Favorite versions of Lebron [Archive] - Message Board Basketball Forum

StrongLurk

03-03-2019, 09:47 PM

Since Bron basically retired himself this season by going to the Lakers, let's look back on things.

I'd go with 08-09 and 09-10. Just felt like a more pure time for him as still the prodigal son for Cleveland (which is crazy given the crazy hype and media drama back then). Unreal blend of bball IQ/talent at his athletic peak.

Honorable mention: Lebron 06 - easily the most underrated year of his career (was better than 07, 08, 11). Dude was still not extremely buff and had insane agility and explosion for that size.

ArbitraryWater

03-03-2019, 09:49 PM

JohnMax

03-03-2019, 09:50 PM

03-04, 04-05 and 18-19

StrongLurk

03-03-2019, 09:53 PM

no

Go back and watch highlights, he was amazing in 06. Still went off pure instinct at that stage of his career, was less predictable.

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 09:53 PM

2013, 2014 and the 2016 postseason.

His Game 1 in last years Finals, at least before OT, was the greatest game Lebron ever played imo.

ArbitraryWater

03-03-2019, 09:55 PM

2013, 2014 and the 2016 postseason.

His Game 1 in last years Finals, at least before OT, was probably the greatest game Lebron ever played.

definitely.

His 2017 and 2018 seasons have out of nowhere become his best seasons ever. It seemed impossible for him to get better, and he did. It was a damn riddle to pick his best year, and he somehow made it easy.

He was untouchable and a God amongst men in both post-seasons, his two best post-seasons and finals ever.

2014 had that one lousy week in which he ruined his comeback on MVP frontrunner KD, where he also posted that selfie after losing at Houston (a game they wouldnt have lost had the refs called Harden kicking him in the groin).

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 09:56 PM

Those aren't my "favorite" versions of Lebron BTW. Just the years/stretches I think he played @ his best.

ArbitraryWater

03-03-2019, 09:59 PM

Those aren't my "favorite" versions of Lebron BTW. Just the years/stretches I think he played @ his best.

Oh then I have to disagree with you.

2017, 2018 >>

there isnt a single thing better about the 2016 post-season than the 2017 and 2018 ones. im not sure there is a single game if you compare it round to round which was better than the ones in 2017/2018 except for the ECF G3, which was weak in 2017.

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 10:09 PM

Oh then I have to disagree with you.

2017, 2018 >>

there isnt a single thing better about the 2016 post-season than the 2017 and 2018 ones. im not sure there is a single game if you compare it round to round which was better than the ones in 2017/2018 except for the ECF G3, which was weak in 2017.

If I disregard competition? Or ignore individual defense, and go by what the box-score tells me?

Yeah. I would agree with you.

Don't even care to debate the years, really. Point being? Fans get too caught up with numbers and lose their damn minds :oldlol:

kennethgriffen

03-03-2019, 10:12 PM

OP made a 1 month avatar bet with me that the lakers would make the playoffs

the thread got deleted.

he's pretty damn lucky...

StrongLurk

03-03-2019, 10:20 PM

OP made a 1 month avatar bet with me that the lakers would make the playoffs

the thread got deleted.

he's pretty damn lucky...

I actually made a HUGE thread before the season started about the Lakers MISSING the playoffs this year.

That thread was deleted by the mods recently for some reason, but you are confused.

Rico2016

03-03-2019, 10:27 PM

I actually made a HUGE thread before the season started about the Lakers MISSING the playoffs this year.

That thread was deleted by the mods recently for some reason, but you are confused.

Poor Ken :(

FKAri

03-03-2019, 10:34 PM

OP made a 1 month avatar bet with me that the lakers would make the playoffs

the thread got deleted.

he's pretty damn lucky...
Well, luckily this thread is still around:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10369372

the 2015 Lakers will make the playoffs. I bet my account on it

Lakers finish 21-62

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Indian guy

03-03-2019, 10:41 PM

kennethgriffen

03-03-2019, 10:42 PM

Well, luckily this thread is still around:
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10369372

Lakers finish 21-62

:roll: :roll: :roll:

have i used that account within the past 3 years?

MJistheGOAT

03-03-2019, 10:43 PM

Definitely pre-diva/quitter Bran, specially 06 and 07 seasons.
Still likeable 08 and 09.
Since 2010 disgusting.

Mr. Jabbar

03-03-2019, 10:44 PM

08-09 was his best imo. Smart, fast, strong, thirsty, non colluded, and eliminated by Dwight.

StrongLurk

03-03-2019, 10:45 PM

09-10 was his best imo. Smart, fast, thirsty, non colluded, and eliminated by Dwight.

You must be thinking of 08-09 if you are picking the season the Cavs lost to the Magic.

Mr. Jabbar

03-03-2019, 10:45 PM

You must be thinking of 08-09 if you are picking the season the Cavs lost to the Magic.

correct. :cheers:

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 10:54 PM

Probably his post-AS break 2018 version. To me it's undoubtedly the best he has ever been offensively. Still athletic as hell, but it's his skill level that separates this season from the rest. Money jumper and very comfortable operating from the post. That's how you carry a very thin team Cleveland team to a top 5 offense in the regular season and then a top 3 adjusted offense in the playoffs. Godly playoff run of 33/9/9/54% against very good competition. Cleveland had no business making the Finals. To me this season is just as important to his legacy as his 3 championship seasons.

2018 Lebron reminds me a bit of 2013 Kobe

Just talking about offense here.

They both had resurgent years on that end, whereas Bron carried it through the postseason. How much credit do you give Lebron when he's playing poor defense though? It just wasn't good last year, and he clearly took plays off to rack up numbers. Ditto with 2013 Kobe.

Personally? 2013/2014/2016 Bron would be fukking ridiculous playing that way LAST YEAR. Hell, Lebron right now is averaging similar numbers to said seasons yet its clear he's an inferior player. On both offense and defense.

Indian guy

03-03-2019, 11:15 PM

2018 Lebron reminds me a bit of 2013 Kobe

Just talking about offense here.

They both had resurgence years on that end

Not for LeBron though. He simply carried on from a dominant 2017 season and got even better (offensively).

Personally? 2013/2014/2016 Bron would be fukking ridiculous playing that way LAST YEAR.

Nah. I don't think any of those versions had the combination of athleticism and skill-level last year's LeBron did. I could never see them dropping 8 40 point games like LeBron had in the playoffs. Especially not 2013 (not athletic enough) or 2016 (broke jumper). I could see 2014 dropping a few.

Hell, Lebron averaging similar numbers this year to said seasons yet its clear he's an inferior player. On both offense and defense.

Definitely not picking 2018 LeBron based on numbers alone. Just watching him last season....he was in command offensively like he had never been before (or after). This year's version has only had very short stretches where he demonstrated last year's ability. He has clearly declined. Of course, he can still put up numbers because he's smart enough and LA's super fast pace gives him more opportunities to score.

I do disagree on his defense this season being worse. I think his defensive effort for the most part this season has been fine (he's top 50 in DRPM too). People see a few highlight clips and run away with it. Last year he was truly bad on D. No denying that.

SamuraiSWISH

03-03-2019, 11:19 PM

Definitely pre-diva/quitter Bran, specially 06 and 07 seasons.
Still likeable 08 and 09.
Since 2010 disgusting.
He was very likable pre 2010 ECSF against Boston when he very visibly quit.

Since then absolute fraud, mercenary and villain.

Even the “I’m coming home” and finishing his career back in Cleveland looks terrible in retrospect.

08-09 was his best imo. Smart, fast, strong, thirsty, non colluded, and eliminated by Dwight.
This

Mask the Embiid

03-03-2019, 11:23 PM

1.LeThanos (2018 LeBron)

2nd Fav is the Heatles streaking LeBron

3rd Fav is the 2015 Back-Packing LeBron, who should of won finals MVP over iggy

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 11:28 PM

Not for LeBron though. He simply carried on from a dominant 2017 season and got even better (offensively).

Nah. I don't think any of those versions had the combination of athleticism and skill-level last year's LeBron did. I could never see them dropping 8 40 point games like LeBron had in the playoffs. Especially not 2013 (not athletic enough) or 2016 (broke jumper). I could see 2014 dropping a few.

Definitely not picking 2018 LeBron based on numbers alone. Just watching him last season....he was in command offensively like he had never been before (or after). This year's version has only had very short stretches where he demonstrated last year's ability. He has clearly declined. Of course, he can still put up numbers because he's smart enough and LA's super fast pace gives him more opportunities to score.

I do disagree on his defense this season being worse. I think his defensive effort for the most part this season has been fine (he's top 50 in DRPM too). People see a few highlight clips and run away with it. Last year he was truly bad on D. No denying that.

On some of these points?

We'll agree to disagree.

I've watched most Laker games this year. LeBron's defense is as bad or worse compared to last season imo.

He showed a lot more skill last year. And his jumper looked good in stretches. I think his offense gets overrated though. He gave minimal effort on defense, and you saw an increase with production.

Where do you rank, say, the 5 best versions of LeBron?

SamuraiSWISH

03-03-2019, 11:42 PM

On some of these points?

We'll agree to disagree.

I've watched most Laker games this year. LeBron's defense is as bad or worse compared to last season imo.

He showed a lot more skill last year. And his jumper looked good in stretches. I think his offense gets overrated though. He gave minimal effort on defense, and you saw an increase with production.

Where do you rank, say, the 5 best versions of LeBron?
Seriously. His defense was horrible last year and it

Indian guy

03-03-2019, 11:46 PM

Where do you rank, say, the 5 best versions of LeBron?

2009
2013
2014
2017
2018

This is in no order

SamuraiSWISH

03-03-2019, 11:52 PM

2009 - Decent Defense
2013 - Good Defense
2014 - Average Defense
2017 - Bad Defense
2018 - Terrible Defense

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-03-2019, 11:58 PM

2009
2013
2014
2017
2018

This is in no order

Not bad.

List seems to be the standard for LeBron fans.

Dray n Klay

03-03-2019, 11:59 PM

The version of LeBron that got out of the 1st round when he made the playoffs.

Oh wait... thats every version :banana:

kuniva_dAMiGhTy

03-04-2019, 12:04 AM

What’s more alarming is known LeBron Stans, like Indian Guy describing their favorite versions of LeBron, excusing putrid defense while also talking and describing these weird season to season massive influx in skill set.

Pretty much what I was getting at.

Or at least was looking for some kind of reasoning.

I don't know about "Indian guy", but most Lebron fans go apeshit over numbers - and ignore everything else.

I prefer the version of Lebron who could dominate on both ends, but also had a HIGH motor.

SamuraiSWISH

03-04-2019, 12:10 AM

Pretty much what I was getting at.

Or at least was looking for some kind of reasoning.

I don't know about "Indian guy", but most Lebron fans go apeshit over numbers - and ignore everything else.

I prefer the version of Lebron who could dominate on both ends, but also had a HIGH motor.
And the highest defensive motor seasons came with top five guy and top three power forward as no surprise ... and I agree as well.

So that

tpols

03-04-2019, 12:18 AM

probably 2009 before elbowgate and the decision

Mr.GOAT2408

03-04-2019, 03:14 AM

2012, 2013, and especially 2016

Played both sides, didn't dominate possession too much, displayed excellent leadership ability in all 3 years especially in the postseason. Game 6 vs Celtics is peak LeBron, he could go head to head with anyone that game.

If he played like he did those years throughout most of his career he'd have an argument for GOAT, but instead he's 3 - 6 while missing the playoffs the first season out west :lol

warriorfan

03-04-2019, 03:20 AM

08-09

Check out his highlights from that year. Superhuman stuff.

MJistheGOAT

03-04-2019, 08:07 AM

2009 would have been one of the GOAT hype finals with prime Kobe vs prime Bran.

ISH crashing everyday.

Damn the what if.

Gileraracer

03-04-2019, 08:20 AM

The 2011 version

ArbitraryWater

03-04-2019, 08:30 AM

If I disregard competition? Or ignore individual defense, and go by what the box-score tells me?

Yeah. I would agree with you.

Don't even care to debate the years, really. Point being? Fans get too caught up with numbers and lose their damn minds :oldlol:

I dont get caught up in that.

I saw that LeBron, and I've never seen someone toy with entire basketball teams like 2017-2018 LeBron... never.

C'mon now.

Dude was dropping 35 pt TD's everywhere.

Hitting every walk off shot....

opening game 7's by making 10 straight shots with no teammates scoring inbetween....

demoralizing an entire city with PURE INTENT....

dragging his nuts all over GS on the road in the finals, pulling up from 35 in a close game 3rd quarter (thats confidence)...

taking out every single Celtic behind the perimeter and literally started dance moves on them, then taking them to school.....

blocking game winners (Oladipo)....

I mean, he was just the best confident, driven, best baller to ever grace the planet..

This ain't numbers. This is ownership.

sportjames23

03-04-2019, 08:51 AM

2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018 are my favorite versions of Lebron.

Manny98

03-04-2019, 08:52 AM

2012 playoffs/2013 regular season - literally god on a basketball court

Doranku

03-04-2019, 10:51 AM

2015-2018 LeBron easily for me. Started liking him in the '15 finals when he finally sacked up and went down guns blazing despite missing Love and Kyrie.

His game just became a lot more aesthetically appealing. Still had crazy athleticism, but his jumper was smooth. His offensive awareness & basketball IQ were at their peaks.