Chris Palmer: "Lebron Is Better Than Kobe & Jordan"

[Da_Realist]

it could have to do with the fact that he was 22 years old in his 2nd postseason... i mean that MIGHT mean something. Let's also add to the fact that he was the only threat on the floor and it all adds up.

It doesn't matter though. The premise is that Lebron was so good that he could take his teams further than Jordan could. My point is the situations were different. Yes, Jordan was more experienced and was also more skilled and a better player. The fact that Lebron could get to the NBA Finals without the same experience, skillset and high level of play says more about the context surrounding his run than it says that he was a better player.

Put both players in the same situation and Jordan was much, much more productive.

Also note the 80's Pistons were better and deeper than the 07 Spurs. Not only did they have more players to defend Jordan but they also had more players that needed to be defended. They went 9 deep easily.

[Phong]

it could have to do with the fact that he was 22 years old in his 2nd postseason... i mean that MIGHT mean something. Let's also add to the fact that he was the only threat on the floor and it all adds up.Exactly. Last year, when he had Wade and Bosh by his side, in his prime, his production in the Finals was so much better.

[cteach111]

Exactly. Last year, when he had Wade and Bosh by his side, in his prime, his production in the Finals was so much better.

But that's not his prime. Lebron's prime will be next year. Lebron in 2011 was as old as Jordan was in 1989 which wasn't Jordan's prime.

Bron Bron still got time.

[cteach111]

It doesn't matter though. The premise is that Lebron was so good that he could take his teams further than Jordan could. My point is the situations were different. Yes, Jordan was more experienced and was also more skilled and a better player. The fact that Lebron could get to the NBA Finals without the same experience, skillset and high level of play says more about the context surrounding his run than it says that he was a better player.

Put both players in the same situation and Jordan was much, much more productive.

Also note the 80's Pistons were better and deeper than the 07 Spurs. Not only did they have more players to defend Jordan but they also had more players that needed to be defended. They went 9 deep easily.

Lebron as a player wasn't ready to handle the Spurs at that point. He probably got to the Finals the quickest out of any #1 option perimeter player in the history of the game.

He simply ran into a Spurs team that would more than likely destroy those 80's Pistons.

[Da_Realist]

Lebron as a player wasn't ready to handle the Spurs at that point.

Right. He couldn't handle the type of defense Jordan faced for years before breaking through.


He probably got to the Finals the quickest out of any #1 option perimeter player in the history of the game.

Larry Bird? Tim Duncan? Bill Russell? EDIT: oops, you said perimeter player.


He simply ran into a Spurs team that would more than likely destroy those 80's Pistons.

Uhh no. Feel free to tell me why you think so, though. The 80's Pistons were back-to-back champs that shut down two dynasties while holding off a third. The 07 Spurs? Won one title and hadn't been back to the Finals since.

[Da_Realist]

But that's not his prime. Lebron's prime will be next year. Lebron in 2011 was as old as Jordan was in 1989 which wasn't Jordan's prime.

Bron Bron still got time.

But Bron Bron doesn't have Jordan's complete game. We'll see just how much Lebron will improve over the next few years.

[cteach111]

Right. He couldn't handle the type of defense Jordan faced for years before breaking through.


Who's to say Jordan would have been able to handle that kind of defensive pressure? He played the Bucks that got ousted early in the playoffs and then the Celtics which were a top defensive team in the league which is laughable since they weren't THAT good.

It's hilarious that you assume Jordan would have got past those Pistons. How many players do you think will go for 48 points scoring 20+ straight to win you a key game in the series?


Larry Bird? Tim Duncan? Bill Russell?
Bird's the only perimeter player on this list and his team was stacked.




Uhh no. Feel free to tell me why you think so, though. The 80's Pistons were back-to-back champs that shut down two dynasties while holding off a third. The 07 Spurs? Won one title and hadn't been back to the Finals since.

By the 2007 season, the Spurs had 3 titles under their belt and were working on their 4th title. They were a stacked team ganging up on King James.

[cteach111]

But Bron Bron doesn't have Jordan's complete game. We'll see just how much Lebron will improve over the next few years.

i would say they have been similarly skilled from an age-to-age standpoint.

[Da_Realist]

Who's to say Jordan would have been able to handle that kind of defensive pressure? He played the Bucks that got ousted early in the playoffs and then the Celtics which were a top defensive team in the league which is laughable since they weren't THAT good.

It's hilarious that you assume Jordan would have got past those Pistons. How many players do you think will go for 48 points scoring 20+ straight to win you a key game in the series?

Jordan's one of them. He was more experienced, tougher, more clutch and a better player than Lebron was. The Spurs would have had a much tougher time stopping him than they did Lebron. 22 points on 36% when he's the main scorer on the team? Expect a couple of 50 point games at the very least. And certainly more than 36% from the field. You admitted yourself Bron Bron wasn't ready for that type of defense. I agree with you. His stats agree with you. Had the Spurs played in the same division as Lebron's Cavs, Bron Bron would not have made the Finals. Don't you agree? This was my premise to begin with.


Bird's the only perimeter player on this list and his team was stacked.

I updated my post.


By the 2007 season, the Spurs had 3 titles under their belt and were working on their 4th title. They were a stacked team ganging up on King James.

And that's not dissimilar to what and who Jordan faced. Except the Pistons were better and deeper. And the Pistons played in the same division. I know it's hard for you to believe, but unlike during Lebron's early years, MJ's Eastern Conference was no joke. Pistons, Celtics, Hawks, Cavs, Knicks and 76ers were all formidable teams that had multiple weapons and played both ends of the court. You couldn't just drag a team of scrubs through the conference with no jumpshot, a shaky halfcourt game and no idea how to handle a defense geared to stop you. Wasn't gonna happen.

[Da_Realist]

Who's to say Jordan would have been able to handle that kind of defensive pressure? He played the Bucks that got ousted early in the playoffs and then the Celtics which were a top defensive team in the league which is laughable since they weren't THAT good.

Are you talking about who Jordan faced? You talking about the 85 Bucks? And are you referring to the 86 and 87 Celtics when you say they weren't THAT good? The 86 Champs and 87 Runners-Up weren't THAT good?

Wow

[Legends66NBA7]

Jordan's one of them. He was more experienced, tougher, more clutch and a better player than Lebron was. The Spurs would have had a much tougher time stopping him than they did Lebron. 22 points on 36% when he's the main scorer on the team? Expect a couple of 50 point games at the very least. And certainly more than 36% from the field.

Yup.

Under the rules that benefit Jordan's style post 04, he would probably destroyed the league's perimeter defense vs the 07 Pistons and others, easily.

[madmax]

Lebron as a player wasn't ready to handle the Spurs at that point. He probably got to the Finals the quickest out of any #1 option perimeter player in the history of the game.

He simply ran into a Spurs team that would more than likely destroy those 80's Pistons.

:applause: :cheers:

[hitmanyr2k]

Lebron as a player wasn't ready to handle the Spurs at that point. He probably got to the Finals the quickest out of any #1 option perimeter player in the history of the game.

He simply ran into a Spurs team that would more than likely destroy those 80's Pistons.

That 2007 Spurs team was the weakest of the bunch. The 2007 Finals series was a sweep but aside from Game 2 it was very competitive. The Cavs had no business taking that Spurs down to the wire in 3 out of 4 games in the Finals. That's how weak that Spurs team had gotten and Duncan was in clear decline being played to a standstill by Big Z. Those late 80's Pistons teams would demolish the '07 Spurs and that's putting it kindly. The '05 and '06 Spurs were far better and would put up a much better fight.