Does losing in the Finals hurt a great player's legacy?

[MavsSuperFan]

I'm not asking if it should hurt a players legacy to lose in the finals. Personally dont see how its worse than losing in an early round or not even making the playoffs.

I am asking if it does.

[Im so nba'd out]

When Jason Jerry coming off the bench averages more than you yes....

[Nash]

It obviously doesn't, its just a gimmick here on ISH.

[fpliii]

Depends entirely on level of play.

[Warfan]

Honestly it depends on how they play. You have to look at other variables like if you play well but your teammates play like shit and the other team is just too good, I don't think it does. Or if your team should've won but you underperformed or didn't show up for a big game or big games. There's different circumstances each time so it's not as clear as just 'yes it does hurt their legacy' or 'no it doesn't hurt their legacy'.

[IllegalD]

It did for the longest time. Like when Kobe lost to the 2004 Pistons, and to the 2008 Celtics.

Everyone and their momma on this board was saying it hurt his legacy.

But now that LeBron has 3 finals losses, and this board is dominated by 15 year old LeBron Stans, it magically "doesn't matter" anymore.

ISH hypocrisy/double-standards on full display. :applause:

[AirTupac]

It depends. Lets say player A has an incredibly easy road to the finals because he's on a weakass conference and then he doesn't even win ... then it affects it greatly. It's even worse when player A only wins lets say twice out of 5 finals. Then its down right embarassing for player A.

[Inferno]

Depends entirely on level of play.

Here's our answer. I count LBJ's 2011 Finals against him but not 2014.

[aboss4real24]

if ur 2 outta 5

it Hurts

[Lebron23]

Losing multiple times in the first round of the playoffs. Hurts more.

[IllegalD]

Losing multiple times in the first round of the playoffs. Hurts more.

Not if you play on a historically stacked western conference.

If you play in a historically sh*t Leastern Conference getting out of the first round isn't all that impressive.

Context.

[Warfan]

I think jerry west is an interesting case though. He played well in every single finals series (ironically, besides the series when he won his only championship) but unfortunately he had to face the best dynasty in the history of the sport and a great Knicks team.

He did win the first ever FMVP in the NBA, after having a great series but in a losing effort in 7 games. If the ball bounced a different way in a few games he could've easily had a few more rings and a lot of fans would have him in the top 10 all time with the way people typically rank players.

[Lebron23]

Not if you play on a historically stacked western conference.

If you play in a historically sh*t Leastern Conference getting out of the first round isn't all that impressive.

Context.


Same eastern conference teams where Kobe historically struggled in the nBA Finals. Stop acting like Kobe is a God in the NBA Finals.

25 ppg on 40 FG%.

[jstern]

Only in the sense that they had a good enough team to make it to the Finals. The Superstar is expected to step it up. To me it's all about context, sometimes the superstar can play like shit but win because their team was just better than the other one.

[Lamar Odumbb]

Same eastern conference teams where Kobe historically struggled in the nBA Finals. Stop acting like Kobe is a God in the NBA Finals.

25 ppg on 40 FG%.

Nothing worse than the man you are guarding winning MVP.

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/db9e82edfe6f68879935fd979a62fdf7b06bb0ca/c=471-683-2857-2473&r=490x368/local/-/media/USATODAY/promo/2014/06/16/1402898532000-2014-06-15-Leonard-Russell.jpg

[Cone]

When Jason Jerry coming off the bench averages more than you yes....

good thing jason jerry has never played in the nba

[TheMilkyBarKid]

if ur 2 outta 5

it Hurts
07 & 14 wont be held against lebron. You would be an idiot to think they would be.

[Fawker]

very much to do with the legacy. all teams play 82 games and you can be the mvp of that.

but 2/5 is not 6/6. it is very far apart.

[Sarcastic]

Depends. Everything has to be viewed with context. Flat statements can't be applied to every case.

[Random_Guy]

Depends. Everything has to be viewed with context. Flat statements can't be applied to every case.
this, I mean for instance if a player puts up 40/10/10 and still loses despite dragging his team to the finals, do you think it would hurt his leagcay?

[ballinhun8]

Losing multiple times in the first round of the playoffs. Hurts more.


Not even remotely close brah. Don't act stupid.


The biggest stage is where legends are born.

[zizozain]

No .. not if your wins are more than your losses in the Finals

reaching the Finals is a plus ...


especially reaching it from the wast

[Combat Wombat]

Not even remotely close brah. Don't act stupid.


The biggest stage is where legends are born.

He's not acting.....

[Fawker]

wtf. what do they play for? to reach the finals!

he is figured out in the finals. dirk and duncan are you kidding me? that sticks forever.

[gts]

if you think winning the finals adds a boost to a players legacy then losing in the finals certainly hurts it

[coin24]

No competition all east playoffs then getting destroyed in the finals?
Looks bad man.. 2/5 ouch...

A loser of that magnitude has no business in any top 20 GOAT lists:cheers:

[Marchesk]

If we're talking about a player being the potential GOAT, then yes it does, unless they have a great finals, but are beaten by a superior team.

So yes, 2/5 hurts Lebron's legacy in comparison to the players ahead of him on the all-time list, with one in particular.

And yes, that includes his 2014 performance, because although it was good, it wasn't great, which is what we expect from someone who some say will go down as 1b to MJ.

[ILLsmak]

When Jason Jerry coming off the bench averages more than you yes....

Haha **** Jason Jerry.

-Smak

[The-Legend-24]

When ur 2/5 it does. :oldlol: :oldlol:

[deja vu]

Sort of. The pressure is bigger in the Finals.