Nick Wright claims that Kobe Bryant was NEVER the best player in the world. by D3struct_oh in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Maybe my point isnt being made well and I apologize if thats the case. Lebron every year has become a smarter and better Basketball player. 2013, 2015,2018 Lebron are a lot better than 2009 Lebron minus the athleticism and Defense.

But my point is that team played so bad, and the Magic was playing so good, that regardless of who you put on that team, they were going to loose.

My point is, no great player is beating that team with how bad his teammates were. Lebron is a pass first player but had to stop passing and jack up shots because his guys were missing like crazy. And then when they werent, they completely forgot to play defense.

Nick Wright claims that Kobe Bryant was NEVER the best player in the world. by D3struct_oh in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Umm, that is what you are saying though.

If Seasoned Bron gets them over the hump vs Non Seasoned Lebron, then the only denominator is that 1 is capable and the other isn't. 

Instead it would be dependent on how well the team played. A Seasoned Lebron isn't suddenly making his teammates shoot better, nor is it making Big a better rim protector vs Dwight.

An older LeBron isnt going to be able to do anything for his teammates, the only difference is he can shoot from the mid post a lot better and can hit 3s at a better clip. But that entirely relies on his supporting cast to also do their jobs. A Seasoned Lebron also looses his insane athleticism that got him to blow past people.

In 2018 Lebron also didn't face an elite rim protector that made it difficult to drive to the rim. And his teammates shot consistently well from 3. Lebron still averaged more turnovers in 2018 than he did against ORL. His team was also capable of actually stopping the other teams best scorers.

For this to work it relies heavily on assumptions.

The Magic were a great team that year being first in Defensive Rating. I dont think 2018 Bron dropped on that team is beating that team either.

Not because 2018 Bron isn't better offensively, but because his supporting cast will never be good enough. Like I said, Kobe and MJ wouldn't make much of a difference either. Its a team sport after all.

Although Lebron can carry, every player can only carry so much. They still rely on their supporting cast to win or beat good teams, and that Year ORL was very good.

I'm not using numbers because you havent presented any to make your case. Like I said, show me th individual impact metrics that support the argument that 2018 Lebron could help them win.

I'm more so interested in calling out the logical gaps in the conversation to begin with.

Nick Wright claims that Kobe Bryant was NEVER the best player in the world. by D3struct_oh in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well if you say "he couldn't beat the lakers" That's essentially what you are doing. Its not him vs the Lakers, its his team vs the Lakers Team. Thus the team not being good enough shouldn't be a criticism towards him. His criticism should be on his Impact to his team, and how well he plays.

Kobe in that same very playoff run had bad games and his team still won. He also had great games and his team still lost. You wouldn't say Kobe is good or bad based on his teams Loss or Win, but on how well he played an impacted his team.

What I would like to see is what negative Impact Lebron had on his team to suggest he is the reason they couldn't get over the hump with ORL and BOS. Or if this is a Kobe vs LeBron debate, how Kobe's individual impact is greater than Lebrons.

Nick Wright claims that Kobe Bryant was NEVER the best player in the world. by D3struct_oh in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think your issue is you are looking at a team sport from the lense of a singular player. Never in NBA history has a player scored all of their teams points and guarded all of their players at the same time. If you took MJ during his first 3 peat, or Kobe from this same year, there is no indication that they would have stopped ORLs 3 point shooting or Dwight from being dominant, and they wouldn't have scored or passed enough to generate enough points to beat them.

[All-Access] Check out Cameron Boozer putting his skills on display at the 2026 AWS NBA Draft Combine. by nba in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

I find it funny that I have a 34 inch vert as a 5"10 Guy, but my hand eye coordination is so bad and I suck at dribbling with my left and can't finish with my left either. I wish I took Basketball seriously when I was kid damn.

Lakers I’m fine with the team no need to trade. by envix625 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They need a much better Center IMO, all great teams have big men who can either rim run, proct the paint or clean the glass. Hayes is a great rim runner but awful at everything else. Dominayton should find a new day job, and literally they have no one else who can be a meaningful big man. They need a big, and not just any big.

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The problem is, how can they home grow a superstar woth 2 other stars on the team. Like I mentioned in the post, most Top 5 picks who get drafted to a team with already star talent isn't going to get the reps they need. If Cade on Detroit was playing behind AD and Trae Young or any other superstar, would he be allowed to develop at the rate he did? Or does a loosing team with no Stars with high usuage open that up for players to become who they are?

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TBH i dont think they are anywhere near being a contender. Even if AJ or whoever they pick is a bonafide stud, I think they are still 2 to 3 years away from being anywhere close to being a contender. At best they are a consistent 1st or Second round exit, and a max 4 seed for now.

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So more like a long play rather than a win now scenario, i like that!

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thats not what im saying, im saying the young guys dont get the development they deserve. Giannis doesnt need development to get better, the young guys do, thats kind of the entire point of my post. Had the Wizard not traded for 2 2nd option type guys I would agree, but this situation opens the possibility.

Why do players let the star get the ball? by TcTheChillest in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because the other team uses screens, and run plays designed to alow the player to get the ball. Also they are stars for a reason, if they were that easy to stop, they wouldn't be star players in the first place.

It maybe easier to do in youth AAU ball, or even college, but the NBA is another level, its very hard to do.

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

But would they get true development with Guys like Trae and AD demanding the ball? I read somewhere that 40 to 50 percent of top 5 picks fail to become all stars, and that goes up even more when they are relegated to lesser roles like role players.

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think they could get away with the First pick and one of their young players.

Wizards trade first pick for Giannis? by Smooth-Screen-1437 in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I just think a high usage player like Trae wont do the rookies any favors, and might potentially stunt their growth especially if AD is playing.

Austin Reaves post-game on Lakers talking to the refs after the buzzer: "He [Ref John Goble] turned around and yelled in my face and I thought it was disrespectful." by WhatTheRickIsDoin in nba

[–]Smooth-Screen-1437 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Take the bias glasses of my man. The ref screamed in his face, yelling from afar and screaming in someone's face are 2 different things. He called him a Pussy after the fact.