Why LeBron is (maybe) the best player in the NBA

I haven't always been known to be the biggest James fan, but I have to admit I've never seen him shoot jumpshots and threes the way he is this shooting them this year. Now before I settle on this conclusion finally, I have to see whether in April, May, and June he is still making them like this.

But, if he is, it doesn't matter if, say Wade, is a comparable passer or even a superior scorer. Because at James's size, if he shoots like this, it opens up options and advantages created by spacing that neither Wade nor any other player similarly possesses. Even though I do expect that if the Heat win a title in the next two years, Wade will be the closer, when LeBron shoots the way he has been from the outside, it opens up new dimensions to the game that are open to him alone....

He has been the best player in the NBA since 2008.

[QUOTE=Kurosawa0]He has been the best player in the NBA since 2008.[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes:

[B]Maybe [/B]? ... :facepalm

uh. Lebron being the best player in the NBA is like saying Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball. Not exactly a bold statement.

If LeBron can:

1.) Continue shooting (and making) jumpers like he has been
2.) Develop a post game
3.) Get better at Free Throw Shooting
4.) Become a better 1-on-1 defender
5.) Get better at off-ball movement

He will no doubt in my mind be the best player in the league. Those are his only weaknesses in my opinion. Those skills combined with his athletic ability will simply make him unstoppable.

[QUOTE=Mr. I'm So Rad]If LeBron can:

1.) Continue shooting (and making) jumpers like he has been
2.) Develop a post game
3.) Get better at Free Throw Shooting
4.) Become a better 1-on-1 defender
5.) Get better at off-ball movement

He will no doubt in my mind be the best player in the league. Those are his only weaknesses in my opinion. Those skills combined with his athletic ability will simply make him unstoppable.[/QUOTE]


U have it wrong he is already the best player in the League if he adds what U wrote above he will become THE BEST PLAYER OF ALL-TIME !

kobe :pimp:

[QUOTE=Kingwillball]U have it wrong he is already the best player in the League if he adds what U wrote above he will become THE BEST PLAYER OF ALL-TIME ![/QUOTE]

He's not the best player in the league. He is a stat sheet stuffer but his game is still mostly reliant on his athleticism. If he can develop these skills then he will be the best player in the league.

Well lets see.

Consistent shooter and scorer
Good rebounder
Great court vision and accurate passing
Suffocating defense at times (the regular season doesn't showcase peak defense)
Great speed and athleticism at 6"8 and 250 lbs.

Oh and probably the best transition defense player of all time.

Yep, that about sums it up.

[QUOTE=jrong]I haven't always been known to be the biggest James fan, but I have to admit I've never seen him shoot jumpshots and threes the way he is this shooting them this year. Now before I settle on this conclusion finally, I have to see whether in April, May, and June he is still making them like this.

But, if he is, it doesn't matter if, say Wade, is a comparable passer or even a superior scorer. Because at James's size, if he shoots like this, it opens up options and advantages created by spacing that neither Wade nor any other player similarly possesses. Even though I do expect that if the Heat win a title in the next two years, Wade will be the closer, when LeBron shoots the way he has been from the outside, it opens up new dimensions to the game that are open to him alone....[/QUOTE]Lebron's percentage on jumpers(16-23 ft) is virtually the same as it's been since 09. His 3pt% was around 36% before the allstar break last year IIRC, and he was hitting a ton of halfcourt shots to finish quarters during the first half of last season. He's the same, or worse in every area as he was during his two mvp seasons.

Maybe he was just playing better than normal in the games that you happened to watch?

hes been the best player since 2007

Lebron's FG% at 10-15 feet 33%
FG% at 15-20 feet 41%
That's average at best, and that's basically the same % he's shot since 2008

[QUOTE=Lebron23]Who's the best player in the NBA? Kobrick Bryant.[/QUOTE]


Gotta go with Wade at the moment






=X

Wade.

EDIT: Lol someone's insecure by this comment.

1A / 1B IMO - at the moment at least.

Yeah, I agree with Wade. Especially with how he's played after his crappy first month.

[QUOTE=Lebron23]Who's the best player in the NBA? Kobrick Bryant.[/QUOTE]

If judging by overall skill? Yes

If judging by box scores? then it's LeBron

And as far as his jumpers, I'm seeing him take more of them (maybe he's settling more? :confusedshrug: ) His game is expanding and if he develops a post game and gets better at FT's then offensively he will be unstoppable, if he isn't already unstoppable.

[QUOTE=Mr. I'm So Rad]He's not the best player in the league. He is a stat sheet stuffer but his game is still mostly reliant on his athleticism. If he can develop these skills then he will be the best player in the league.[/QUOTE]


Yeah he is EASILY the best player in the League wake up..When U watch him in certain games when he is locked in he makes it look scary easy like the other Night against Bobcats or in NY or Clev..

[QUOTE=Kingwillball]Yeah he is EASILY the best player in the League wake up..When U watch him in certain games when he is locked in he makes it look scary easy like the other Night against Bobcats or in NY or Clev..[/QUOTE]

No he's not easily the best in the league. When he's locked in he's amazing but that's with anyone getting hot. When Wade, Kobe, Durant etc get hot they are ridiculous as well. I'm looking at his game not the stats he puts up. If stats were the only thing people looked at then they would think Wilt is the G.O.A.T not Michael. I'm looking at what he can do offensively and defensively. He still has his flaws like everyone. But there are glaring weaknesses in his game but because he is so good in others it can make up for it. LeBron is a beast and I would love to have him on my team if I were a coach but he's still more athletic based than skill based. There's nothing wrong with that but I just judge players in a different way I guess

[QUOTE=Lebron23]What Skill? Being one of the biggest ballhogs in NBA History. He shot 6/24 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His team still won the game.[/QUOTE]

:facepalm Dude that Game 7 was last season. That's like me bringing up LeBron's entire series against SA and judging him off of that. And Kobe is not a ballhog. If that were the case he wouldn't constantly lead his team in assists every year and be the biggest playmaker on their team

Skill means what he is able to do on the floor. There is no glaring weakness in his game meaning you can't say "Let's make Kobe be a jump shooter." when defending him because he can make them. You can't make him go to the line because he can make his FT's. He can guard your best player (although I'll admit he has been pretty lazy this year on defense for the most part). He's not too great of a help defender though that's one area that LeBron trumps him in is help defense. That's what I mean when I say skill. LeBron is starting to develop his skills more instead of just relying on his incredible athleticism. If he develops other areas of his game that are more skill based than athletic based then he will be the best player in the league to me. I think he has the potential to do it and will do it eventually.

So far Lebron is a shooting pretty good with his jumper. But he shot pretty good last year too, but messed up in the playoffs.

This yeah, his jumper doesn't look awkward anymore. If he keep at it, then he will take out one of his weakness.

As far as him being the best player, eh. If he is, he isn't blowing people out of the water. Yeah, I know he and Wade are both sharing the ball and taking turns, so they are not exploding in the stat column in order to win games. Both are close in what they do, so it's pretty unclear to me. He definitely has the best talent though.

But constantly trying to find out who is the best individual player is pretty overrated anyway in a team sport.

Let me settle this with some facts, if you are to lazy to thoroughly observe the info, then i can say in short words Wade is close but the edge is still clear towards Lebrons side in terms of who has been playing better for Heat.

[B]LEBRON[/B]

PPG: 24.8
RPG: 6.8
APG: 7.3
FG .481%
3PT .358%
FT .773%
PER / EFF - 26 / 26
Win Shares - 6.9
Offensive Win Shares - 4.4
Defensive Win Shares - 2.4

[b]WADE[/b]

PPG: 25.0
RPG: 6.5
APG: 4.2
FG .495%
3PT .313%
FT .742%
PER / EFF - 26 / 24
Win Shares - 6.2
Offensive Win Shares - 3.9
Defensive Win Shares - 2.4

And this, the biggest decievable stat here is the +/-, you can overlook it if you wish.

[img]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7963/82games.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9906/82games2.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=sh0wtime]Let me settle this with some facts, if you are to lazy to thoroughly observe the info, then i can say in short words Wade is close but the edge is still clear towards Lebrons side in terms of who has been playing better for Heat.

[B]LEBRON[/B]

PPG: 24.8
RPG: 6.8
APG: 7.3
FG .481%
3PT .358%
FT .773%
PER / EFF - 26 / 26
Win Shares - 6.9
Offensive Win Shares - 4.4
Defensive Win Shares - 2.4

[b]WADE[/b]

PPG: 25.0
RPG: 6.5
APG: 4.2
FG .495%
3PT .313%
FT .742%
PER / EFF - 26 / 24
Win Shares - 6.2
Offensive Win Shares - 3.9
Defensive Win Shares - 2.4

[img]http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7963/82games.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9906/82games2.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]


Wait what? Is that supposed to tell me who's better? I can download every heat game played so far this season with a click of a button which is way more accurate then advanced stats.

Stat whores drive me nuts.

[QUOTE=Yung D-Will]Wait what? Is that supposed to tell me who's better? I can download every heat game played so far this season with a click of a button which is way more accurate then advanced stats.

Stat whores drive me nuts.[/QUOTE]Stats have some limitations. Your eyes, and brain have far more, though.

[QUOTE=Inactive]Stats have some limitations. Your eyes, and brain have far more, though.[/QUOTE]
Thanks but I think if I've watched the majority of their games I can trust my brain a lot more than I can trust stats.

[QUOTE=Lebron23]What Skill? Being one of the biggest ballhogs in NBA History. He shot 6/24 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. His team still won the game.[/QUOTE]
your hero shot 35% the whole series vs celtics in 08. :oldlol:

[QUOTE=Mr. I'm So Rad]If LeBron can:

1.) Continue shooting (and making) jumpers like he has been
2.) Develop a post game
3.) Get better at Free Throw Shooting
[b]4.) Become a better 1-on-1 defender[/b]
5.) Get better at off-ball movement

He will no doubt in my mind be the best player in the league. Those are his only weaknesses in my opinion. Those skills combined with his athletic ability will simply make him unstoppable.[/QUOTE]
Do you even watch the games? Lebron is one of the best one on one defenders in the league, and it's not like 1v1 defense is really that important at all. He probably has to defend a 1v1 situation less than once a game. Same with FT shooting, he's at 77% which isn't great, but it's not awful. These were legit criticisms in '07 but not now.

[QUOTE=Kurosawa0]He has been the best player in the NBA since 2008.[/QUOTE]
he wasn't the best in 2008-2009 season.

[QUOTE=Yung D-Will]Thanks but I think if I've watched the majority of their games I can trust my brain a lot more than I can trust stats.[/QUOTE]
:oldlol: Yeah, I'm sure your biased perspective is much more trustworthy than stats.

[QUOTE=che guevara]:oldlol: Yeah, I'm sure your biased perspective is much more trustworthy than stats.[/QUOTE]


biased of what? The Utah Jazz?

[QUOTE=Yung D-Will]biased of what? The Utah Jazz?[/QUOTE]

Kobenest

[QUOTE=Lebron23]Kobenest[/QUOTE]


Lol what.

Kobe isn't even in the conversation for best player anymore.

I have nothing against Lebron. In fact I put him as the best player in the leauge for since the season started and in 09-10. I just recently changed it to Wade within the past week.


My point is I hate when people try to throw 200 advanced stats out as proof of why one player is superior.

When I thought Lebron was superior to Wade it had nothing to do with things like win shares. And now that I think Wade superior is has nothing to do with any of these advanced stats. I make my opions based on the games I watch.

[QUOTE=che guevara]Do you even watch the games? Lebron is one of the best one on one defenders in the league, and it's not like 1v1 defense is really that important at all. He probably has to defend a 1v1 situation less than once a game. Same with FT shooting, he's at 77% which isn't great, but it's not awful. These were legit criticisms in '07 but not now.[/QUOTE]

Yes I watch the games and he has trouble keeping guys in front of him. He's great at help defense though. 77% is pretty decent, but he needs to be around the low 80's I think. And :lol @ man defense not being important. He plays man defense more than zone and he usually guards the other team's best player so it is very important. If he allows a guy to go past him then it affects his team.

[QUOTE=Walduś]your hero shot 35% the whole series vs celtics in 08. :oldlol:[/QUOTE]

your hero shot 25% in game 7

we all know what happens to him in the playoffs thoo..... :pimp:

[QUOTE=Yung D-Will]Thanks but I think if I've watched the majority of their games I can trust my brain a lot more than I can trust stats.[/QUOTE]That trust you have in your opinions is one of the limitations I was referring to.

Scientists once knew, from their years of experience treating, and analyzing patients, that draining their blood was an effective treatment for most diseases. How many fans are convinced that their favorite team wins more, when they're watching? How many people claim that they love one brand of soft drink, and hate the other, and then can't tell the difference between the two in blind taste tests? How many people are given placebos, and still think that they were given effective medicine? How many people thought that they were healed by Franz Mesmer's animal magnetism, before he was outed as a fraud?

Unless you're validating your impressions with data, and corroborating with (relatively) unbiased observers, your opinion is practically worthless. You're delusional, if you think otherwise.

[QUOTE=Inactive]That trust you have in your opinions is one of the limitations I was referring to.

Scientists once knew, from their years of experience treating, and analyzing patients, that draining their blood was an effective treatment for most diseases. How many fans are convinced that their favorite team wins more, when they're watching? How many people claim that they love one brand of soft drink, and hate the other, and then can't tell the difference between the two in blind taste tests? How many people are given placebos, and still think that they were given effective medicine? How many people thought that they were healed by Franz Mesmer's animal magnetism, before he was outed as a fraud?

Unless you're validating your impressions with data, and corroborating with (relatively) unbiased observers, your opinion is practically worthless. You're delusional, if you think otherwise.[/QUOTE]


You are a very smart guy. Repped

People say Lebron has learnt to shoot EVERY Year.

[QUOTE=Inactive]

Unless you're validating your impressions with data, and corroborating with (relatively) unbiased observers, your opinion is practically worthless. You're delusional, if you think otherwise.[/QUOTE]
Really? I think you're forgetting we're talking about Sports here. It doesn't take 9000 advanced stats to show you that Tom Brady is one of the greatest QB's in the NFL you can just watch 5 of his games. Just like people in the 60's didn't have to use advanced stats to decided whether or not Russell was better than Wilt or vice versa. The same way I don't need to look at Per to tell you Dirk is better than Bosh. As Sports fans we watch these games, We observe and we witness firsthand the extent of these players individual abilties. We see Their strengths, We see their weakness, We see if they're clutch, We see if they're playoffs performers , we see if they're willing to pass it off to someone else who's wide open for the last shot, We see their ego, we see their confidence, we see the good, the bad and the ugly because everything is left on the court night in and night out. I don't need a win Share to validate my opinion when I can just tell you who was the superior player when it mattered against the the good teams and you can't deny it because you've seen it yourself.


This isn't a political debate where I have to collect data for weeks to prove a point. We all watch the same nba, We all watch what the players do on a normal basis throughout an 82 game season. If that's not a big enough sample size for you to understand who the better players in the leauge are then I find that weird. It's simple and down to the point.

That's always been my view on it