Josh Smiths opinion on how Lebron might fare in his day.

[Kblaze8855]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2202020722050307.jpeg


Possibly relevant fact….


Josh Smith is younger than Lebron.

[SouBeachTalents]

:roll: That's so embarrassing. Does he really not remember that LeBron not only played in the league at the same time that he did, but in the same conference? Including a god damn playoff series.

[warriorfan]

This is old news. Lebron was very fortunate to pretty much start his career during the era where rules started to change and things were beginning to open up for perimeter scorers.

[warriorfan]

:roll: That's so embarrassing. Does he really not remember that LeBron played in the league at the same time he did?

All he said was back then. He could have been referring to the era Kobe started playing in.

[Kblaze8855]

I feel like the “We” suggests he means the league he was in. Can’t say I’m sure though. Just popped up on Twitter. Coincidentally Josh Smith started opposite Lebron in one of his first 40 point games:



https://youtu.be/-GsyDu87H2Q



Though he’s not defending him much in the portion I watched. He would seem the logical matchup body and athleticism wise but we all know that isn’t the only factor.

[AirBonner]

Josh Smith looks like a crackhead

[FultzNationRISE]

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2202020722050307.jpeg


Possibly relevant fact….


Josh Smith is younger than Lebron.


:roll:

[AirBonner]

:roll:

Dude must post on ish lol

[FultzNationRISE]

Funny thing about this to me is I used to always come up with Josh Smith whenever I tried to think of who was most similar to Lebron in terms of height/build/athleticism (this was before Giannis).

Even tho it’s not a perfect comparison, for some reason it was always the one that came to mind.

So considering Lebron was x100000 times more successful than Mr Smith, despite similar physical proportions... if Lebron isnt skilled, then that really doesnt speak favorably for Josh’s own game.

[warriorfan]

I feel like the “We” suggests he means the league he was in. Can’t say I’m sure though. Just popped up on Twitter. Coincidentally Josh Smith started opposite Lebron in one of his first 40 point games:



https://youtu.be/-GsyDu87H2Q



Though he’s not defending him much in the portion I watched. He would seem the logical matchup body and athleticism wise but we all know that isn’t the only factor.

The championship pistons made a problem for the league who’s solution was spearheaded by mark cuban in an attempt to curtail the amount the game was being mucked up in order to bring a more marketable product to the viewers. Changes shortly after occurred, coinciding with LeBron first entering the league. (Ironically Mark Cuban ended up getting hurt perhaps the most after the same rules he advocated for got him torched by Dwyane Wade which in turn cost his organization a NBA Championship.

[Kblaze8855]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ImpressionableImpureAxolotl-size_restricted.gif




He had his day but he kinda makes me feel old. I remember us watching his high school clips talking about him as a prospect on here and now he feels like a relic. And dude played till 2018!

Watching that dunk is weird too. Tyron Lue winding down his career on a team of tweener forwards(Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Al Harrington, and maybe Antione Walker). With all those position-less combo forwards and Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the draft they take Marvin Williams. A no position combo forward.

[1987_Lakers]

"Back in my day"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnLnvU8DjBY

[Full Court]

Uh oh.....this quote is going to seriously trigger some Bronies.

[HoopsNY]

Smith came into the league after LeBron. Wtf is he talking about? LeBron was a beast from 2004-2014.

[Lebron23]

Funny thing about this to me is I used to always come up with Josh Smith whenever I tried to think of who was most similar to Lebron in terms of height/build/athleticism (this was before Giannis).

Even tho it’s not a perfect comparison, for some reason it was always the one that came to mind.

So considering Lebron was x100000 times more successful than Mr Smith, despite similar physical proportions... if Lebron isnt skilled, then that really doesnt speak favorably for Josh’s own game.

I thought Josh Smith was going to end up as the next Lebron when the Hawks drafted him.

[highwhey]

Josh Smith looks like a crackhead

agreed, he looks like warriorfan

[SATAN]

This can't be real. No way.

[HoopsNY]

Okay I think I misunderstood what he's saying. He's saying 37 year old LeBron wouldn't be doing what he's doing now back then. I agree, but LeBron would still be effective. Probably doesn't see the numbers he is now, especially when you factor for pace.

[kawhileonard2]

Josh Smith is right on target with this information.

[ImKobe]

He's not getting to the rim against early or mid-2000s defenses with how much slower the pace was. Pistons, Celtics & Spurs took the paint away from Lebron in a lot of those Playoff games and that was the peak athletic version Bran. He's obviously improved his 3-PT shooting but he's nowhere near as athletic or quick as he was back then so he wouldn't be getting past those defenders and he wouldn't be able to take the punishment inside on a nightly basis like he did in his prime. We saw that in the Suns series last year when he was reduced to just chucking 3s and couldn't get to the rim or to the FT line. And yeah, he was hurt in the series, but he's not going to be 90-100% in the 2nd halves of these seasons at this stage in his career.

At least I'm hoping that's what Josh Smith was talking about, there's no way he was talking about prime Bran when prime Bran played in his era.

[Bankaii]

Okay I think I misunderstood what he's saying. He's saying 37 year old LeBron wouldn't be doing what he's doing now back then. I agree, but LeBron would still be effective. Probably doesn't see the numbers he is now, especially when you factor for pace.
20 year old Lebron put up 27 ppg as a much worse shooter and finisher at the rim in 2005.
Lebron would be just as effective. Pace would bring his points down potentially but he’d still be amount the top scorers regardless.

[Lebron23]

LeBron would average 40 ppg in the high scoring 1980's

[kawhileonard2]

LeBron would average 40 ppg in the high scoring 1980's

He couldn't even do that vs Carlos Arroyo in the Olympics.

[jlip]

It looks like the original tweet is from a satire site called Ball Sack Sports ®.

[warriorfan]

It looks like the original tweet is from a satire site called Ball Sack Sports ®.

Bron tards looking dumb as hell once again and only managing to bring up the conversation how LeBron got to pretty much play his entire career in the less physical, more spaced out and perimeter scorer friendly league which artificially inflated his statistics, which is his biggest backbone with his legacy.

[Im Still Ballin]

I always LOL at these 2000's guys who are retired talking about LeBron wouldn't hang "back in there day."


Rasheed Wallace on LeBron

“He probably would’ve done good with his physical stature, with him being bigger than the majority of the rest of the players,” Wallace said on a recent podcast appearance. “So he probably would’ve held his own, but I don’t think he would be as successful as he is now. It’s a whole different era back then. I couldn’t necessarily say that he would’ve been a beast but I think he would’ve held his own.”


As if LeBron wasn't putting up 27/7/7 as early as 2004 and finishing 2nd in the MVP in 2006. As if LeBron wasn't shitting on Detroit in 2006 and 2007.

[AirBonner]

I always LOL at these 2000's guys who are retired talking about LeBron wouldn't hang "back in there day."



As if LeBron wasn't putting up 27/7/7 as early as 2004 and finishing 2nd in the MVP in 2006. As if LeBron wasn't shitting on Detroit in 2006 and 2007.
LeBron ended the mini Detroit dynasty

[warriorfan]

I always LOL at these 2000's guys who are retired talking about LeBron wouldn't hang "back in there day."



As if LeBron wasn't putting up 27/7/7 as early as 2004 and finishing 2nd in the MVP in 2006. As if LeBron wasn't shitting on Detroit in 2006 and 2007.

Lmfao I knew some LeBron Stan would meltdown with this intellectual dishonest nonsense, you guys are doing James a disservice at this point.

Lebron James faced different piston teams in different eras, to portray those teams as the same juggernauts who won the nba championship is an absolute joke and dubeta level of trolling.

Lebron with his “early as 2006” shitting on Detroit was losing in the ECF while scoring 26.5 ppg on 51% TS! 51% TS! That is sub Allen Iverson level of efficiency on less volume. Yeah. Totally shitting on them bro.

Anything after that is a post Ben Wallace Detroit which is literally comparing apples to oranges.

But anyways yeah bro. Get the f uck out of here with this nonsense. Bron got reduced below the level of Allen Iverson vs an over the hill version of that team.

[AirBonner]

Lmfao I knew some LeBron Stan would meltdown with this intellectual dishonest nonsense, you guys are doing James a disservice at this point.

Lebron James faced different piston teams in different eras, to portray those teams as the same juggernauts who won the nba championship is an absolute joke and dubeta level of trolling.

Lebron with his “early as 2006” shitting on Detroit was losing in the ECF while scoring 26.5 ppg on 51% TS! 51% TS! That is sub Allen Iverson level of efficiency on less volume. Yeah. Totally shitting on them bro.

Anything after that is a post Ben Wallace Detroit which is literally comparing apples to oranges.

But anyways yeah bro. Get the f uck out of here with this nonsense. Bron got reduced below the level of Allen Iverson vs an over the hill version of that team.

Reported ;)

[HoopsNY]

20 year old Lebron put up 27 ppg as a much worse shooter and finisher at the rim in 2005.
Lebron would be just as effective. Pace would bring his points down potentially but he’d still be amount the top scorers regardless.

Yea, I'm not saying he'd fall off a cliff, but he'd hover around the 24-25 PPG mark. Keep in mind that early LeBron was still an athletic freak and shot 35% from three in 2005, the same percentage he shoots now. Perimeter defense was tighter, so it's not unreasonable to think his numbers dip.

[warriorfan]

Reported ;)

Let me use vino24 if I get banned loney is a bitch now and won’t let me use tg anymore

[Im Still Ballin]

Lmfao I knew some LeBron Stan would meltdown with this intellectual dishonest nonsense, you guys are doing James a disservice at this point.

Lebron James faced different piston teams in different eras, to portray those teams as the same juggernauts who won the nba championship is an absolute joke and dubeta level of trolling.

Lebron with his “early as 2006” shitting on Detroit was losing in the ECF while scoring 26.5 ppg on 51% TS! 51% TS! That is sub Allen Iverson level of efficiency on less volume. Yeah. Totally shitting on them bro.

Anything after that is a post Ben Wallace Detroit which is literally comparing apples to oranges.

But anyways yeah bro. Get the f uck out of here with this nonsense. Bron got reduced below the level of Allen Iverson vs an over the hill version of that team.

2006 Pistons were no slouch -- 64-18 in the regular season. He had that team down 3-2 and was extremely close to beating them in game 6. His team as a whole shot 49% TS; Detroit shot 51.5% TS. It was a defensive series, and the numbers need to be analyzed with context.

For a young, spry 21 y/o to almost dethrone a 64-win juggernaut that had won a championship and nearly went back-to-back the year after... man. What a gutsy performance.

It'd have been like MJ almost beating the '87 Celtics in his third season in the NBA.

[Spurs m8]

We've all known this.

The dude cannot handle physicality and his fundamentals are limited.

[warriorfan]

2006 Pistons were no slouch -- 64-18 in the regular season. He had that team down 3-2 and was extremely close to beating them in game 6. His team as a whole shot 49% TS; Detroit shot 51.5% TS. It was a defensive series, and the numbers need to be analyzed with context.

For a young, spry 21 y/o to almost dethrone a 64-win juggernaut that had won a championship and nearly went back-to-back the year after... man. What a gutsy performance.

It'd have been like MJ almost beating the '87 Celtics in his third season in the NBA.

You just compared the 2006 Pistons to the 87 Celtics

Literally kill yourself

[Im Still Ballin]

You just compared the 2006 Pistons to the 87 Celtics

Literally kill yourself
They weren't the 86 Celtics; the whole team was damn-near injured. It was actually quite a feat that they made it through the East.

I also think you're underrating those Detroit teams.

Anyways, the point is that LeBron almost beat the best the conference had to offer at that point. A squad that had won a championship and were that close to going back-to-back.

[warriorfan]

They weren't the 86 Celtics; the whole team was damn-near injured. It was actually quite a feat that they made it through the East.

I also think you're underrating those Detroit teams.

Anyways, the point is that LeBron almost beat the best the conference had to offer at that point. A squad that had won a championship and were that close to going back-to-back.

I disagree with your premise but regardless the point still stands. Lebron scored below Allen Iverson levels of efficiency and volume…which only proves what Josh was trying to explain, LeBron’s career would look a lot different if he played in the previous eras that were not as oriented towards perimeter scoring.

[Axe]

Reported ;)
:milton

[Im so nba'd out]

It looks like the original tweet is from a satire site called Ball Sack Sports ®.

:oldlol: haters were frothing at the mouth

[FKAri]

I wish this was real. Oh well.

Looks like some haters caught the bait anyways:

Uh oh.....this quote is going to seriously trigger some Bronies.

[Kblaze8855]

Apparently Fox News ran with it. Unless that’s also a joke. I’m only clicking so many tweets to investigate.

[3ba11]

:roll: That's so embarrassing. Does he really not remember that LeBron not only played in the league at the same time that he did, but in the same conference? Including a god damn playoff series.


Lebron was getting locked up every year back then:



2004 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2005 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2007 - 22 on 35% against Spurs

2008 - 26 on 35% against Celtics

2010 - 21 on 34% for last 3 games to lose as massive favorite

2011 - 17 ppg vs Mavs


So Lebron literally sucked before today's spaced out beginner format - he couldn't win the weak East with homecourt in 09' and 10', so he formed super-teams... :confusedshrug:


TLDR: The historical record shows that Josh Smith is spot-on

[tpols]

He's right about the spacing of today. But the thing is LeBron has always demanded that spacing. His first All Star teammate was big Z. Who was a stretch 5 basically, had a great jumper. Than Jamison. Then Bosh and Love. Then AD. Along with snipers at the other positions that are generally more shooter based SF / SG / PG. LeBron has never operated without extreme spacing. His playground dribble dribble dribble and slash style is dependant on wide driving lanes.

[HunterSThompson]

:roll: That's so embarrassing. Does he really not remember that LeBron not only played in the league at the same time that he did, but in the same conference? Including a god damn playoff series.

and how did that turn out


- lottery
- lottery
- bounced
- bounced
- bounced
- bounced by Dwight looooool
- quit/cry
- quit/cry and sodomized by jj barea

[Hey Yo]

He's right about the spacing of today. But the thing is LeBron has always demanded that spacing. His first All Star teammate was big Z. Who was a stretch 5 basically, had a great jumper. Than Jamison. Then Bosh and Love. Then AD. Along with snipers at the other positions that are generally more shooter based SF / SG / PG. LeBron has never operated without extreme spacing. His playground dribble dribble dribble and slash style is dependant on wide driving lanes.

Dumb

[SouBeachTalents]

Lebron was getting locked up every year back then:



2004 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2005 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2007 - 22 on 35% against Spurs

2008 - 26 on 35% against Celtics

2010 - 21 on 34% for last 3 games to lose as massive favorite

2011 - 17 ppg vs Mavs


So Lebron literally sucked before today's spaced out beginner format - he couldn't win the weak East with homecourt in 09' and 10', so he formed super-teams... :confusedshrug:


TLDR: The historical record shows that Josh Smith is spot-on
Yes, because the league changed so dramatically from 2011 to 2012 we should just end the conversation right there, and leave out 2009 altogether. Clown :lol

Your favorite player Kobe wasn’t doing considerably better in the years you referenced btw.

[SouBeachTalents]

and how did that turn out


- lottery
- lottery
- bounced
- bounced
- bounced
- bounced by Dwight looooool
- quit/cry
- quit/cry and sodomized by jj barea
It ended with LeBron having more All-NBA selections, more points, twice the FMVP’s & quadruple the MVP’s as Kobe.

[tpols]

Lebron was getting locked up every year back then:



2004 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2005 - barely 40 wins with East all-star center

2007 - 22 on 35% against Spurs

2008 - 26 on 35% against Celtics

2010 - 21 on 34% for last 3 games to lose as massive favorite

2011 - 17 ppg vs Mavs


So Lebron literally sucked before today's spaced out beginner format - he couldn't win the weak East with homecourt in 09' and 10', so he formed super-teams... :confusedshrug:


TLDR: The historical record shows that Josh Smith is spot-on

Total ether. You forgot his first 4 games of the 2013 and 2016 Finals where he was averaging like 22 ppg on 39% shooting. The guy has always padded stats when it was most convenient.

[tpols]

Yes, because the league changed so dramatically from 2011 to 2012 we should just end the conversation right there, and leave out 2009 altogether. Clown :lol

Your favorite player Kobe wasn’t doing considerably better in the years you referenced btw.

Kobe ringed in 2009 over the same team that upset Lebrons 66 win HCA favorite team.

[SouBeachTalents]

Kobe ringed in 2009 over the same team that upset Lebrons 66 win HCA favorite team.
Yeah, because he had the better team. Shocking discovery I know. Kobe’s best game against Orlando was literally LeBron’s series average against them :lol

[tpols]

Yeah, because he had the better team. Shocking discovery I know. Kobe’s best game against Orlando was literally LeBron’s series average against them :lol

Stan Van Gundy is on record saying he instructed his team to guard LeBron strictly in single coverage. He couldn't do that with Kobe. Kobe drew far more defensive attention which allowed teammates to flourish. LeBron had a 66 win HCA team... with everybody picking them as favorites. Its hindsight lying to suggest otherwise.

[SouBeachTalents]

Stan Van Gundy is on record saying he instructed his team to guard LeBron strictly in single coverage. He couldn't do that with Kobe. Kobe drew far more defensive attention which allowed teammates to flourish. LeBron had a 66 win HCA team... with everybody picking them as favorites. Its hindsight lying to suggest otherwise.
They could’ve won 70 games, Kobe still had the better supporting cast and coaching staff. And SVG ‘s also on record saying LeBron’s the GOAT.

[tpols]

They could’ve won 70 games, Kobe still had the better supporting cast and coaching staff. And SVG ‘s also on record saying LeBron’s the GOAT.

Well he sure didn't treat him like it. The real GOAT had doubles and triples sent at him every which way under the Jordan Rules.

[TheGoatest]

LeBron's rookie season was a year before Josh Smith started playing. Can't make this up. :oldlol:

What's next? Anthony Bennett talking about how LeBron would've done in his era? :roll:

[Kblaze8855]

He's right about the spacing of today. But the thing is LeBron has always demanded that spacing. His first All Star teammate was big Z. Who was a stretch 5 basically, had a great jumper. Than Jamison. Then Bosh and Love. Then AD. Along with snipers at the other positions that are generally more shooter based SF / SG / PG. LeBron has never operated without extreme spacing. His playground dribble dribble dribble and slash style is dependant on wide driving lanes.


To be clear it wasn’t Josh Smith(or at least he has not confirmed it). It was someone trying to make him look bad. And doing a good job of it. It got reported on real networks.

[nineiron]

Yeah, because he had the better team. Shocking discovery I know. Kobe’s best game against Orlando was literally LeBron’s series average against them :lol

Kobe had the better team BECAUSE OF KOBE.

why is it that Lebald is often times the underdog even after stacking the deck? could it be because Lebron is $hit?

[1987_Lakers]

Well he sure didn't treat him like it. The real GOAT had doubles and triples sent at him every which way under the Jordan Rules.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1Gp2iwos0

This is the guy you are using to discredit LeBron. lmao

[ralph_i_el]

Fake Quote

[FultzNationRISE]

Kobe had the better team BECAUSE OF KOBE.

why is it that Lebald is often times the underdog even after stacking the deck? could it be because Lebron is $hit?

Do you wanna see me in the ****ing street asshole??

Come say some shit like that about Bron to my face.

MAN UP.

[John_Connor]

It ended with LeBron having more All-NBA selections, more points, twice the FMVP’s & quadruple the MVP’s as Kobe.

nobody cares about his longevity accomplishments from taking steroids. he will pass Kareem averaging 35/8/8 on 55% probly. either the dudes juiced out of his mind or his era was completely bogus because he actually got better like bonds in his late 30s. doesn't add up lol

[Hey Yo]

nobody cares about his longevity accomplishments from taking steroids. he will pass Kareem averaging 35/8/8 on 55% probly. either the dudes juiced out of his mind or his era was completely bogus because he actually got better like bonds in his late 30s. doesn't add up lol

LOL @ comparing MLB to NBA longevity.

[ImKobe]

Kobe had the better team BECAUSE OF KOBE.

why is it that Lebald is often times the underdog even after stacking the deck? could it be because Lebron is $hit?

This is just facts. Their supporting casts were about equal from 08-10 but the Lakers played TEAM basketball. Kobe was also significantly better as a shooter.

[TheGoatest]

This is just facts. Their supporting casts were about equal from 08-10 but the Lakers played TEAM basketball. Kobe was also significantly better as a shooter.

Man, the comedy of this statement is overwhelming on so many levels. :oldlol:

From nobody on the Cavs being even close to the All-NBA teamer Pau Gasol to Kobe playing "team" basketball while taking more shots on a lower fg% than LeBron.

Pure comedy gold. :roll:

[jayfan]

All he said was back then. He could have been referring to the era Kobe started playing in.

I feel like the “We” suggests he means the league he was in. Can’t say I’m sure though. Just popped up on Twitter.


I'd like to hear the exact question he was responding to.

Still kinda funny regardless. :lol


.

[Wally450]

Just seeing this post now. What a doofus Josh Smith is. :oldlol:

[Nilocon165]

Holy ****ing shit guys

The source is literally Ball$ack Sports

[nineiron]

Do you wanna see me in the ****ing street asshole??

Come say some shit like that about Bron to my face.

MAN UP.

ok, what's your parents' house address?

[nineiron]

LOL @ comparing MLB to NBA longevity.

LOL @ you not knowing anything about baseball.

playing LeShit style of basketball (plus no defence) isn't very taxing on the body. everyone knows he's faking this injury.

[nineiron]

Man, the comedy of this statement is overwhelming on so many levels. :oldlol:

From nobody on the Cavs being even close to the All-NBA teamer Pau Gasol to Kobe playing "team" basketball while taking more shots on a lower fg% than LeBron.

Pure comedy gold. :roll:

LeFag's FG% is higher because if his shot's not falling, he'll just start stiff arming his way to the rim.

Pau Gasol doesn't even sniff an all nba selection without Kobe as a team mate. just like Pippen.

[SouBeachTalents]

LeFag's FG% is higher because if his shot's not falling, he'll just start stiff arming his way to the rim.

Pau Gasol doesn't even sniff an all star selection without Kobe as a team mate. just like Pippen.
Gasol made the all-star game before playing with Kobe.

[tpols]

Gasol made the all-star game before playing with Kobe.

So did Big Z. He made 2. Cavs weren't as bad as you make them out to be. They had a top flight defense and rebounding squad who took the peak 2008 Celtics further than Kobe and Pau did despite LeBron playing like shit.

[SouBeachTalents]

So did Big Z. He made 2. Cavs weren't as bad as you make them out to be. They had a top flight defense and rebounding squad who took the peak 2008 Celtics further than Kobe and Pau did despite LeBron playing like shit.
Saying they're not as good as the Lakers doesn't make them "bad", that's a strawman argument. They would be unequivocally one of the weakest championship supporting casts ever. For all the praise Dirk gets for leading the Mavs to the title, I'd take his 2011 supporting cast over those Cavs in a heartbeat.

[tpols]

Saying they're not as good as the Lakers doesn't make them "bad", that's a strawman argument. They would be unequivocally one of the weakest championship supporting casts ever. For all the praise Dirk gets for leading the Mavs to the title, I'd take his 2011 supporting cast over those Cavs in a heartbeat.

Dirk when he won overcame far more than LeBron did when he lost with multiple 60+ win favorite teams.

Lets be real... If Lebrons 2nd scoring option was Jason terry and he predictably lost, you guys would be saying the same shit. LeBron never EVER came close to winning with a team of Dirks caliber. Unless you want to compare prime Wade, AD, and Kyrie to Jason Terry.

[1987_Lakers]

This is just facts. Their supporting casts were about equal from 08-10 but the Lakers played TEAM basketball. Kobe was also significantly better as a shooter.

The amount of revisionist history in this post is ridiculous. I was there to see both teams, along with alot of people on this forum. In no way in hell were they equal in supporting casts. Both Gasol & Odom were better players than any player LeBron had in those years. Gasol was at his peak and will be in the HOF, Odom was the ultimate glue guy who could rebound, defend, & give a scoring spark if needed. I vividly remember Odom vs T. Kukoc threads in those days and many people felt Odom was better. And I'm not even gonna bring up Bynum since he played injured in both title runs, but when he was healthy he was a legit top 5 Center in the NBA.

You should be embarrassed for typing that post.

[tontoz]

Just seeing this post now. What a doofus Josh Smith is. :oldlol:

He wasn't known for his IQ. I used to live in Atl and root for the Hawks and he used to drive Hawks fans nuts with his lack of self awareness.

[HoopsNY]

So did Big Z. He made 2. Cavs weren't as bad as you make them out to be. They had a top flight defense and rebounding squad who took the peak 2008 Celtics further than Kobe and Pau did despite LeBron playing like shit.

Pau in 2007 was a 21/10 player on 54% and an All-Star, far better than anything Zydrunas produced in any given year of his career. The 2008 Cavs went to 7 games against a super-team with LeBron putting up 45/5/6/2 on 48% in game 7.

That was a 45 win team going up against a 66 win juggernaut. None of LeBron's teammates averaged more than 12 PPG that series. That's how bad that team was that specific year. LeBron doesn't get enough praise for taking that team that far, despite what happened in the first 3 games of the series.

It's a misconception that Kobe's cast was the same as LeBron's. This just wasn't the case. No, this doesn't make LeBron's supporting cast massively inferior or anything, but when you have guys like Odom-Gasol-Bynum-Artest-Ariza-Fisher, as opposed to Zydrunas-Williams-Varejao-West-Szczerbiak-Jamison....then one is clearly superior to the other.

[HoopsNY]

The amount of revisionist history in this post is ridiculous. I was there to see both teams, along with alot of people on this forum. In no way in hell were they equal in supporting casts. Both Gasol & Odom were better players than any player LeBron had in those years. Gasol was at his peak and will be in the HOF, Odom was the ultimate glue guy who could rebound, defend, & give a scoring spark if needed. I vividly remember Odom vs T. Kukoc threads in those days and many people felt Odom was better. And I'm not even gonna bring up Bynum since he played injured in both title runs, but when he was healthy he was a legit top 5 Center in the NBA.

You should be embarrassed for typing that post.

Agreed, and you didn't even account for Ariza's defense, Artest's, and Fisher's veteran presence. The difference between the two casts is not monumental, but I do believe it is significant enough when you factor in Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

[SouBeachTalents]

Dirk when he won overcame far more than LeBron did when he lost with multiple 60+ win favorite teams.

Lets be real... If Lebrons 2nd scoring option was Jason terry and he predictably lost, you guys would be saying the same shit. LeBron never EVER came close to winning with a team of Dirks caliber. Unless you want to compare prime Wade, AD, and Kyrie to Jason Terry.
Funny you should up that last point, Terry scored more in the 2011 playoffs on higher efficiency than "prime" Wade did in 2013.

And let's be real about Dirk's title run, I'm honestly not even trying to hate on it, but two things that bother me about the mythologizing of it.

1. Kobe & LeBron were absolutely atrocious against them, and they both played worse than Jason Terry did. If LeBron is even average in the Finals the Heat probably sweep the Mavs.

2. For all the talk of how weak Dirk's supporting cast was, the Mavs were winning games with Dirk having some frankly terrible performances. Over the final 2 rounds Dirk won with performances of

18 points & 7 turnovers on 40%TS
24 points & 5 turnovers on 52%TS
21 points on 45%TS
21 points on 38%TS

I acknowledge that Dirk was extremely clutch in all of these wins, but his supporting cast kept the Mavs in these games in the midst of some truly bad showings by Dirk.

[SouBeachTalents]

Agreed, and you didn't even account for Ariza's defense, Artest's, and Fisher's veteran presence. The difference between the two casts is not monumental, but I do believe it is significant enough when you factor in Gasol/Odom/Bynum.
Let's not forget the coaching either.

[1987_Lakers]

So did Big Z. He made 2. Cavs weren't as bad as you make them out to be. They had a top flight defense and rebounding squad who took the peak 2008 Celtics further than Kobe and Pau did despite LeBron playing like shit.

Lets compare '08-'10 Big Z to Gasol just for the LOLz.

Big Z - 12/8 on 52 TS%
Gasol - 19/10/3 on 60 TS%

LeBron's teammates who helped take the '08 Celtics to 7 games...
Big Z - 12/8 on 43 FG%
West - 12 ppg on 43 fg%
Szczerbiak - 11 ppg on 35 fg%

Wow, what an awesome cast LeBron had. :roll:

[nineiron]

The amount of revisionist history in this post is ridiculous. I was there to see both teams, along with alot of people on this forum. In no way in hell were they equal in supporting casts. Both Gasol & Odom were better players than any player LeBron had in those years. Gasol was at his peak and will be in the HOF, Odom was the ultimate glue guy who could rebound, defend, & give a scoring spark if needed. I vividly remember Odom vs T. Kukoc threads in those days and many people felt Odom was better. And I'm not even gonna bring up Bynum since he played injured in both title runs, but when he was healthy he was a legit top 5 Center in the NBA.

You should be embarrassed for typing that post.

Odom? LMFAO

[1987_Lakers]

Agreed, and you didn't even account for Ariza's defense, Artest's, and Fisher's veteran presence. The difference between the two casts is not monumental, but I do believe it is significant enough when you factor in Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

Especially Ariza, I loved how he performed throughout the '09 postseason, couldn't ask for a better role player. Artest was a bigger name, but didn't fit with the team as much, we slightly regressed with him, but he did have his clutch moments in the postseason in 2010.

[1987_Lakers]

Odom? LMFAO

Thanks for confirming you didn't watch the Lakers play in those years.

[nineiron]

Thanks for confirming you didn't watch the Lakers play in those years.

i watched. that's why LMFAO @ Odom.

[AlternativeAcc.]

i watched. that's why LMFAO @ Odom.

Saying Odom like he wasn't a brilliant player at the time is lol.

You literally didn't watch. Odom was a high IQ, highly skilled forward. Pippen esque.

[nineiron]

Saying Odom like he wasn't a brilliant player at the time is lol.

You literally didn't watch. Odom was a high IQ, highly skilled forward. Pippen esque.

Lamar Odom LMFAO

[tpols]

Lets compare '08-'10 Big Z to Gasol just for the LOLz.

Big Z - 12/8 on 52 TS%
Gasol - 19/10/3 on 60 TS%

LeBron's teammates who helped take the '08 Celtics to 7 games...
Big Z - 12/8 on 43 FG%
West - 12 ppg on 43 fg%
Szczerbiak - 11 ppg on 35 fg%

Wow, what an awesome cast LeBron had. :roll:

That's the thing...

2008 (peak) Celtics vs Cavs

LeBron - 27/7/6 on 48 TS and 96 ORTG

Took them to 7 games.

:biggums:



2008 Celtics vs Lakers

Kobe (your boy) - 26/5/5 on 51 TS and 98 ORTG.

Lakers lose in 6.


So Kobe put up better productions and his team ended up losing worse. And that was with peak Pau... who averaged 14 ppg. Joke. Goes to show there wasn't much difference in cast in reality. LeBron simply underachieved with 60+ win HCA favorites in 2009 and 2010.

[SouBeachTalents]

That's the thing...

2008 (peak) Celtics vs Cavs

LeBron - 27/7/6 on 48 TS and 96 ORTG

Took them to 7 games.

:biggums:



2008 Celtics vs Lakers

Kobe (your boy) - 26/5/5 on 51 TS and 98 ORTG.

Lakers lose in 6.


So Kobe put up better productions and his team ended up losing worse. And that was with peak Pau... who averaged 14 ppg. Joke. Goes to show there wasn't much difference in cast in reality. LeBron simply underachieved with 60+ win HCA favorites in 2009 and 2010.
Now do this same comparison for '09 :oldlol:

[tpols]

Now do this same comparison for '09 :oldlol:

Ok so it would be 1-1 then. 2010 we all saw LeBron quit vs the Celtics. So how can you say one guys supporting cast is way better when one year one outperformed the other and the next year vice versa? How did Lebrons supporting cast outperform kobes in 2008 with the great 14 ppg pau Gasol on kobes side?

[SouBeachTalents]

Ok so it would be 1-1 then. 2010 we all saw LeBron quit vs the Celtics. So how can you say one guys supporting cast is way better when one year one outperformed the other and the next year vice versa? How did Lebrons supporting cast outperform kobes in 2008 with the great 14 ppg pau Gasol on kobes side?
Gasol & Odom still outplayed anyone on Cleveland by a clear margin against Boston in '08.

[tpols]

Gasol & Odom still outplayed anyone on Cleveland by a clear margin against Boston in '08.

That just means the Cavs players 4 through 7 outplayed the Lakers. If LeBron and Kobe played to a draw at best against the same opponent, and Lebrons team took the peak Celtics to further length, the only logical deduction is LeBrons supporting cast outplayed kobes.

[SouBeachTalents]

That just means the Cavs players 4 through 7 outplayed the Lakers. If LeBron and Kobe played to a draw at best, and Lebrons team took the peak Celtics to further length, the only logical deduction is LeBrons supporting cast outplayed kobes.
Eh, that's essentially a draw, you'd have to really nitpick to try to claim one was better than the other. The difference that jumps out between the two series is Allen was garbage against the Cavs but played well in the Finas.

[expansionera]

http://amp.awfulannouncing.com/nba/fox-news-ran-apparently-fake-quotes-from-josh-smith.html

You guys have Lebron obsession. Literally have to create fake quotes to discredit a billionaire that is better at basketball than you are at any aspect of life :lol

:applause:

Congratulations ISH, once again embarrassed by your own maniacal desire to be “right”

[warriorfan]

http://amp.awfulannouncing.com/nba/fox-news-ran-apparently-fake-quotes-from-josh-smith.html

You guys have Lebron obsession. Literally have to create fake quotes to discredit a billionaire that is better at basketball than you are at any aspect of life :lol

:applause:

Congratulations ISH, once again embarrassed by your own maniacal desire to be “right”

And you created an entire fake account to do the exact same…

:roll:

[expansionera]

And you created an entire fake account to do the exact same…

:roll:

Curry can’t satisfy his wife :rolleyes:

[HoopsNY]

That just means the Cavs players 4 through 7 outplayed the Lakers. If LeBron and Kobe played to a draw at best against the same opponent, and Lebrons team took the peak Celtics to further length, the only logical deduction is LeBrons supporting cast outplayed kobes.

You're stifling your conscience. Are you seriously going to tell us that the 2007-08 Lakers, a team that won 57 games (with Gasol/Odom), had an inferior cast to a 45 win Cavs team?

[Gohan]

lebron stans are on sucicide watch after these facts that josh smith has told. damn nikka just kept it real from the jump. yall nikkas cant be happy

[HoopsNY]

You're stifling your conscience. Are you seriously going to tell us that the 2007-08 Lakers, a team that won 57 games (with Gasol/Odom), had an inferior cast to a 45 win Cavs team?

I just remembered that in 2008, the Western Conference saw all 8 playoff teams win at least 50 games. The Lakers were 37-15 against the West that year and also held the #1 seed. Yet somehow, LeBron's 45 win Cleveland team out East (the weaker conference), had a better supporting cast? It doesn't add up.

[houston]

josh smith goofy staement