So in a year where two small forwards won regular season MVP and Finals MVP...

[russwest0]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

[JellyBean]

1). Because he is the best player on the planet.

2). Sometimes you face a team, or teams, that are better than your team.

3). Who else are we going to talk about? The King is the face of the league.

[russwest0]

1). Because he is the best player on the planet.

Dat ESPN-esque circular reasoning logic.

Just keep repeating the same thing until people blindly accept it as fact. I'm sure it'll work. :applause: :applause: :applause:

[dubeta]

LeBron > Kawhi > Durant

LeBron 2 FMVP's 4 MVP's

Kawhi and Durant combined 1 FMVP 1 MVP

Deal with it.

[K Xerxes]

LeBron didn't get outplayed by anyone in the finals individually. He also didn't arguably get outplayed by anyone else on his team throughout the playoffs like Durant.

LeBron is still the best player on the planet until Durant can translate his regular season form into the playoffs.

[uber]

lol @ outplayed .. Lebron is still the best player in the nba and it's not even close

[Oly BC]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.
Probably something to do with the channel's owners and Lebron's sponsors.

[Ne 1]

LeBron was clearly outplayed by Leonard in the 2 biggest games of the Finals on his home court too. He's a role player and with LeBron as his matchup he looked like an All-Star in games 3-5.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

If MJ had today's crazy marketability for its best players, he coulda probably bought the Bulls instead of the Bobcats and been a multibillionare by now. :coleman:

[NBAplayoffs2001]

LeBron was clearly outplayed by Leonard in the 2 biggest games of the Finals on his home court too. He's a role player and with LeBron as his matchup he looked like an All-Star in games 3-5.

LeBron is overrated. I honestly wish they talked more about US soccer team history in the World Cup and cover the remaining teams. Heck even talk about women's tennis in Wimbledon, if you follow tennis, the tournament has been crazy on the women's side. Tons of upsets.

[Kblaze8855]

Calling legit basketball people "the media" doesnt mean they dont know the game. NBA coaches working for a tv station dont forget about basketball. lebron is considered the best by most people id say are involved with or care a lot about the game.

The media follows general opinion more than they set it.

Nobody gives a shit whats on espn.

[SouBeachTalents]

Calling legit basketball people "the media" doesnt mean they dont know the game. NBA coaches working for a tv station dont forget about basketball. lebron is considered the best by most people id say are involved with or care a lot about the game.

The media follows general opinion more than they set it.

Nobody gives a shit whats on espn.

Except for the OP apparently

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Except for the OP apparently

Sometimes for fun I watch SportsCenter and see how much they mention LeBron in an hour. I think yesterday it was like 24 times. :lol

[SouBeachTalents]

Sometimes for fun I watch SportsCenter and see how much they mention LeBron in an hour. I think yesterday it was like 24 times. :lol

Lol, they've done the same in the past for Favre, Tebow, and coming this fall, Johnny Manziel. How anyone can watch that show regularly is beyond me

[RoundMoundOfReb]

ESPN in OP's head rent free.

[russwest0]

Sometimes for fun I watch SportsCenter and see how much they mention LeBron in an hour. I think yesterday it was like 24 times. :lol

Yeah I don't even watch Sportscenter any more, I just bring it up because I know it still takes place. :oldlol:

I saw a collegiate study showing that they talked about LeBron more than anyone else in sports and it was during the quietest time of the year for basketball :lol

[VengefulAngel]

LeBron didn't get outplayed by anyone in the finals individually. He also didn't arguably get outplayed by anyone else on his team throughout the playoffs like Durant.

LeBron is still the best player on the planet until Durant can translate his regular season form into the playoffs.


^^

A post MJ would be proud of.

[russwest0]

I mean can you imagine if when Kobe was in his prime, Dwyane Wade won the regular season MVP and then in lets say the Finals, Kobe got outplayed by Ray Allen and Ray Allen won Finals MVP?

There'd be a lot more people refusing to call him "the best player on the planet."

I get it though, LeBron is generally given lax expectations and it actually kind of benefits him in holding meaningless titles and such. Low expectations = low chances for disappointment. Compared to guys like Kobe/Jordan who people never expected to lose on the biggest stage.

[SouBeachTalents]

I mean can you imagine if when Kobe was in his prime, Dwyane Wade won the regular season MVP and then in lets say the Finals, Kobe got outplayed by Ray Allen and Ray Allen won Finals MVP?

There'd be a lot more people refusing to call him "the best player on the planet."

I get it though, LeBron is generally given lax expectations and it actually kind of benefits him in holding meaningless titles and such. Low expectations = low chances for disappointment. Compared to guys like Kobe/Jordan who people never expected to lose on the biggest stage.

Well depending on when you consider Kobe's prime to be, it wouldn't be insane to consider Wade just as good if not better than Kobe from 09-10. And Kobe wasn't THAT much better than Ray in the '08 Finals

[russwest0]

LeBron didn't get outplayed by anyone in the finals individually.

I mean sure, if you want to look at the stat sheet where he got 40% of his production in garbage time while Kawhi Leonard was sitting on the bench relaxing because he abused LeBron and his piss poor defense to help blow the Heat out.

[gts]

Folks still confusing the MVP or FMVP award with who's the better player I see


they're awards, accolades they don't actually tell us who is the better player just who was the best player on a very good team

sometimes the two coincide sometimes they don't

[russwest0]

Folks still confusing the MVP or FMVP award with who's the better player I see


they're awards, accolades they don't actually tell us who is the better player just who was the best player on a very good team

sometimes the two coincide sometimes they don't

No, it's more or less that LeBron played in an extremely easy conference this season and still wasn't the best player. Has nothing to do with accolades really though they only support the argument. LeBron was a ridiculously heavy favorite to win MVP going into the season this year and still couldn't win it. And he's also aging while lets say, Durant, is only getting better or at the worst staying the same.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

In '06 Steve Nash won the MVP and Dwyane Wade won the FMVP (playing a hell of a lot better than Kawhi) but Kobe was still the best guard in the league. Your whole argument makes no sense.

[russwest0]

In '06 Steve Nash won the MVP and Dwyane Wade won the FMVP (playing a hell of a lot better than Kawhi) but Kobe was still the best guard in the league. Your whole argument makes no sense.

You must not remember how many people were driving the Dwyane Wade hype train back then.

And regardless Kobe was what, 26, or 27 years old? LeBron will be a steady 30 years old next season and clearly wasn't the best player this past season.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

You must not remember how many people were driving the Dwyane Wade hype train back then.

And regardless Kobe was what, 26, or 27 years old? LeBron will be a steady 30 years old next season and clearly wasn't the best player this past season.

What the heck does this have to do with anything?

[SouBeachTalents]

You must not remember how many people were driving the Dwyane Wade hype train back then.

And regardless Kobe was what, 26, or 27 years old? LeBron will be a steady 30 years old next season and clearly wasn't the best player this past season.

Who was the best player from the regular season through the Finals then?

[gts]

No, it's more or less that LeBron played in an extremely easy conference this season and still wasn't the best player. Has nothing to do with accolades really though they only support the argument. LeBron was a ridiculously heavy favorite to win MVP going into the season this year and still couldn't win it. And he's also aging while lets say, Durant, is only getting better or at the worst staying the same. the lengths you go to parade your stupidity around have no bounds

[russwest0]

Who was the best player from the regular season through the Finals then?

You mean in the playoffs?

Westbrook. He demolished really tough matchups all throughout the playoffs and was a triple double machine.

[russwest0]

What the heck does this have to do with anything?

If you can list players who improved from their 10th to 11th season then I'm all ears. Otherwise I see no reason why LeBron is going to "reverse the trend" next season.

[SouBeachTalents]

You mean in the playoffs?

Westbrook. He demolished really tough matchups all throughout the playoffs and was a triple double machine.

I meant who was the best overall player in the NBA from the regular season through the playoffs and finals

[russwest0]

I meant who was the best overall player in the NBA from the regular season through the playoffs and finals

Well if you're including the finals then it's easily LeBron because Kawhi Leonard obviously didn't play at a high level in the regular season, largely in part because he didn't have his matchups (LeBron, for example) consistently playing lazy ass defense vs him.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

If you can list players who improved from their 10th to 11th season then I'm all ears. Otherwise I see no reason why LeBron is going to "reverse the trend" next season.
Hakeem/Nash peaked in their 30s. Anyhow it doesn't matter since he doesn't need to "reverse" anything. He was the best player last year. It was somewhat close between he and Durant but most would take LeBron.

[edrick]

I mean sure, if you want to look at the stat sheet where he got 40% of his production in garbage time while Kawhi Leonard was sitting on the bench relaxing because he abused LeBron and his piss poor defense to help blow the Heat out.

Garbage time to this fool is the 3rd quarter of a Finals game.

[russwest0]

Hakeem/Nash peaked in their 30s. Anyhow it doesn't matter since he doesn't need to "reverse" anything. He was the best player last year. It was somewhat close between he and Durant but most would take LeBron.

Durant was the best player last year and LeBron was at his best 2 years ago and in the playoffs had his best year 3 years ago.

So yeah, I would say that he needs to reverse the trend in order to go back to being the "best player on the planet" for next season.

[SouBeachTalents]

Well if you're including the finals then it's easily LeBron because Kawhi Leonard obviously didn't play at a high level in the regular season, largely in part because he didn't have his matchups (LeBron, for example) consistently playing lazy ass defense vs him.

Lol, so doesn't that statement completely contradict your OP?

[russwest0]

Garbage time to this fool is the 3rd quarter of a Finals game.

Yes, late in the 3rd down 15-20 and getting blown out is garbage time to me.

There were a multitude of moments in that series where the game was still within a much more reasonable grasp and LeBron did next to nothing to help his team win.

[russwest0]

Lol, so doesn't that statement completely contradict your OP?

Only two teams made the Finals and you're asking me who the best is from those two teams from the regular season to the Finals and you want me to pick Kawhi Leonard?

:biggums: :wtf:

[Kvnzhangyay]

When you have to spend so much time arguing that Lebron isn't as good as others think he is then you know he's good

[russwest0]

When you have to spend so much time arguing that Lebron isn't as good as others think he is then you know he's good

or just overrated

[edrick]

Yes, late in the 3rd down 15-20 and getting blown out is garbage time to me.

There were a multitude of moments in that series where the game was still within a much more reasonable grasp and LeBron did next to nothing to help his team win.

He scored 19 of the Heat's 21 in that 3rd quarter. and you were saying that was garbage time. That's just silly.

[Kvnzhangyay]

or just overrated

Yeah if everyone that disagrees with you is wrong

[edrick]

Yeah if everyone that disagrees with you is wrong

How can russ be wrong? He only makes him random stats and shit to make a point.

[SouBeachTalents]

Only two teams made the Finals and you're asking me who the best is from those two teams from the regular season to the Finals and you want me to pick Kawhi Leonard?

:biggums: :wtf:

No, you've once again misinterpreted what I've said. I asked you who the best player was counting the regular season AND the playoffs (and finals if they happened to make it). Who would you say that was last season?

[tmacattack33]

And neither of them were LeBron James (a small forward), why is the media (mostly just ESPN) still calling him the "best player on the planet?"

He got outplayed all year by Durant in the regular season and then in the Finals got outplayed by a role player.

Aside from many other things, your argument here would only be correct if Durant and Kawhi were the same player.

[russwest0]

No, you've once again misinterpreted what I've said. I asked you who the best player was counting the regular season AND the playoffs (and finals if they happened to make it). Who would you say that was last season?

Kevin Durant, rather easily. LeBron playing better vs far easier teams in the playoffs in the East doesn't negate Durant playing better for 82 regular season games vs tougher competition in the West.

I mean Durant had 40+ straight games of 25 points this year and while he had his struggles in some moments in the playoffs (and what player that played 3000+ minutes in the same regular season hasn't?) he also absolutely dominated the Grizzlies and the Clippers (very good teams) in those series' closeout games.

I mean he put up 40/16 in game 6 vs the Clippers, a team that would have been the first seed in the East. :bowdown:

[KBaller33]

If LeBron slides this season and KD plays like he did last year and wins MVP again then the "best in the world" conversation gets serious.

[russwest0]

If LeBron slides this season and KD plays like he did last year and wins MVP again then the "best in the world" conversation gets serious.

Yeah, after two straight seasons of Durant outplaying LeBron maybe then we can actually have a debate on this issue :applause:

[truhooper]

LeBron didn't get outplayed by anyone in the finals individually. He also didn't arguably get outplayed by anyone else on his team throughout the playoffs like Durant.

LeBron is still the best player on the planet until Durant can translate his regular season form into the playoffs.

/thread

[russwest0]

Durant has had a postseason run averaging 29/7/3 on 52% shooting and hitting 3 game winners in the process. This year demolished the Clippers in a closeout game with 40/16. Demolished the Grizzlies in both closeout games.

"Translate your game to the postseason and then we'll talk."

:oldlol:

I guess it just goes along with my point that those who have low expectations can hold arbitrary titles much easier. We got people on here saying that it'd take Durant two straight seasons of outplaying LeBron before a discussion can even be had. :oldlol: I guess if people don't expect much from you then they don't get let down and thus don't see the need to change your status as "the best," or whatever else it may be.

[rlsmooth775]

Durant was exposed in the playoffs would have lost in the first round if not for reggie jackson saving him and z bo getting suspended . The Thunder took seven games to beat a team that can't score hahahahaha

[TheMarkMadsen]

Durant was exposed in the playoffs would have lost in the first round if not for reggie jackson saving him and z bo getting suspended . The Thunder took seven games to beat a team that can't score hahahahaha

The spurs took 7 games to beat an eighth seed hahahahhahaha

:facepalm :facepalm

[KBaller33]

Yeah, after two straight seasons of Durant outplaying LeBron maybe then we can actually have a debate on this issue :applause:

Ok let me rephrase. Durant out playing LeBron in the regular season for the second straight year would lead to the consensus of who the best player is to change. Right now most would say LeBron is the best. That changes of last season repeats itself.

[Hey Yo]

When you have to spend so much time arguing that Lebron isn't as good as others think he is then you know he's good
Or making ALT's to agree with himself that James isn't that good.

If he remembers to switch over to it when doing so...:lol

[russwest0]

ESPN in OP's head rent free.

I already said that I don't watch ESPN but we all know they spam the **** out of LeBron on there

[JohnFreeman]

1). Because he is the best player on the planet.

2). Sometimes you face a team, or teams, that are better than your team.

3). Who else are we going to talk about? The King is the face of the league.
this

[Eat Like A Bosh]

What the f*ck is this? You have to be blind to think that LeBron is a worse player than Kawhi or Durant.