LeBron James is not as dominant as 2008-2010.

[Jacks3]

LeBron's numbers in the clutch this post-season blow Wade's away.

LeBron has been historically good in the clutch this post-season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/mia...n-the-playoffs

Statistically, the Celtics defense saw no drop-off without Perkins.

They were still #2 in DRTG entering the post-season. The Heat weren't even close.

Heat DRTG: 103.5
Celtics: 100

Big difference.

And Kobe wasn't particularly clutch in that post-season. The Lakers were too busy blowing everyone out.

[Samurai Swoosh]

And Kobe wasn't particularly clutch in that post-season. The Lakers were too busy blowing everyone out.

So that works against him?

Stats can lie ... best defenses were Bulls and Heat.

[Jacks3]

Even you think the Heat were top 2 (which is pretty crazy considering the Celtics much better DRTG but whatever...) that still means he torched 2 of the top 3 defenses in back-to-back series.

[Samurai Swoosh]

Even you think the Heat were top 2 (which is pretty crazy considering the Celtics much better DRTG but whatever...) that still means he torched 2 of the top 3 defenses in back-to-back series.

LeBron didn't "torch" the Bulls. He had some clutch moments in the series, but he wasn't putting up amazing numbers or performances by any means. He had a good series against the Celtics. But so did Wade ... as good or better, more consistently.

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Kings in the WCSF

35 ppg, 9 rpg, 4 apg

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Spurs in the WCF

33 ppg, 7 rpg, 7 apg

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Sixers in the NBA Finals

24 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg

As you were saying?

[LA_Showtime]

And his shooting percentage against Philly was skewed because of his game 1 performance. I know people like to kill Kobe for shooting poorly in the Finals, but those three-peat performances are somewhat misleading since he got injured against Indiana, and only played in 9 games total in the other two.

[Samurai Swoosh]

And his shooting percentage against Philly was skewed because of his game 1 performance. I know people like to kill Kobe for shooting poorly in the Finals, but those three-peat performances are somewhat misleading since he got injured against Indiana, and only played in 9 games total in the other two.

And consideing the REAL Finals in the first few years of the decade were decided in the Western Conference.

[LA_Showtime]

And consideing the REAL Finals in the first few years of the decade were decided in the Western Conference.

It's amazing to watch those games now. I totally forgot how comfortable I used to feel with Shaq AND Kobe on the floor. Talk about next to impossible to beat. People kill Kobe for being a one dimensional player, and he may be closer to that now, but back then he was doing it all... scoring, setting up teammates, running the offense, playing defense.

[Jacks3]

LeBron didn't "torch" the Bulls. He had some clutch moments in the series, but he wasn't putting up amazing numbers or performances by any means. He had a good series against the Celtics. But so did Wade ... as good or better, more consistently.

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Kings in the WCSF

35 ppg, 9 rpg, 4 apg

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Spurs in the WCF

33 ppg, 7 rpg, 7 apg

Here's what Kobe did to the 2001 Sixers in the NBA Finals

24 ppg, 8 rpg, 6 apg

As you were saying?

2001 Finals: 51% TS. Not very impressive.

LeBron put up something like 27/8/6/58% TS vs the Bulls (#1 defense in the league) while completely taking over the clutch in Games 4 and 5. And this while Wade completely disappeared for the entire series. You must have some some high standards if that's not "torching". Same thing for his series vs the Celtics. Oh, and unlike Kobe, those defenses focused on him first and foremost. The 01 Spurs were focused more on Shaq first.

[Samurai Swoosh]

It's amazing to watch those games now. I totally forgot how comfortable I used to feel with Shaq AND Kobe on the floor. Talk about next to impossible to beat. People kill Kobe for being a one dimensional player, and he may be closer to that now, but back then he was doing it all... scoring, setting up teammates, running the offense, playing defense.

I've never though he's been one dimensional. Even now. And yes, that three peat team ... he was one hell of a fascilitator. Who also happened to have an uncanny ability to put the ball in the hole like a number 1 option on offense as well.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Is that as impressive as LBJ destroying the two best defenses in the league in back-to-back series as the clear-cut best player on his team? While putting up some truly great clutch performances I might add...I don't think so.

Yes, but the league was better defensively in general then.

2001 Lakers playoff opponents defensive rating
Blazers- 101.8
Kings- 99.6
Spurs- 98.0
76ers- 98.9

2011 Heat playoff opponents defensive rating
76ers- 105.0
Celtics- 100.3
Bulls- 100.3
Mavs- 105.0

Kobe put up 29/7/6 on 47% shooting(56 TS%) vs better defenses overall than the ones Lebron has put up 26/9/5 on 47% shooting(58 TS%) vs. And while Lebron has been great defensively, so was Kobe back in 2001.

And it's true that Lebron is the primary focus of opposing defenses, but he still has Wade AND Bosh to relieve some of the pressure.

[Samurai Swoosh]

2001 Finals: 51% TS. Not very impressive.

It's skewed by a bad game 1.

No comment about the other series?

All of which are superior to what LeBron has done this year.

Wade disappeared for a lot of the Bulls series. Yet still came up clutch both offensively and defensively.

His clutch 4 point play is basically what won the Heat the game in game 5 in Chicago.

And Wade was better in the Celtics series.

LMAO @ LeBron being the "focus" ...

They are 1a and 1b all year.

Oh yea, and a star @ 3rd option to help relieve stress, who has also come up big during these playoffs.

Spurs may have been more focused on Shaq, but they certainly didn't learn their lesson seeing as Kobe decimated the Kings, then proceeded to do the same thing against them. And outplayed Shaq in that series.

[Eat Like A Bosh]

I don't think he has gotten any worse. He still throws in a monster dunk every once so often. He might be pacing himself. He's only 26, it's too early too talk about a real decline.

[Jacks3]

You can't compare DRTG's like that. You can only compare it relative to the league in that year.

[LA_Showtime]

I don't think he has gotten any worse. He still throws in a monster dunk every once so often. He might be pacing himself. He's only 26, it's too early too talk about a real decline.

Nah, he's clearly declined athletically. He's not as explosive and it's painfully obvious whenever he drives to the rim. If he manages to get by his defender, which rarely happens anymore, then he usually goes up for a shot and puts up a terrible lay up that used to be an automatic finish. He's also noticeably less agile.

If the Heat had the LeBron of a year or two ago this team would be next to impossible, despite every flaw they have.

[ShaqAttack3234]

You can't compare DRTG's like that. You can only compare it relative to the league in that year.

Well, in that case, you can't just compare the numbers either. You've called '99-'04 the toughest defensive era(and I agree), so shouldn't that be a factor? And the Spurs were the best defensive team that year, while the Sixers were top 5 and had a defensive rating pretty close to the Spurs.