is there still anyone on here that still think Miami is the team to beat?

[jzek]

The team that took them to 7 games last season recently added:

* Scola
* Bynum
* Turner

Plus the continued improvement of:

* Hibbert
* Stephenson
* George


Let's compare Miami... they added:

* Oden
* Beasley

Plus the continued decline of:

* Everyone not named LeBron or Bosh


Someone PLEASE tell me how Miami can beat an All-Star team like the Pacers? I just don't see it. :facepalm

[IncarceratedBob]

They have arguably the greatest player in NBA history in his peak prime. You cant count any team with that type of player out. But we are the favorite now, we just play too physical for them. Should be a great series

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Until they lose, how could they not be? This isn't like the Mavs a few years ago. A core of 3 straight Finals, back-to-back championships, with arguably the best player on the planet.

[navy]

The Pacers are overrated. I bet the Heat will get the one seed.

[SilkkTheShocker]

I can't wait to bump these threads again after the Finals. I had fun doing the same thing last summer also :oldlol:

[BoutPractice]

This isn't how it works. Opinions that "X got better while Y stayed the same" are historically a terrible predictor of championship success. You could've said something like that before every Bulls championship.

[FKAri]

They have arguably the greatest player in NBA history in his peak prime.

He has no argument.

[IncarceratedBob]

He has no argument.
On accolades/awards/rings I agree

But on peak PLAY? He's doing things people have never done. He's definitely in the argument of best player of all time

[HomieWeMajor]

Riley gonna drop the hot ish like Pac in 94
Threads will be bumped and gifs will be posted and forums will be crashed before its all said and done.

[oh the horror]

Miami are the champs. Has that changed yet?

[moe94]

He has no argument.

He has an argument for greatest all around player. It's an argument because I'm arguing with you. It's there. Case closed. :coleman:

[All Net]

Champs till proven otherwise

[Milbuck]

He has an argument for greatest all around player. It's an argument because I'm arguing with you. It's there. Case closed. :coleman:
Come on moe.

Greatest all around player =/= greatest player.

Impact and effectiveness is what matters. Lebron literally has no genuine argument over peak Shaq/MJ. We can all put him in the conversation because his peak truly is remarkable, but when it comes down to it, he just doesn't measure up equally.

[russwest0]

Champs till proven otherwise

2011 Lakers?

[CelticBaller]

Miami are the champs. Has that changed yet?
...

[hahaitme]

As an OKC fan I have to admit, OKC is stacked. :banana:

[Solefade]

Come on moe.

Greatest all around player =/= greatest player.

Impact and effectiveness is what matters. Lebron literally has no genuine argument over peak Shaq/MJ. We can all put him in the conversation because his peak truly is remarkable, but when it comes down to it, he just doesn't measure up equally.



lol except he does have a legitimate argument

[Duderonomy]

They have arguably the greatest player in NBA history in his peak prime. You cant count any team with that type of player out. But we are the favorite now, we just play too physical for them. Should be a great series
Durrant doesn't play for the Heat.

[outbreak]

Do miami still have 3 players who can carry a franchise and a bench loaded with vets and young guys who contribute? Until they break up the big 3 or another team can boast having multiple star players (not just all round good players) then yes they are still the team to beat.

[AnaheimLakers24]

heat fans think otherwise. excuses

[RIP CITY]

Miami is the back to back defending Champions, they're the team to beat until someone beats them. But the Pacers are definitely going to give them everything they can handle in the Conference Finals. I still think Miami will win, though I will be rooting for the Pacers as if they were my Hometown team.

[K.Koscik]

Well, I'm a firm believer that until someone proves that Miami is no longer the favorite by eliminating them from the playoffs, they are the favorite. Miami's injuries in the last 2 playoffs have hampered them as well, including both years against Indiana (Wade and Bosh). If Wade makes it to the playoffs feeling good and can give an impactful 20/5/5, Bosh does his thing (big shots, big games when needed), and Oden and Beasley have the impact on the bench that I think they might, they are just as likely to beat IND as IND is to beat them.

I will say though that IND is looking very tough, though the games still do have to be played. Plus, Lebron is a game changer.

In 1995, Shaq's Magic won 57 games and were considered the favorites in the Finals. The result? The 6th seeded, 47-35 Hakeem Olajuwon led Rockets swept them. The Magic had even swept the regular season series against them that year too, 3-0. Common sense says that the Magic would win that series, and even if they lost there's no way they get swept. The same way that common sense has the Pacers and Thunder as favorites over the Heat.

I bet in 95 when the defending champs were heading into the playoffs tied for the 10th best record in the league people also considered them out of the conversation. Rest is history

[aj1987]

2011 Lakers?
'02 Lakers?
'98 Bulls?
'93 Bulls?
'66 Celtics?
'54 Lakers?

[NumberSix]

As an OKC fan I have to admit, OKC is stacked. :banana:
Mia i is stackeder

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

lol except he does have a legitimate argument

Except he doesn't. Not unless Miami wins this year / his production goes up. As of now, MJ and Shaq were BOTH better in the playoffs.

[Meticode]

From the nature of this thread, whether Miami wins or loses tonight you can tell ISH is going to break.

[TheReal Kendall]

They're the 2 time defending champs! How are they not the team to beat?

Yeah the Pacers are stacked now but they still gotta go through the Heat.

[kamil]

Someone PLEASE tell me how Miami can beat an All-Star team like the Pacers? I just don't see it. :facepalm

You'll know the outcome in a few months.

Be patient.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Miami is a good team.
Pacers are just shamefully stacked:facepalm

[All Net]

2011 Lakers?
Yes and we were the favourites till we got beat

It's how it works.

[alenleomessi]

lebron.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

if LeBron manages to beat this insanely stacked team with alltime great Defense and still wins his third ring for me he immediatly moves into top 3 imo.:coleman:

[Solefade]

Yes and we were the favourites till we got beat

It's how it works.


you guys were favorites because there was supposed to be no one challenging you guys in the west, the east we were unsure who was going to come out of there.

to me, favorites = the team that is expected to win (usually the best looking team that season :hammerhead: ) not last season's champs.

[Black and White]

lol except he does have a legitimate argument

No he doesn't, career wise he does not touch either of them

[Solefade]

No he doesn't, career wise he does not touch either of them


peak play he does, not career accolades

[NumberSix]

No he doesn't, career wise he does not touch either of them
Agreed. Neither Jordan or LeBron have a case over Shaq.

[Warfan]

peak play he does, not career accolades

i wouldn't say he has a legitimate argument but he probably has around a top 5 peak

[Black and White]

peak play he does, not career accolades

His peak is up there, but I wouldn't say its better. There are other players peaks who are in that convo too, Bird being one.

[All Net]

you guys were favorites because there was supposed to be no one challenging you guys in the west, the east we were unsure who was going to come out of there.

to me, favorites = the team that is expected to win (usually the best looking team that season :hammerhead: ) not last season's champs.
That 2011 were favourites, look it up.. When you win back to back you are expected to win.

[NumberSix]

His peak is up there, but I wouldn't say its better. There are other players peaks who are in that convo too, Bird being one.
I wouldn't say LeBron's peak is better, but I certainly wouldn't say it's worse either. You simply can't compare a 2010s player's peak to a 80s player's peak or a 90s player's peak. It's not a straight up conversion. There's no way to say one was better than the other.

[Solefade]

some of those single game performances (2007 g5 ecf, 2012 g6 ecf, 2013 g7 finals) are legitimate arguments. there's a case there, not saying he's necessarily better

[Black and White]

I wouldn't say LeBron's peak is better, but I certainly wouldn't say it's worse either. You simply can't compare a 2010s player's peak to a 80s player's peak or a 90s player's peak. It's not a straight up conversion. There's no way to say one was better than the other.

When do you think Bron peaked btw?

[NumberSix]

When do you think Bron peaked btw?
from his 2nd Heat season on.

[Black and White]

from his 2nd Heat season on.

A lot of other heat fans say his 09 season was his peak.

[NumberSix]

A lot of other heat fans say his 09 season was his peak.
Nah, he's definitely a better player now than he was then.

[Solefade]

A lot of other heat fans say his 09 season was his peak.


i thought his '13 season was better even though his playoff run wasn't as good as '12s

[plowking]

On accolades/awards/rings I agree

But on peak PLAY? He's doing things people have never done. He's definitely in the argument of best player of all time

People take that offence to that sentence so easily on here, but it holds merit with a few players.

Greatest player of all time? Lebron definitely has a case. As does maybe Shaq, Jordan, Bird, Wilt and Kareem. These guys at their best were better than anyone, and if you put them on a court together against each other you'd be hard pressed figuring out which one is the best.

[Black and White]

Nah, he's definitely a better player now than he was then.

I would agree with you in saying that his 1st ring season was probably his best

[JUDGE WITNESS]

any team with lebron on it is the team to beat

[Uncle Drew]

Miami is the team to beat until a team actually beats them. What's so hard about that? Back-to-back champs...

[Marlo_Stanfield]

A lot of other heat fans say his 09 season was his peak.
http://i.imgur.com/TaTdV.gif
this guy needs to get a clue. real fast:coleman:

[Black and White]

http://i.imgur.com/TaTdV.gif
this guy needs to get a clue. real fast:coleman:

You clearly haven't been around long :coleman:

Edit: Jan 14