Who will challenge Durant for the Scoring Title?

[game3524]

I really don't see who will challenge him.:confusedshrug:

[FreezingTsmoove]

Doug Collins got a bench player to put up 15 a game. Bynum can most certainly dethrone Durant

[KG215]

Doug Collins got a bench player to put up 15 a game. Bynum can most certainly dethrone Durant

Seriously?

Scott Brooks got a bench player to put up 17 a game, surely he can get Durant to keep averaging 28-30 a game.

[FKAri]

Joel Anthony if he can stay healthy.

[Levity]

Doug Collins got a bench player to put up 15 a game. Bynum can most certainly dethrone Durant

Hmmmm.... unique rationale....

[Rubio2Gasol]

Melo perhaps if Amare stays out of his way.

[imnew09]

WestBrook and Melo

[ihoopallday]

My top 3 that might challenge him.

1. Melo
2. LeBron
3. Love

[pauk]

Actually, nobody could challenge Lebron if he was really into it (ex: looked to pass as little as Durant or took equally or more shots, like somewhat what he did in this playoffs), he is the most efficient scorer. Scoring "title" is a very insignificant achievement to what Lebron really wants, to just do everything possible to win... and scoring is not the only efficient thing he can do to impact the game (unlike Durant)..

With that being said, only Lebron can challenge him and Kobe is always a threat...

[ganja0710]

Actually, nobody could challenge Lebron if he was really into it (ex: looked to pass as little as Durant or took equally or more shots, like somewhat what he did in this playoffs), he is the most efficient scorer. Scoring "title" is a very insignificant achievement to what Lebron really wants, to just do everything possible to win... and scoring is not the only efficient thing he can do to impact the game (unlike Durant)..

With that being said, only Lebron can challenge him and Kobe is always a threat...
:roll:
http://t.qkme.me/35wj8m.jpg

[ihoopallday]

Actually, nobody could challenge Lebron if he was really into it (ex: looked to pass as little as Durant or took equally or more shots, like somewhat what he did in this playoffs), he is the most efficient scorer. Scoring "title" is a very insignificant achievement to what Lebron really wants, to just do everything possible to win... and scoring is not the only efficient thing he can do to impact the game (unlike Durant)..

With that being said, only Lebron can challenge him and Kobe is always a threat...

True that. LeBron was the scoring leader in the playoffs. I'm just glad he really tries to get his teammates involved whenever he can. Durant doesn't really have to, so I'm not knocking on him for that.

[dajadeed]

Kobe?

I mean, people forget that the scoring title last year was Kobe's but he just sat out a bunch of games at the end and didn't want to go for it. He had led the league until the final 2 weeks or so.

He needed 36 points in Sacramento to get it and he decided to sit out.

I'm sure the easier looks he'll get next year will have him in the conversation again.

[ihoopallday]

Kobe?

I mean, people forget that the scoring title last year was Kobe's but he just sat out a bunch of games at the end and didn't want to go for it. He had led the league until the final 2 weeks or so.

He needed 36 points in Sacramento to get it and he decided to sit out.

I'm sure the easier looks he'll get next year will have him in the conversation again.

He's got Nash, Dwight, and Gasol. I think he'll let them get into the flow of playing together before he actually looks to score himself.

[Ikill]

Eric gordOn

[alenleomessi]

melo next year and eric gordon in few

[ganja0710]

He's got Nash, Dwight, and Gasol. I think he'll let them get into the flow of playing together before he actually looks to score himself.
"LOL **** DAT"

http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5016d81aecad04ef51000015/kobe-and-usa-basketball-teammates-challenged-olympic-volunteers-to-a-drinking-game.jpg

[FreezingTsmoove]

[QUOTE=KG215]Seriously?

Scott Brooks got a bench player to put up 17 a game, surely he can get Durant to keep averaging 28-30 a game

Yeah with all the attention on Westbrook and Durant. James Harden proved in the finals he would never be a scoring champion. It was Lou against the league in Philly

[Dragonyeuw]

Kobe's scoring is going to go down to 24-25 a night. There's really no need for him to score 28 with the 2013 roster.

Melo's always up there, he had an off year last year but 28 seems to be his peak. Lebron 'could', but I don't think it's a priority for him and with Wade and Bosh as teammates, he'll stay in the 25-27 range. I could see someone like Derrick Rose challenging him if they got a pure point and moved him over to SG( hypothetical scenario). But really...don't see anyone playing now who will beat out Durant over the next few years.

[scm5]

I honestly think that while Westbrook might not be a contender for the scoring title, Westbrook might be who keeps Durant from the scoring title.

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

He's got Nash, Dwight, and Gasol. I think he'll let them get into the flow of playing together before he actually looks to score himself.

True but Kobe will still look to get his. He's a scorer. He's gonna shoot the ball at least 18-20 times a game which I'm fine with.

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

I honestly think that while Westbrook might not be a contender for the scoring title, Westbrook might be who keeps Durant from the scoring title.

Lol why do people say this? Westbrook has been shooting the ball a lot the past 2 seasons and it hasn't stopped Durant. If anything Westbrook helps Durant to score more.

[28renyoy]

LOL @ LeBron challenging Durant.

Durant shoots 46.1% in ISO and 51% in the half court.

LeBron shoots 39.3% in ISO and 48% in the half court.

So I guess LeBron is going to start getting 4X as many fast breaks? If Durant wanted to, he could average 35 a game every year. The guy is the most efficient 25+ ppg scorer in NBA history for crying out loud and that's with his terrible rookie season weighing 20% of his sample size

[lilgodfather1]

LeBron could win the scoring title every year if he wanted it imo.

LeBron 1169 FGA
Durant 1297 FGA

difference of 128 FGA.

If LeBron James had taken those extra 128 shots and scored them at his .531 FG% he would have scored 68 more points bringing his season average up to 28.2ppg. This is calculated completely on 2 pointers. Adding in 3's taken would be 180 points off of threes, instead of the 162 he got this season. LeBron's points would be +18 there, and 74 more points total for a season average of 28.3.

Fortunately/unfortunately LeBron doesn't seem to care about the scoring title, and honestly I don't blame him. He is an elite scorer, but scoring isn't the best part of his game.

[ganja0710]

LeBron could win the scoring title every year if he wanted it imo.

LeBron 1169 FGA
Durant 1297 FGA

difference of 128 FGA.

If LeBron James had taken those extra 128 shots and scored them at his .531 FG% he would have scored 68 more points bringing his season average up to 28.2ppg. This is calculated completely on 2 pointers. Adding in 3's taken would be 180 points off of threes, instead of the 162 he got this season. LeBron's points would be +18 there, and 74 more points total for a season average of 28.3.

Fortunately/unfortunately LeBron doesn't seem to care about the scoring title, and honestly I don't blame him. He is an elite scorer, but scoring isn't the best part of his game.
what a stupid ass reasoning. "if he wanted to" :roll: you can say this about half the players you consider superstars. hell, durant can probably score 40 a game "if he wanted to".

[Dragonyeuw]

LOL @ LeBron challenging Durant.



What is so funny about that notion? Lebron's personal high of 31.4 eclipses Durant's high of 30.1. Lebron was averaging 29 before moving to Miami 2 years ago, Durant averaged 27 last year. Why is the idea of Lebron challenging him so unfathomable? He's a pass-first player who has a career average of 27 a game, how many players in the history of the game can you say that about? He could easily increase those numbers into the 30's if he focused more on scoring.

[NumberSix]

Kobe will average 29PPG on 38%

[InfiniteBaskets]

Durant has 3 titles right now and there's no reason for him to lose out on any at all in the upcoming seasons barring injury or the meteoric rise of some undrafted rookie.

I think Durant should be locked in for 5 scoring titles at minimum and could get as many as 7 or 8 if he has no challengers at all (meaning all the other superstars are playing with each other).

[LBJ 23]

what a stupid ass reasoning. "if he wanted to" :roll: you can say this about half the players you consider superstars. hell, durant can probably score 40 a game "if he wanted to".


Not really.

Lebron in the past had seasons averaging 30 or more points per game in Cleveland. And even then he was an extremely willing passer so it's really not that far fetched to say that he could average over 30 points '' if he wanted to '' and focus more on scoring and place passing on the third track.

On the other hand, Durant is always looking to score first, and yet he was never close to averaging 40ppg per game so you fail with your argument very badly.

[28renyoy]

LeBron scored 31.4 ppg in 2006 taking 23.1 FGA and 10.3 FTA.

Durant averaged 28.0 ppg in 2012 taking 19.7 FGA and 7.6 FTA.

Given Durant's eFG% and FT%, if he would have taken 23.1 FGA and 10.3 FTA last season he would have averaged 34.2 ppg

LeBron averaged 26 ppg on 60.5 TS% last season while Durant averaged 28 ppg on 61.0 TS%. I guess LeBron is just going magically get more efficient as his volume goes up :roll:

Especially given Durant being the better half court and ISO scorer

[Nash]

Nobody

[scm5]

Nobody

3's looked like layups for Durant in the Olympics. It's really scary.

[KG215]

Lol why do people say this? Westbrook has been shooting the ball a lot the past 2 seasons and it hasn't stopped Durant. If anything Westbrook helps Durant to score more.

Um, yeah....no.

2009-2010
Durant: 30.1 PPG, 20.3 FGA/G, 10.2 FTA/G
Westbrook: 16.1 PPG, 14.1 FGA/G, 5.1 FTA/G

2010-2011
Durant: 27.7 PPG, 19.7 FGA/G, 7.6 FTA/G
Westbrook: 21.9 PPG, 17.0 FGA/G, 6.5 FTA/G

2011-2012
Durant: 28.0 PPG, 19.7 FGA/G, 6.5 FTA/G
Westbrook: 23.6 PPG, 19.2 FGA/G, 6.3 FTA/G

With Westbrook's emergence, Durant's FGA and scoring goes down. He's sort of leveled off at about 28 PPG and 20 FGA per game the last two seasons, but if Westbrook improves even more, and raises his scoring average to around 25 PPG, then it stand to reason Durant's scoring could go down a little more. And that doesn't even include Harden who's gone from scoring 9.9 PPG on 7.6 FGA/G his rookie year (Durant's first scoring title), to scoring 16.8 PPG on 10.1 FGA/G this past season. And, who knows, maybe Ibaka emerges as a legit 10-12 PPG player this year, too.

I'm not saying Durant won't be the favorite or won't win the scoring title again, but don't forget that guys like Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka are still young and improving each season, so it stands to reason their scoring may go up some (although I think in this role 16-18 ppg is about the highest Harden can go) and that could bring Durant's scoring down a little bit.

[ganja0710]

Not really.
Yes really.


Lebron in the past had seasons averaging 30 or more points per game in Cleveland. And even then he was an extremely willing passer so it's really not that far fetched to say that he could average over 30 points '' if he wanted to '' and focus more on scoring and place passing on the third track.
Thanks for that, captain obvious. Where did I say that he can't average 30 points? wear some glasses, bandwagoner. The argument itself of "LeBron can lead the league in scoring if he wanted to" is a fail as well. That's an assumption, or opinion for that matter. When in reality, he doesn't. And probably won't.


On the other hand, Durant is always looking to score first, and yet he was never close to averaging 40ppg per game so you fail with your argument very badly.
and the whole "LeBron can lead the league in scoring if he wanted to argument" isn't? Get his dick outta ur mouth, kiddo. :oldlol:

[kurple]

people always say melo (i was one of those for many years), but i just dont see it at this point. not consistent enough

would love for him to get at least one scoring title

[kurple]

Love or Lebron IMO, unless someone else really steps up

[knickscity]

I don't think most players are that concerned with a scoring title as much as the fans are.

Really don't think Durant is all that concerned with it either.

[swi7ch]

D12

He averages like 20 with one of the lowest-IQ "point guard" in history who, combined with his small stature, can't give the ball to D12 when he's right underneath the rim for an easy dunk. Jameer is also a score-first PG.

Steve Nash will easily give him +/- 10 more pts. per game. Not to mention double-teaming of Kobe and Pau will boost his scoring numbers.

[lilgodfather1]

what a stupid ass reasoning. "if he wanted to" :roll: you can say this about half the players you consider superstars. hell, durant can probably score 40 a game "if he wanted to".
Durant is always looking to score first where as LeBron is looking to set up the best shot for his team. If LeBron looking to score first and dropped his apg down to 3 like KD then he takes another 3-4 shots per game and at 53% from the field that would be another 4 ppg or 30.1ppg average. Keep on trolling though pal and think that LeBron can't lead the league in scoring...

[lilgodfather1]

D12

He averages like 20 with one of the lowest-IQ "point guard" in history who, combined with his small stature, can't give the ball to D12 when he's right underneath the rim for an easy dunk. Jameer is also a score-first PG.

Steve Nash will easily give him +/- 10 more pts. per game. Not to mention double-teaming of Kobe and Pau will boost his scoring numbers.
Kobe taking 23 shots per game, Gasol taking 15, and Nash taking 12 or so will lower Dwight's scoring.

[guy]

Lebron - If Wade declines more, which is entirely possible, I think it could happen.

Melo - He was actually averaging near 30 points in the last month of the year with Amare and Lin out. If Amare takes a step back, which he probably should due to his decline and how much him and Melo don't mesh, Knicks might play Melo-ball.

Love - He's young and just averaged 26 ppg. Its entirely possible that his points could improve.

[FreezingTsmoove]

Lebron - If Wade declines more, which is entirely possible, I think it could happen.

Melo - He was actually averaging near 30 points in the last month of the year with Amare and Lin out. If Amare takes a step back, which he probably should due to his decline and how much him and Melo don't mesh, Knicks might play Melo-ball.

Love - He's young and just averaged 26 ppg. Its entirely possible that his points could improve.


fatMelo averages 30 points at the end of the month every year.

[iDunk]

DUDE Durant sucks, Royal Ivey's got the scoring title on lock next season.

[TROLL_HUNTER]

Melo or Love. The thought that a laker could get it sounds ridiculous. It would mean that their offense is a mess.

[knickscity]

D12

He averages like 20 with one of the lowest-IQ "point guard" in history who, combined with his small stature, can't give the ball to D12 when he's right underneath the rim for an easy dunk. Jameer is also a score-first PG.

Steve Nash will easily give him +/- 10 more pts. per game. Not to mention double-teaming of Kobe and Pau will boost his scoring numbers.
Nash helps his team mates score easier points, not necessarily more points.

If he didn't get Amare over 30 on average, he sure as hell aint gonna try getting Dwight that.

Not with Kobe and Pau on the team.

[game3524]

Nash helps his team mates score easier points, not necessarily more points.

If he didn't get Amare over 30 on average, he sure as hell aint gonna try getting Dwight that.

Not with Kobe and Pau on the team.

This.

Dwight will average about 12-13 shot per a game.

If anyone leads the league in scoring on the Lakers, it is Kobe. He still going to shoot 20-22 times per a game.

[ganja0710]

Durant is always looking to score first where as LeBron is looking to set up the best shot for his team. If LeBron looking to score first and dropped his apg down to 3 like KD then he takes another 3-4 shots per game and at 53% from the field that would be another 4 ppg or 30.1ppg average. Keep on trolling though pal and think that LeBron can't lead the league in scoring...
http://perpetual-wonder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/What-if_.jpg

[Vertical-24]

Kobe still has a chance, though I see him averaging more around 24-25ppg this season to be honest. Melo can definitely challenge Durant for the title if we see the sort of production we've seen from him in April. Definitely.

LeBron is still up there too, but Durant will most likely end up with the title again. Pure-Scoring is his thing...

[BGriffin's Dad]

The thought that a laker could get it sounds ridiculous. It would mean that their offense is a mess.

this.

if any Laker leads the league in scoring next year, including Kobe, it means that the other big 3 are either injured or severely under-utilized... points and FGA should be spread out with that offense..

[BlackVVaves]

Kobe taking 23 shots per game, Gasol taking 15, and Nash taking 12 or so will lower Dwight's scoring.

In 2003, similar to 2012, Bryant was looked upon to carry to weight of the Lakers offense. Kobe scored 30 points per, on about 24 shots per game, on 45% back then, not that far from the 28 points per game he scored this past season on 23 shot attempts per, on (a less efficient) 43%.

The season after, Malone and Payton joined the Lakers. A far less wise Kobe (in comparison to the seasoned veteran we see now at 34) dropped his FGA from that 24 to merely 18 field goal attempts per game.

To think a older, smarter Kobe wouldn't decrease his FGA in a like-mannered way with an even better talent pool coming to LA is simply foolish.

And to answer OP, the scoring title is KD's to lose.

[Remix]

I don't understand why people think Kobe is going to get less shots than last year... howard isn't going to change any of his looks. Howard averaged 13.5 attempts per game last year as the number 1 option in Orlando, which is identical to what Bynum averaged in LA behind Kobe. Nash only shot 9 times a game last year in Phoenix. If anything, Nash is going to allow the Lakers to get more shots per game by creating better shots earlier in the shot clock. It's not like Kobe's production is going to go down, I can see him still averaging 27-28 next year.

However, I still think he will finish 3rd behind Durant and Melo, with Lebron 4th and Love 5th.

[game3524]

this.

if any Laker leads the league in scoring next year, including Kobe, it means that the other big 3 are either injured or severely under-utilized... points and FGA should be spread out with that offense..

Not really.

Dwight averaged about 13 shots per a game, which is the same amount Bynum put up last year. Pau's shots will be the same as it always been(12 per a game), and Nash shot 9 times last years.

Kobe is going to average 20-22 shots per a game next year, the only difference is he going to get easier looks which will help his efficiencies.

I expect to see him average close to what he averaged during the 2008-09 season, but I wouldn't be shocked if he averaged 28-30 points per a game.

[heavensdevil]

Melo? :roll:

[upside24]

I've been wondering about this for a while. Like others have said LeBron could obviously challenge Durant for the scoring title but his game is more than just scoring. Durant will probably get 2 or 3 more.

[Rubio2Gasol]

I've been wondering about this for a while. Like others have said LeBron could obviously challenge Durant for the scoring title but his game is more than just scoring. Durant will probably get 2 or 3 more.

Durant could win the scoring title every year for the next 5 years and beyond barring major injuries.

He might not really influence games as much as others but the guy will probably be the best scorer ever.

It's crazy to think that he's also 7 ft with the 2nd longest active wingspan , be has amazing defensive potential.

I could see him being the best ever if he gets the right breaks tbh.

[MetsPackers]

Lebron is definitly capable of putting up 30ppg+ so i don't see why he can't snag a few away from durant over the next few years

[ZaaaaaH]

Actually, nobody could challenge Lebron if he was really into it (ex: looked to pass as little as Durant or took equally or more shots, like somewhat what he did in this playoffs), he is the most efficient scorer. Scoring "title" is a very insignificant achievement to what Lebron really wants, to just do everything possible to win... and scoring is not the only efficient thing he can do to impact the game (unlike Durant)..

With that being said, only Lebron can challenge him and Kobe is always a threat...


Did u add that part so u dont get ur ass Thorched?

Actually I think LeBron can Challenge Jenna jameson on diccck succking contest if HE REALLY wants. :facepalm

In reality Yes LeBron can.