You must've missed the part where I said I don't value sports pundit/media opinions over that of players. Maybe you should link to the backpicks website next. That'll REALLY change my mind.
You must have missed the part where I didn't address the post to you.
Clutchpoints is fitting, though, since it's clutching at straws.
I think LeBron with legacy in mind, will work with AD, Klutch, and Pelinka financially to complete a 4-Peat which will give him (7) titles total to put an exclamation point on his career......I know he said he wasn't taking paycuts anymore but cutting a few million from his Laker's salary, to bring in additional talent......maybe Giannis/maybe Beal....AD seems to be of the same mindset....championships over $$$....i mean they're still getting aid very handsomely.....this should be fun for us fans and stans tho..........
A 4-peat?! Haha, love the optimism. I mean, it's not an impossibly long shot for the Lakers to do it, but man, that'd be quite an achievement. I personally feel like LBJ has all the accomplishments he really needs at this point, anything else is icing.
If LeBron wants to end up as the GOAT, he needs more accomplishments. His only real shot as this point is to complete that 4-peat. A 3-peat would maybe or probably put him unquestionably past Kobe, but not Jordan.
I'm really disappointed in LeBron's 4-6 Finals record. This past season really enhanced his legacy because he had, by far, his toughest road to the Finals ever, but he still has a long way to go to become the GOAT.
Are you talking about in the eyes of Laker fans? Bron has already surpassed Kobe. For GOAT, people don't talk MJ vs Kobe, they discuss MJ vs Bron.
Lebron has not passed kobe. Only epsn/lebron fans think this way. Even most old/current players would take kobe. Lebron would maybe have to win 2 more to get over kobe and even than he lost many times in the finals so still debatable. Thats no disrespect to lebron hes right behind kobe in terms of all time greats.
You have it backwards. Even before this past season, only Laker fans had Kobe over LeBron. And if you don’t believe me look up some articles (from sites besides ESPN) ranking the greatest players of all time. Or just go to message boards of other teams, reddit, etc and see what they all think. In fact it’s not even a consensus opinion that Kobe was better than Shaq or Duncan or Hakeem. Kobe usually ranks between 8 and 11 - closer to number 10 than number 1. That’s not a slight against Kobe - easily my favorite player to watch since Jordan - but just an acknowledgement of how great the ten greatest players ever really were in their respective eras.
On the other hand, LeBron is widely considered one of three players (the others being Jordan and Kareem) to be in the running for the greatest of all time. And with good reason. Those are the only three players to be the unquestioned best players in the world for an entire decade. All three have both ridiculous peak seasons (with Jordan’s being the best) and sustained greatness (with Kareem and Lebron having the edge there). All three players were dominant, first of their kind, are supported by both eye test and advanced stats (PER, win shares, VORP, etc), were great defensive players, and have plenty of hardware to back them up (MVPs, Finals MVPs, championships, All NBA First Team appearances). More importantly, all three players consistently raised their games in the playoffs even in losing efforts.
On top of all that, LeBron is going to wind up being the all time leader in points and quite possibly wind up in the top five for assists - which speaks to what an extraordinary career he’s had. And he already has basically every playoff record. Right now I have him as the third greatest player of all time behind only Jordan and Kareem and believe he will wind up as behind only Jorden by the time he retires.
Also the idea that LeBron’s Finals losses hurt him in all time discussions really doesn’t make much sense. It’s one thing if you don’t want to give him credit for getting to the Finals and losing...that i understand. But it’s another thing if you are using it as a knock against him. Because then it’s even more of a knock against players who couldn’t even make the Finals - who have first round exits on their resume (LeBron has none). Why punish LeBron for dragging the horrendous 2007 Cavs as a 22-year old to the Finals or taking the undertalented 2018 Cavs to the Finals in a playoffs in which he hit three game winners and dropped 50 in game 1 against the loaded KD Warriors? Or for losing to the Warriors without Love and Kyrie in 2015 but still dragging that series to six games? It’s like saying that Kobe’s resume is tarnished by taking the 2008 Lakers to the Finals just because he lost to the Celtics and that he would have been better off losing in the first round. It makes no sense. Not to mention it’s not like LeBron played badly in many of the Finals that he lost - really after 2011 against the Mavs, he has been incredible in the Finals. If anything, LeBron played better in most of those losing efforts than the eventual Finals MVPs did in their winning efforts against him (see 2015 when he received Finals MVP votes despite being on the losing team when freaking Matthew Dellavadova was the second most productive player on the Cavs in that Finals...or 2014 where he was spectacularly efficient but an incredible passing Spurs team beat up on the very injured and ailing Heat).
Lebron singlehandedly turned the Lakers from a lottery team into an NBA champion in just two short years!! Yes, he was the reason we've got AD and eventually led us to our first championship in 10 years.
All Laker fans should be forever grateful for what he did regardless of what happens from here on out. The future for the Lakers looks brighter than ever. Did someone say dynasty? _________________ Playoffs is good enough. - Jeanie Buss 2024
Lebron singlehandedly turned the Lakers from a lottery team into an NBA champion in just two short years!! Yes, he was the reason we've got AD and eventually led us to our first championship in 10 years.
All Laker fans should be forever grateful for what he did regardless of what happens from here on out. The future for the Lakers looks brighter than ever. Did someone say dynasty?
This. We were on the way of becoming the Knicks of the West and LeBron came to put us back where we always belonged. And he also brought to us the chance of building after him with AD. LeBron is already a Laker legend.
Lebron singlehandedly turned the Lakers from a lottery team into an NBA champion in just two short years!! Yes, he was the reason we've got AD and eventually led us to our first championship in 10 years.
All Laker fans should be forever grateful for what he did regardless of what happens from here on out. The future for the Lakers looks brighter than ever. Did someone say dynasty?
This. We were on the way of becoming the Knicks of the West and LeBron came to put us back where we always belonged. And he also brought to us the chance of building after him with AD. LeBron is already a Laker legend.
Bron-AD-Pelinka-Rich Paul-Jeannie is the best starting 5 right now, chance for a dynasty of play the cards right (and health, fingers crossed)
Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 7825 Location: Long Beach
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:37 pm Post subject:
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Egg-sactly... Thank you!
Seems for some people that being put in the GOAT conversation and being praised since highschool (with the only slight snafu being right after The Decision and losing in the 2011 Finals) just ISN'T ENOUGH praise for The King.
And many of the people on this board that get defensive about LeBron are the same ones that constantly bashed Kobe (and still do...) while he was doing great things for us.
Then they turn around and play the "Aren't you happy the Lakers won? You must be miserable right now..." card when you could've said the same thing about them back in Mamba's heyday.
Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 11197 Location: The Other Perspective
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:51 pm Post subject:
Batguano wrote:
SocalDevin wrote:
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Egg-sactly... Thank you!
Seems for some people that being put in the GOAT conversation and being praised since highschool (with the only slight snafu being right after The Decision and losing in the 2011 Finals) just ISN'T ENOUGH praise for The King.
And many of the people on this board that get defensive about LeBron are the same ones that constantly bashed Kobe (and still do...) while he was doing great things for us.
Then they turn around and play the "Aren't you happy the Lakers won? You must be miserable right now..." card when you could've said the same thing about them back in Mamba's heyday.
I'm a Kobe guy til I die, but I get what Bron means. Lots of sports commentators and people on social media called him washed, not as good as Kawhi, only in LA to make movies, etc. So I get how he took those comments as disrespect and fuel to win. That's what the great ones do. Kobe for sure did it. So did MJ. _________________ "Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball…but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played."
-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 7825 Location: Long Beach
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 4:00 pm Post subject:
LandsbergerRules wrote:
Batguano wrote:
SocalDevin wrote:
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Egg-sactly... Thank you!
Seems for some people that being put in the GOAT conversation and being praised since highschool (with the only slight snafu being right after The Decision and losing in the 2011 Finals) just ISN'T ENOUGH praise for The King.
And many of the people on this board that get defensive about LeBron are the same ones that constantly bashed Kobe (and still do...) while he was doing great things for us.
Then they turn around and play the "Aren't you happy the Lakers won? You must be miserable right now..." card when you could've said the same thing about them back in Mamba's heyday.
I'm a Kobe guy til I die, but I get what Bron means. Lots of sports commentators and people on social media called him washed, not as good as Kawhi, only in LA to make movies, etc. So I get how he took those comments as disrespect and fuel to win. That's what the great ones do. Kobe for sure did it. So did MJ.
His effort level wasn't the same his first year here. So I can get why some said Kawhi was better, and that he was washed. This season he proved he's still "that guy".. I just think a guy that gets as much praise as he gets doesn't need to solicit more. And for the record he deserves 90% of it. The praise that is.
LeBron is a little tipsy and you can tell he's having fun. That part about Pat Bev's tweet
The entire clip is basically that gif of him smoking the cigar and holding the trophy.
He's talking like a king, which he should. He earned it. _________________ “Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there."
- John Piper
Lebron singlehandedly turned the Lakers from a lottery team into an NBA champion in just two short years!! Yes, he was the reason we've got AD and eventually led us to our first championship in 10 years.
All Laker fans should be forever grateful for what he did regardless of what happens from here on out. The future for the Lakers looks brighter than ever. Did someone say dynasty?
This. We were on the way of becoming the Knicks of the West and LeBron came to put us back where we always belonged. And he also brought to us the chance of building after him with AD. LeBron is already a Laker legend.
Completely agree.
He has broad shoulders too taking on all the social issues that back in the day a lot of the great players avoided.
This guy is 100% Man and still in my humble opinion the single best player in the league. _________________ Love, Laker Lanny
LeBron is a little tipsy and you can tell he's having fun. That part about Pat Bev's tweet
Haha yeah that was great. Can't wait to see the full interview tomorrow. _________________ "Chick lived and breathed Lakers basketball…but he was also fair and objective and called every game the way it was played."
-from Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Knew Him
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
Skip Bayless and Rob Parker now = everybody?
He got rightly criticized for missing the playoffs the first season he was here after going on record that he was "activating playoff mode".
Bron apologists think any sort of criticism of their guy is "out of pocket". It comes with the territory of being the best and playing for the Lakers.
Last edited by Batguano on Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 7825 Location: Long Beach
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:11 pm Post subject:
george w kush wrote:
SocalDevin wrote:
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
I don't get your post at all..
For one.. He didn't prove "everyone" wrong.. there was a minority who thought he was washed. The majority within that minority were haters. Which doesn't constitute an entire fanbase. Everything else you listed has been stated already ad nosiem which he gets credit for, so yeah I don't get your post boss.
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
Skip Bayless and Rob Parker now = everybody?
He got rightly criticized for missing the playoffs the first season he was here after going on record that he was "activating playoff mode".
Bron apologists think any sort of criticism of their guy is "out of pocket". It comes with the territory of being the best and playing for the Lakers.
He 'rightfully' got criticized for missing the playoffs? Are those critics still 'right'? Ill take that if it means winning a championship the very next year any day of the week.
Besides, where's all the criticism now? Go back and listen to what Lebron said in his post-game interview while holding his 4th finals MVP in a Lakers uniform.
Hint: If you don't remember, it's in the thread title.
I'm glad he's here, and grateful.. But I don't get the "give him his respect or due" narratives.. All he gets is praise from ESPN.. He's called the King.. He's been considered the best player in the league for about a decade. Talking heads compare him to Jordan. They even put him over Kobe, which I don't agree with.
What respect isn't he getting?
Sure he gets praise NOW because he won a championship, but before the season started everyone was calling him washed up, Clippers are better, Kawahi is better, came here to make movies, etc...he proved everyone WRONG and delivered a title in just his 2nd year. He also recruited AD and makes our franchise MUCH more appealing to future free agents.
BTW, where would this franchise be right now without Lebron? We'd be the Knicks of the west. He single handedly saved this franchise by coming here without a 2nd star when no one else wanted to sign here.
Skip Bayless and Rob Parker now = everybody?
He got rightly criticized for missing the playoffs the first season he was here after going on record that he was "activating playoff mode".
Bron apologists think any sort of criticism of their guy is "out of pocket". It comes with the territory of being the best and playing for the Lakers.
He 'rightfully' got criticized for missing the playoffs? Are those critics still 'right'? Ill take that if it means winning a championship the very next year any day of the week.
Besides, where's all the criticism now? Go back and listen to what Lebron said in his post-game interview while holding his 4th finals MVP in a Lakers uniform.
Hint: If you don't remember, it's in the thread title.
LeBron says a lot of things. He also said "That one right there made me the GOAT" (about beating the 2016 Warriors). It doesn't mean anything. Man loves to control his narrative more than any other athlete I've known, and his fanatics are the same and eat it up.
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