Would lebron have ever made the Finals if he played out West?

[LBJFTW]

Put him in the west without collusion and his team would be:

Eric Bledsoe
Brandon Knight
Lebron James
Mirza Teletovic
Tyson Chandler

0 finals appearances.

The only way this guy makes the finals is if he's on the best team with the best record in the weak eastern conference. The only exception was 07 and even then, the pistons only had won 3 more games.

[Wade's Rings]

How do you figure this? What difference does it make Miami playing Dallas in the west playoffs, versus the finals, in terms of Lebron's performance?

He choked because the stage was too big and the lights were too bright. He was great through the 1st 3 rounds against better defenses and just collapsed in the Finals.

[WolfGang]

It depends on where he goes. San Antonio, Dallas, Los Angeles or OKC. It would be too easy if he was in the West with a solid team.

Hell, try to imagine Lebron, Kd and Goatbrook on the same team. Or Lebron, Harden and Howard.

[jstern]

He's the best player in the league, and would probably have a better team if he played in the West, for some reason. So the combination means that he would.

[Dragonyeuw]

He choked because the stage was too big and the lights were too bright. He was great through the 1st 3 rounds against better defenses and just collapsed in the Finals.

So taking that further, if the Heat in 2011 are in the west and (hypothetically) beat the Mavs prior to the finals, let's assume that the Bulls come out of the east. What happens then?

[West-Side]

yes and kobe would not have made a final after 2004

Ah yes, that's why Kobe beat a Magic team in 5 games that LeBron couldn't in 7 games in 2009.

Funny how LeBron sniffed 0 final appearances during a time where the east had a few great teams (Boston, Orlando). 08', 09', 10'. Both of those teams made the finals. Then LeBron colluded with Wade & Bosh and boosted his final appearances, yet still is a pathetic 2/5 during that span playing on stacked teams.

Kobe won 2/3 with Pau & Odom, in a conference filled with 50+ win teams.

[kentatm]

Probably never. He would've been a Tmac level guy in the West.

All depends on what organization he is in.

Obviously it's not as easy as just adding LeBron to whatever roster from whatever year but there are certain organizations that I think would be able to pull it off.

I'd say he'd make it playing for the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs for sure. Seattle/OKC would have a great chance too.

[NBAGOAT]

Ah yes, that's why Kobe beat a Magic team in 5 games that LeBron couldn't in 7 games in 2009.

Funny how LeBron sniffed 0 final appearances during a time where the east had a few great teams (Boston, Orlando). 08', 09', 10'. Both of those teams made the finals. Then LeBron colluded with Wade & Bosh and boosted his final appearances, yet still is a pathetic 2/5 during that span playing on stacked teams.

Kobe won 2/3 with Pau & Odom, in a conference filled with 50+ win teams.

or Lebron didn't make the Finals because his 2nd and 3rd option were mo williams and delonte west who played worse in the playoffs(09). Worst supporting cast for a star player we've ever seen on a 60+ win team, only a couple other teams even compare. Stacked is relative, kobe/pau/odom isn't really that stacked on paper but there were no teams in the West those years that were more talented. I mean I have a hard time naming 3 big men in the West better than Pau those years.

[Sarcastic]

Let's say you put him on Phoenix with Nash and Amar'e; they are not only making the Finals, they are winning. He doesn't just have to be San Antonio or Dallas to do it.

Now if you put him on Denver or Sacramento, then no. Those organizations will never go anywhere.

[ShawkFactory]

Put him in the west without collusion and his team would be:

Eric Bledsoe
Brandon Knight
Lebron James
Mirza Teletovic
Tyson Chandler

0 finals appearances.

The only way this guy makes the finals is if he's on the best team with the best record in the weak eastern conference. The only exception was 07 and even then, the pistons only had won 3 more games.

Who would make the finals in the west with that team?

[ShawkFactory]

Ah yes, that's why Kobe beat a Magic team in 5 games that LeBron couldn't in 7 games in 2009.

Funny how LeBron sniffed 0 final appearances during a time where the east had a few great teams (Boston, Orlando). 08', 09', 10'. Both of those teams made the finals. Then LeBron colluded with Wade & Bosh and boosted his final appearances, yet still is a pathetic 2/5 during that span playing on stacked teams.

Kobe won 2/3 with Pau & Odom, in a conference filled with 50+ win teams.

Thing is, bron still had to go through those few great teams.

No, Pau and odom are not a world beating 2/3 punch. Although for their specific roles they were absolutely perfect.

It's silly to say Kobe beat a team in 5 that Lebron couldn't in 7 as if the scenarios were similar.

Literally...the 2/3 punch on the Cavs was Mo/delonte west.

As silly as the difference in 2/3 punches look, it's even sillier when discussing that magic team, who's strength was a big man.

When we discuss the coaching difference it gets even sillier still. Brown got fired from the lakers 3 years later.

[Smoke117]

Depends...is he going to force his way to a premier franchise like Kobe did?

[pauk]

If he had the exact rosters?

Well, he would definitely be winning his 2 the same way (except the Finals matchup would happen in WCF), he would be 2/2....

Which... apparently... is better than 2/7 for some reason....

Hence... we as Lebron haters (99% Kobe stans) will inevitably make up new reasons to try boost Kobe above, like him having only 2 Finals appearances.... all of the sudden losing earlier than Finals is NOT more prestigious.... funny how it works...

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Arguably the same results, but I'm still not sure dude gets to the finals in 2013.

Spurs should have closed the deal, and as that series progressed, so did injuries and fatigue eg. Manu and Parker. Miami was incredibly fortunate the basketball gods had their backs that year.

[boojitede]

Ah yes, that's why Kobe beat a Magic team in 5 games that LeBron couldn't in 7 games in 2009.

Funny how LeBron sniffed 0 final appearances during a time where the east had a few great teams (Boston, Orlando). 08', 09', 10'. Both of those teams made the finals. Then LeBron colluded with Wade & Bosh and boosted his final appearances, yet still is a pathetic 2/5 during that span playing on stacked teams.

Kobe won 2/3 with Pau & Odom, in a conference filled with 50+ win teams.

as you mentioned kobe needed (as always) an all-star big to win. plus a hall of fame coach. (while bron had mike brown)

and let's be honest those 09-10 lakers teams were weak. had KG not gotten injured boston wins in 09. and if perkins doesn't get injured they win in 2010 and 3peat.

that laker team needed 7 games vs a tmac, yao, and mutumbo-less Rockets

they were a gasol putback from going 7 with an 8th seed thunder