2009 Nba Finals

[Jlamb47]

WHAT IF.........YES WHAT IF......Lebron beat Orlando in the ECF and got to face the Lakers in the finals. How do you see this matchup going? and predict Lebrona n Kobe stats.

[ShawkFactory]

Lakers win in 6. Too much front court for the Cavs.

Lebron goes for 29/8/7 on 52%
Kobe does 31/6/5 on 46%

[Bandito]

If we go by regular season stats Lebron's team will win. Not surprised as it was stacked as ****. But knowing Kobe and Gasol those two would probably turn it up a notch in the playoffs. If they had Artest at the time I would say he would get on Lebron head sooner or later but only Ariza was there and he would get railed by Lebron.


Also PJ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brown as a coach.

[Magic 32]

This is the real "what if" in 2009.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3KBsMXSYpY

[Prime_Shaq]

I think Lakers would win based on their frontcourt alone. Lakers won the regular season matchup 2-0 if I remember correctly.

[DukeDelonte13]

I think Lakers would win based on their frontcourt alone. Lakers won the regular season matchup 2-0 if I remember correctly.


i think you are correct in that. In 2010 i think the Cavs beat the Lakers 2-0 after they got shaq and hickson developed a bit more.


But I agree, the front court disparity was too much.

[The Iron Fist]

If we go by regular season stats Lebron's team will win. Not surprised as it was stacked as ****. But knowing Kobe and Gasol those two would probably turn it up a notch in the playoffs. If they had Artest at the time I would say he would get on Lebron head sooner or later but only Ariza was there and he would get railed by Lebron.


Also PJ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brown as a coach.
If we go by regular seasons stats if the series was the Magic vs Lakers, the Magic would win.


:biggums:

[Magic 32]

http://s7.postimg.org/aeodkgx6j/dfghfd.png

https://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/trevor-ariza-18.jpg

[Prime_Shaq]

i think you are correct in that. In 2010 i think the Cavs beat the Lakers 2-0 after they got shaq and hickson developed a bit more.


But I agree, the front court disparity was too much.
However in 2010, Bynum was more healthy. If they were to match up in the finals i mean.

[Ariza4three]

Well if it wasn't rigged Orlando would have won so Lebron would have won that series imo

[Prime_Shaq]

Well if it wasn't rigged Orlando would have won so Lebron would have won that series imo
How was it rigged? :lol Magic just weren't ready

[brownmamba00]

If we go by regular season stats Lebron's team will win. Not surprised as it was stacked as ****. But knowing Kobe and Gasol those two would probably turn it up a notch in the playoffs. If they had Artest at the time I would say he would get on Lebron head sooner or later but only Ariza was there and he would get railed by Lebron.


Also PJ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brown as a coach.
Ariza in '09 is the twice the player Ron Artest was in his time with the purp&gold. LA dominated the Cavs that year in the regular season so...

LA in 5.

[AirBourne92]

cavs would not have won that.

kobe was way too surgical in his prime, he could win without a deep squad just how did he did in 09

cavs ran almost no offense other than "lebron on string" type of basketball

it would've been just as easy as the magic for the lakers

[Dave3]

If we go by regular season stats Lebron's team will win. Not surprised as it was stacked as ****. But knowing Kobe and Gasol those two would probably turn it up a notch in the playoffs. If they had Artest at the time I would say he would get on Lebron head sooner or later but only Ariza was there and he would get railed by Lebron.


Also PJ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brown as a coach.
You're thinking of 2010, not 2009.

[Hey Yo]

Lakers in 5 cause as others stated, Lakers front court would be too much.

[DukeDelonte13]

cavs would not have won that.

kobe was way too surgical in his prime, he could win without a deep squad just how did he did in 09

cavs ran almost no offense other than "lebron on string" type of basketball

it would've been just as easy as the magic for the lakers

I know in 2010 Cavs were top 10 in offensive efficiency and were top 10 in assists. I'm not so sure about 2009 though.

Even still, Lebron isolating at that time was almost always either basket or a trip to the line.

[JohnnySic]

Lakers sweep, or 5 at the most.

'10 would have been closer with Shaq providing more size.

That said, glad Kobe vs LeBron never happened. Fukc that shiit.

[sportjames23]

WHAT IF.........YES WHAT IF......Lebron beat Orlando in the ECF and got to face the Lakers in the finals. How do you see this matchup going? and predict Lebrona n Kobe stats.


All I know is, this Finals woulda broke ISH in half. Shit woulda been absolutely BANANAS here. :oldlol:

[JohnMax]

Lack of post game means he'd easily get shutdown

[Lebron23]

Lack of post game means he'd easily get shutdown


He averaged 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists vs. The Orlando Magic in the conference Finals.

[Magic 32]

He averaged 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists vs. The Orlando Magic in the conference Finals.

Orlando Magic were awful.

First round material in the west.

[Jlamb47]

I felt like 2009 or 2010 had to be the year Lebron vs Kobe in the Finals and it never happened. These two were the arguements in those times and never got to meet each other.

[TheMarkMadsen]

He averaged 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists vs. The Orlando Magic in the conference Finals.

Cool but they lost easily so who cares

[ShawkFactory]

Cool but they lost easily so who cares
That was in response to the notion that Lebron would get shut down. He posted Godly numbers against the best defense in the league. Not his fault the rest of the team couldn't pull their weight.

[Lebron23]

That was in response to the notion that Lebron would get shut down. He posted Godly numbers against the best defense in the league. Not his fault the rest of the team couldn't pull their weight.


http://athletetattoodatabase.com/img/wiki_up/mo.williams2.jpg

[Jud]

Lakers would easily still win

[ShawkFactory]

http://athletetattoodatabase.com/img/wiki_up/mo.williams2.jpg
Is this supposed to claim that Mo was a positive or a negative for Cleveland that series?

[Crown&Coke]

Only if Lebron could have cloned himself we may have been able to see it.

This dude can't even clone himself, smh

[TheMarkMadsen]

That was in response to the notion that Lebron would get shut down. He posted Godly numbers against the best defense in the league. Not his fault the rest of the team couldn't pull their weight.

you can't win playing the way that cavs team played. You can't expect players to stay in rythm when the offense is "watch lebron dribble for 20 seconds and be ready to shoot"

If that team ran an actual offense, they might have won some rings.

and for as good as lebron played in that series, he sure picked the wrong game to not show up

[ShawkFactory]

you can't win playing the way that cavs team played. You can't expect players to stay in rythm when the offense is "watch lebron dribble for 20 seconds and be ready to shoot"

If that team ran an actual offense, they might have won some rings.

and for as good as lebron played in that series, he sure picked the wrong game to not show up
Well that can't all be placed on Lebron's shoulders. Mike Brown...:lol

[TheMarkMadsen]

Well that can't all be placed on Lebron's shoulders. Mike Brown...:lol

even so, we've seen lebron's willingness or lack there of to run an actual offense.

that team had weapons that could have been better utilized then what they were, if Lebron was willing to orchestrate from the post back then or at least take the ball out of Lebron's hands more, I think they would have at least of made the finals.

Coach needed to step in and tell Lebron that you can't win they way you're playing, no matter how pretty the stats may look..

they are one last second shot from going home in 5 games, decisively

[JT123]

Lakers would have won, as they were just way more stacked. Better what if scenario would be what if Lakers beat Dallas in 2011 and faced off against the Heat in the Finals. :eek:
That would have been an awesome match up since both teams were about equal in terms of talent.

[ShawkFactory]

even so, we've seen lebron's willingness or lack there of to run an actual offense.

that team had weapons that could have been better utilized then what they were, if Lebron was willing to orchestrate from the post back then or at least take the ball out of Lebron's hands more, I think they would have at least of made the finals.

Coach needed to step in and tell Lebron that you can't win they way you're playing, no matter how pretty the stats may look..

they are one last second shot from going home in 5 games, decisively
True. That's why you need a special coach for a guy as talented as Lebron (or Kobe or Michael for that matter).

B-level coaches aren't gonna cut it with guys who are used to everything flowing through them all time.

[Wade's Rings]

The Lakers would have won had they faced off.

[Wade's Rings]

Lakers would have won, as they were just way more stacked. Better what if scenario would be what if Lakers beat Dallas in 2011 and faced off against the Heat in the Finals. :eek:
That would have been an awesome match up since both teams were about equal in terms of talent.

Lakers would have won because LBJ would've choked.

[Hey Yo]

Lakers would have won because LBJ would've choked.
Unless of course, LeBron was gifted over 16fta per game.

[Wade's Rings]

Unless of course, LeBron was gifted over 16fta per game.

Standing at half court won't get you any free throws.

[ArbitraryWater]

even so, we've seen lebron's willingness or lack there of to run an actual offense.

that team had weapons that could have been better utilized then what they were, if Lebron was willing to orchestrate from the post back then or at least take the ball out of Lebron's hands more, I think they would have at least of made the finals.

Coach needed to step in and tell Lebron that you can't win they way you're playing, no matter how pretty the stats may look..

they are one last second shot from going home in 5 games, decisively


Holy ****ing shit this is retarded.........

yes, lets blame LeBron for losing the 2009 ECF.

And don't try to spin shit, you just blamed LeBron for the Cavaliers losing the 2009 ECF.

Mods?

[JT123]

Unless of course, LeBron was gifted over 16fta per game.
:lebronamazed: :lebronamazed: :lebronamazed:

[TheMarkMadsen]

Holy ****ing shit this is retarded.........

yes, lets blame LeBron for losing the 2009 ECF.

And don't try to spin shit, you just blamed LeBron for the Cavaliers losing the 2009 ECF.

Mods?

weird the other poster understood exactly what I was saying, that you can't win with one player being that ball dominant, that the offense needed to be changed in order to keep certain guys in rhythm.. you know..basketball

yet here you are crying for the mods..

:lol :lol

i watched the series, Lebron played great but fell right into what Orlando wanted him to do and never adjusted his style of play, Orlando almost won the series in 5 games

[navy]

Depends. Dwight Howard destroyed the Cavs front line. Pau Gasol while more offensively skilled might not have been as dominate as he was and might have given up more defensively.

[Hey Yo]

Standing at half court won't get you any free throws.
That's what happens when you agree to take a backseat for your friend so he can try to get one last FMVP.

[Hey Yo]

weird the other poster understood exactly what I was saying, that you can't win with one player being that ball dominant, that the offense needed to be changed in order to keep certain guys in rhythm.. you know..basketball

yet here you are crying for the mods..

:lol :lol

i watched the series, Lebron played great but fell right into what Orlando wanted him to do and never adjusted his style of play, Orlando almost won the series in 5 games
But the 2 other top scoring options, Mo and Delonte, their FGA and scoring avg's went up slightly, than what they avg. in the regular season, due to playing more MPG. Same with James' FGA. It went up in that Magic series due to increased MPG.

It's not like LeBron's FGA went up as others went down comparing regular season avg's.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2009.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2009_ECF.html

[Prime_Shaq]

That's what happens when you agree to take a backseat for your friend so he can try to get one last FMVP.
Taking the backseat does not mean not do anything :oldlol: dudes a great player but showed incredible unwillingness to play off-ball

[Hey Yo]

Taking the backseat does not mean not do anything :oldlol: dudes a great player but showed incredible unwillingness to play off-ball
Avg 18-7-7 with a triple double means "not doing anything?"

:confusedshrug:

[Prime_Shaq]

Avg 18-7-7 with a triple double means "not doing anything?"

:confusedshrug:
See this is the problem with lebron stans. Dude is a good player don't get me wrong but you can't just look at the box scores and see the stats to judge his play. Look at his stats in the quit game against the Celtics, those were some good stats as well but those that watched the game saw that he flat out quit. Same with the 2011 finals.

[JT123]

Avg 18-7-7 with a triple double means "not doing anything?"

:confusedshrug:
Funny how when Wade would put up those numbers in a series people considered it "elite superstar help for Lebron" but when Lebron puts up those averages it means he "wasn't doing anything." :rolleyes:
In 4 years together Lebron literally carried Wade through countless horrible playoff series. Pretty sad that Wade couldn't return the favor and carry Lebron through his ONLY bad playoff series in their 4 years together.

[plowking]

weird the other poster understood exactly what I was saying, that you can't win with one player being that ball dominant, that the offense needed to be changed in order to keep certain guys in rhythm.. you know..basketball

yet here you are crying for the mods..

:lol :lol

i watched the series, Lebron played great but fell right into what Orlando wanted him to do and never adjusted his style of play, Orlando almost won the series in 5 games

lol.

shut up and stop pretending like you knew what the Magic wanted to do. Cavs lost while Bron played great. That is that.

You're a Kobe slurper with an agenda. We get it. No one believes your shit though.

[Wade's Rings]

That's what happens when you agree to take a backseat for your friend so he can try to get one last FMVP.

Averaging Under 2pts in the 4th while shooting 25% is called choking. Also, got locked up by 38 year old Kidd :lol

[TheMarkMadsen]

lol.

shut up and stop pretending like you knew what the Magic wanted to do. Cavs lost while Bron played great. That is that.

You're a Kobe slurper with an agenda. We get it. No one believes your shit though.

Says the Lebron/heat/hawk fan

Do you have anything to and besides personal insults?

[plowking]

Says the Lebron/heat/hawk fan

Do you have anything to and besides personal insults?

There isn't a single personal insult in my entire reply. :oldlol:

Have you just got cookie cutter responses ready to go? lol.
I'm clearly a Hawks fan right. Ain't no joking about that. I'm die hard Hawks. Lifelong fan clearly. :facepalm

No way! I'm a Lebron fan? Me? A Heat fan being a fan of Lebron? That's crazy. Who would have thought a Heat fan would be partial to a player that once played in Miami? I've done nothing but insult the dude since he left Miami, but once again, hardcore fan. :rockon:

Nice deflecting too.

[Wade's Rings]

Funny how when Wade would put up those numbers in a series people considered it "elite superstar help for Lebron" but when Lebron puts up those averages it means he "wasn't doing anything." :rolleyes:
In 4 years together Lebron literally carried Wade through countless horrible playoff series. Pretty sad that Wade couldn't return the favor and carry Lebron through his ONLY bad playoff series in their 4 years together.

:lol

[Hey Yo]

See this is the problem with lebron stans. Dude is a good player don't get me wrong but you can't just look at the box scores and see the stats to judge his play. Look at his stats in the quit game against the Celtics, those were some good stats as well but those that watched the game saw that he flat out quit. Same with the 2011 finals.
But I'm not doing that. I watched the games.

Could he have done more in 2011? Sure could have. Did he "not do anything at all" like you implied? Certainly not.

For some reason, someone thought the Heat needed fixed instead of doing what got them there. LeBron taking a backseat to Wade didn't get them there.


What quit game against the Celtics?

[LiLharvard]

The 2009 Finals. I never like to remember that year as an Nba Fan. I was young back then and my attention had always been on the NBA being an absurdly fanatical Pierce/KG STAN. Fresh off the 2008 championship, my expectations were high for the imminent season ahead. Once KG went down that year, the whole celtics went down, they managed to play some amazing basketball throughout the playoffs and i'll never forget the Chicago series that went to 7 games and then just missing out on making the ECF. Ohhh how great it would have been for the rivalry/ nba history to have the celtics/lakers back to back finals from 2008 to 2009.

[TheMarkMadsen]

There isn't a single personal insult in my entire reply. :oldlol:

Have you just got cookie cutter responses ready to go? lol.
I'm clearly a Hawks fan right. Ain't no joking about that. I'm die hard Hawks. Lifelong fan clearly. :facepalm

No way! I'm a Lebron fan? Me? A Heat fan being a fan of Lebron? That's crazy. Who would have thought a Heat fan would be partial to a player that once played in Miami? I've done nothing but insult the dude since he left Miami, but once again, hardcore fan. :rockon:

Nice deflecting too.

I'm deflecting?

You haven't even typed anything basketball related to refute what I said

:roll: :roll:

Just a bunch of troll non sense

"Durr you like Kobe you are wrong durr"

[Prime_Shaq]

But I'm not doing that. I watched the games.

Could he have done more in 2011? Sure could have. Did he "not do anything at all" like you implied? Certainly not.

For some reason, someone thought the Heat needed fixed instead of doing what got them there. LeBron taking a backseat to Wade didn't get them there.


What quit game against the Celtics?
His last game as a Cav before he joined the Heat, dude had 19 rebounds or something but you could clearly see he wasn't trying his best.

As for 2011 he was just standing around, didn't apply any pressure on the Mavs defense or played any defense for that matter.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

A team with Mo Williams as it's second best player probably isn't going to beat a team with Kobe Bryant as it's second best player.

[plowking]

I'm deflecting?

You haven't even typed anything basketball related to refute what I said

:roll: :roll:

Just a bunch of troll non sense

"Durr you like Kobe you are wrong durr"

Yes, deflecting.

You pointed out I'm a fan of Heat/Hawks/Bron. Two of which you're wrong about, but either way, nothing to do with the topic.
Mentioned personal insults. Not a personal insult in the whole post.

So when are you going to show me what the Magic did, and how Bron going off was supposedly their plan? I directly called into question your knowledge of it, which is basketball related, and you sit there crying and bringing up irrelevant shit to the argument.

Basically, on a strictly debating level, you're losing right now. So how about educating people on how the Magic did what you say they did? Or you can't?

[Hey Yo]

His last game as a Cav before he joined the Heat, dude had 19 rebounds or something but you could clearly see he wasn't trying his best.

As for 2011 he was just standing around, didn't apply any pressure on the Mavs defense or played any defense for that matter.
27-19 and 10 isn't trying your best??

Regardless if one watched that game or not, is that the first thing that would come to one's mind if they just saw the box score???

[ShawkFactory]

I don't think 2011 was necessarily Brons unwillingness to play off-ball as much as it was him having no idea what to do. He'd likely never played off-ball in his life.

And that confusion turned into anxiety, which turned into him going ghost.

[Prime_Shaq]

27-19 and 10 isn't trying your best??

Regardless if one watched that game or not, is that the first thing that would come to one's mind if they just saw the box score???
Like I said, you can't just look at the box score. Even a true LeBron fan would admit he just wasn't into that game. I'm not even taking away anything from him, he's a great player and even great players have bad games/series. Box score =/= Impact on game

[Hey Yo]

I don't think 2011 was necessarily Brons unwillingness to play off-ball as much as it was him having no idea what to do. He'd likely never played off-ball in his life.

And that confusion turned into anxiety, which turned into him going ghost.
:applause:

[red1]

A team with Mo Williams as it's second best player probably isn't going to beat a team with Kobe Bryant as it's second best player.
#realtalk

[SamuraiSWISH]

Would've been more entertaining seeing 2009 Cavs v.s. 2009 Lakers than what we got. Because that was the peak of the Bron v.s. Kobe debate. Kobe a season removed from his 1st MVP, and LeBron's 1st MVP season.

But the Lakers were just more talented, and had way better coaching.

Truth is the Magic were better than the Cavs in that series. Even with Bron playing out of his mind in one of the greatest individual playoff series performances ever. Mo Williams is just not a reliable second option. And even though James quit on his team mid series in 2010 as well ... there wasn't enough offensive basketball talent to win with those teams. No legit supplemental help.

The only team that could beat the 2009 Lakers was the 2009 Celtics before KG went down. A re-match that year would've been epic. We should have got a purple and gold v.s. kelly green trilogy from 2008 - 2010.

[pauk]

Orlando Magic with Dwight abusing Varejao/Ilgauskas offensively & defensively and kicking it out to all those shooters when doubled was Cavs biggest kryptonite entire year (and previous regular season-s).... they presented the most problems.... i knew they could/would lose in a series....

...and as you can see what Lebron did in that series, he had one of the best performances in NBA history.... it didnt matter at all, they would have lost much earlier and/or got swept if he didnt produce like he did.... Magic shooters were kindof much more luckier against them aswell, hitting like 2 gamewinners with Turkoglu & Rashard....

Lakers presented less problems for Cavs, they matched up with them much better... I always said if they could survive the Magic then Lebron/Cavs could have perhaps won their 1st championship right there.... who knows....

[TheMarkMadsen]

why don't Jordan fans claim Jordan's 86 & 87 playoff series as "GOAT playoff series" in the same way bran stans talk about Lebron's 09 magic series..

because nobody brags about stats in a series you lost :facepalm :facepalm

using bran stan logic Jordan's best series came while getting swept by the other team

[ShawkFactory]

why don't Jordan fans claim Jordan's 86 & 87 playoff series as "GOAT playoff series" in the same way bran stans talk about Lebron's 09 magic series..

because nobody brags about stats in a series you lost :facepalm :facepalm

using bran stan logic Jordan's best series came while getting swept by the other team
Jordan was consider the best player in the game and one of the most outstanding talents ever before he ever won a ring. His individual domination was revered. As is Lebrons from that 2009 series.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Jordan was consider the best player in the game and one of the most outstanding talents ever before he ever won a ring. His individual domination was revered. As is Lebrons from that 2009 series.

not in 86 & 87, that was still Magic and Bird.

point is, nobody brings those series unless talking about the 60+ game, and even then it's still not as highly thought of as his other playoff moments because they lost the game.

nobody brings up Jordan's playoff performances prior to 91 as a way to prop up Jordan, because if you ain't winning nobody cares especially if you're an all time great

When you're an ATG you are judged on whether you won or loss, not whether your stat line was pretty.

[Prime_Shaq]

Orlando Magic with Dwight abusing Varejao/Ilgauskas offensively & defensively and kicking it out to all those shooters when doubled was Cavs biggest kryptonite entire year (and previous regular season-s).... they presented the most problems.... i knew they could/would lose in a series....

...and as you can see what Lebron did in that series, he had one of the best performances in NBA history.... it didnt matter at all, they would have lost much earlier and/or got swept if he didnt produce like he did.... Magic shooters were kindof much more luckier against them aswell, hitting like 2 gamewinners with Turkoglu & Rashard....

Lakers presented less problems for Cavs, they matched up with them much better... I always said if they could survive the Magic then Lebron/Cavs could have perhaps won their 1st championship right there.... who knows....
I believe Gasol and Odom would provide the same big men presence as the Magic frontcourt and not forgetting the Lakers intensity from losing the year before

[TheMarkMadsen]

for instance, Kobe averaged 34/7/8/1/1 on 64% TS in the 2010 WCF and won the series. Great performance but nobody on ISH brings it up as an ATG performance

yet the year prior Lebron averages 4 more points and 1 more rebound on worse efficiency, loses the series and somehow it's an ATG performance according to ISH?

come on..

[ShawkFactory]

not in 86 & 87, that was still Magic and Bird.

point is, nobody brings those series unless talking about the 60+ game, and even then it's still not as highly thought of as his other playoff moments because they lost the game.

nobody brings up Jordan's playoff performances prior to 91 as a way to prop up Jordan, because if you ain't winning nobody cares especially if you're an all time great

When you're an ATG you are judged on whether you won or loss, not whether your stat line was pretty.
Well a large part of no one bringing things up before 91 is because it was so long ago. 2009 isn't, and most of us here were very involved with the game when that happened. Most of us here don't know really what happened with Jordan against the Bad Boys, and thus it isn't discussed. 20 years from now people likely won't be talking about Lebron much before 2012.

[ShawkFactory]

for instance, Kobe averaged 34/7/8/1/1 on 64% TS in the 2010 WCF and won the series. Great performance but nobody on ISH brings it up as an ATG performance

yet the year prior Lebron averages 4 more points and 1 more rebound on worse efficiency, loses the series and somehow it's an ATG performance according to ISH?

come on..
It's precisely because the Lakers won that series that people don't talk as much about it, IMO. Had Kobe put up those numbers with a clearly inferior team in a loss it might be more remembered. Especially if he had the same career context Lebron had in 2009.

[TheMarkMadsen]

It's precisely because the Lakers won that series that people don't talk as much about it, IMO. Had Kobe put up those numbers with a clearly inferior team in a loss it might be more remembered. Especially if he had the same career context Lebron had in 2009.

that's ridiculous.

and whats so special about the context of Lebrons career in 09 when compared to Kobe's?

in 10 Kobe was literally playing for his legacy, his entire career he was told he couldn't win without Shaq, this was his chance to silence every critic he ever had. And he did.

Up against an incredibly talented and deep Suns team who had just swept the Spurs, and who had looked like the best team in the league for the second half of the season.

Suns had 2 legitimate all star starters that year.

Kobe was literally flawless in that series. You shouldn't be penalized for winning while on the same token being propped up for losing.

[ShawkFactory]

that's ridiculous.

and whats so special about the context of Lebrons career in 09 when compared to Kobe's?

in 10 Kobe was literally playing for his legacy, his entire career he was told he couldn't win without Shaq, this was his chance to silence every critic he ever had. And he did.

Up against an incredibly talented and deep Suns team who had just swept the Spurs, and who had looked like the best team in the league for the second half of the season.

Suns had 2 legitimate all star starters that year.

Kobe was literally flawless in that series. You shouldn't be penalized for winning while on the same token being propped up for losing.
It has nothing to do with being "penalized" or "propped up". Lebron had just won his first MVP, and had gotten completely on to Kobe's tier. People expected the Cavs in the finals, and Orlando winning that series was huge (at least for uneducated people who didn't see that that team was a huge matchup problem for Cleveland). He had cemented himself as a force in the league that season and played like it in a loss.

In the 2 years previous to 2010 Kobe had won an MVP and a ring without Shaq. His legacy was NOT on the line. He was adding to it in the same way Lebron was in 2013.

[chazzy]

That's what happens when you agree to take a backseat for your friend so he can try to get one last FMVP.
cringe

Wade averaged more shots during the regular season than the finals