? Probably because they're on the decline. He came back when they had that monster front court. Dude's not as great as everyone thinks he is, and coaching honestly doesn't have a huge impact on the game, it's the players that make the team, not the coach.

Didn't he get drafted on the team?

MJ did not always have that around him.

He had years where he didn't get championships either.

Thanks, good point

That's pretty much false


Lebron elevated the other players. In short they were good cuz of bron.



Bron left n cavs were one of the worst teams in history

:afro:

:rofl: ZING! I decree you the winner sir. And after 3 years, they're still terrible. lol poor Cleveland. Hey that's one thing LBJ and MJ have in common, they both screwed Cleveland over lol!

sigh, this is so tedious. but maybe i can make one more person informed and the world will be a better place.

kobe career stats:
25.5 ppg, 3.0 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 steals, 4.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 45.4% field goals

wade career stats:
24.0 ppg, 3.4 turnovers, 1.0 blocks, 1.7 steals, 5.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 49.1% field goals

Kobe has slight ppg, turnovers, and rebounds advantage, while Wade has slight blocks, steals, assists, and field goal percentage advantage. Their stats are basically identical. Kobe has two more rings and has produced at a high level for longer than Wade (both of which are important, of course, I'm not claiming Wade is a greater all-time player than Kobe) but that's all that separate them.

And if those players they had sucked, then they wouldn't have made it to the Finals, and won 60+ games twice. Larry Hughes, Verejao, Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones, Wally Sczerbiak, Mo Williams, Delonte West, Booby Gibson, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace. Tons of solid players around him. Lebron wasn't winning games by himself.

if you honestly think those are good players besides varejao and williams (ben wallace was absolutely not a difference maker anymore at that point in his career) then i just dont know what to ever say to you.

It's like saying that the Lakers sucked when Shaq left. Yeah, you're technically right, but it isn't the point. The point is that there were other players on the team who were good. The NBA is a very star-driven league.