2013-2014 NBA season thread - Page 5 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Senator Clay Davis · 02-01-2014, 08:24 AM

People would always talk about Kobe and LeBron and "Being the next Jordan", but to me Durant is the guy who can actually do it. His offensive game is truly unparalleled, I can see him putting up a 33-36 PPG season like Jordan would do in his prime. I hope Westbrook is watching this and realizes taking 5 less shots a game so Durant can get more touches is how OKC will win a title.

Durant is maybe the most unique player I've ever seen. A 7 footer who handles like a point guard, is the best pure shooter in the game, rebounds like a small forward and can post up like a power forward. Maybe one of the most unguardable players ever.

moon · 02-01-2014, 10:07 AM

Until Durant can be anything more than an average defender no way is he ahead of LeBron in terms of being the next Jordan.

LeBron is cruising at about 60% right now and saving himself and still in the MVP conversation.

Durant is having an impressive offensive year but he is still behind James because the other aspects of his game are not on LeBron's level.

Senator Clay Davis · 02-01-2014, 10:42 AM

Durant is averaging more rebounds with only 1 fewer assist despite LeBron dominating the ball more than Durant. Oh yeah, Durant is just entering his prime. LeBron is basketball's greatest ever physical specimen, but Durant is just a better basketball player. Offensively he laps LeBron, and Durant's defensive efficiency rating is higher than LeBron's this year.

If LeBron "coasting" is your argument, then your argument sucks. Jordan never coasted. Even Kobe who I despise never coasted. Can't be considered the greatest ever if part of your argument is "well if he always played at full intensity". The greatest ever always do play at full intensity.

Most criticilally, we'll never see a "Duranting" theme start, unless its representing shooting at an absurdly efficient clip

moon · 02-01-2014, 10:49 AM

This is the first season that he has "coasted" after playing 3 seasons of going to the finals.

Not sure what Wilbon knows about Jordan but he has commented many times about Jordan coasting during the 3 peats to save himself. Steve Kerr talked about how the whole team would take nights off when he was there as well on the BS Report. So those two could be liars or mistaken but seems like they would know better than you.

Durant "laps" James offensively because of the amount of shots he takes. LeBron has destroyed Durant in terms of assists every year up until now getting twice as many most years. Rebounding-wise they are fairly even and defensively it isn't even remotely close.

Good to see Durant is having a great year but it is way too early to say that Durant is a better basketball player than Lebron, especially when Durant has 0 titles despite playing on stacked teams and was whipped when they met in the Finals.

trackercowe · 02-01-2014, 10:57 AM

Well Durant is 4 years younger that James, and has been to the same amount of finals as James at the age of 25. You would expect him to have at least one title by then, especially if James goes into a decline. The one thing that will be interesting to see is if Durant leaves OKC once his contract his up. You rarely see a player of Durant's calibre sticking around in smaller markets, as there is probably much more money he can make elsewhere. If he's willing to stay in OKC he should be applauded for it, as stars leaving smaller markets to go to bigger ones has almost ruined the league.

Oh and don't forget Durant plays in a much better conference than James. So for LeBron it's that much easier to put up better numbers and win Championships. OKC has to face three legitimate teams every year, while the Heat usually only face two at most (one this year).

As for your argument of James being far better on defense, well some people in the know are starting to see it quite differently.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-heat/5090897/

Quote:

James, mind you, is receiving more criticism than he has in years for his defensive effort (see Miami's 13th place ranking in defensive rating, down six spots from last season). Durant, meanwhile, is considered a key member of this Thunder defense that is nothing short of elite (third in the league after being fourth last season). But does that mean Durant can add a line about defense to his already-sterling résumé' now, that he deserves brownie points for his work on that end of the floor? It's looking that way at the moment.

Quote:

No one is saying that James is in danger of being surpassed by Durant as a defender, of course, but the mere fact that the Thunder star has evolved so drastically on that end of the floor is a potential game-changer when it comes to MVP voting. Let it be known, in other words, Durant can defend.

moon · 02-01-2014, 11:03 AM

4 years younger only matters if we are talking about who may end up as the best player not who is the best player and conference arguments are pretty weak when talking about the best. If you are the best you beat everyone. Indiana was as good as anyone in the West last year and Miami got by them.

The Houston-Memphis-SA (if they didn't get beat) isn't any harder than the Milwaukee-Chicago-Indiana route. Both teams had easy match-ups in the first two rounds and then a tough match-up in the CF.

trackercowe · 02-01-2014, 11:05 AM

So beating teams that are well above .500 isn't any harder than beating teams that are well below .500? Yeah that makes total sense.

I wonder what the percentage of teams under .500 that have upset higher seeds is? I would imagine it's near 0%, since I can't remember it happening once.

Senator Clay Davis · 02-01-2014, 11:08 AM

And Miami is what? Not stacked? Durant laps LeBron because he has deep variety to his game. Without LeBron's physical dominance allowing him to consistently get easy shots, he probably would not be as good offensively. Outside of that, his midrange and long game are just good and not great. Durant though has pretty much every aspect of the offensive game down at a very high level. He can score everywhere and his size allows him to get his shot any time he wants. And Durant actually has averaged fewer shots per game over his career than LeBron.

moon · 02-01-2014, 11:14 AM

This year James defense has dropped for sure, but prior to this year James was arguably the best defender in the game, and one of the best all-time, and a guy who can defend the best players in the league at all 5 positions. Durant has been average at best all his career, gets muscled by big PF's and struggles to keep up with speedy SF's. The article you posted is about this year not over their careers.

So James is punished because he is physically dominant?

If Durant wasn't so long and fast with a good handle he couldn't score so why not ignore that?

I never understand why people always want to crap on James but it seems to be the case. This year Durant has been better but over their careers it isn't close James is the much better player so far and likely ends that way when they are done.

Senator Clay Davis · 02-01-2014, 11:22 AM

And we'll see over the years for sure who becomes better. LeBron is still a better player overall over their careers for sure, but there is a lot more to be played out. OKC is much, much better set up right now though, LeBron might leave again because Wade is a cripple at this point and Bosh is still Bosh.

Hockey_Ninja · 02-01-2014, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Durant is averaging more rebounds with only 1 fewer assist despite LeBron dominating the ball more than Durant. Oh yeah, Durant is just entering his prime. LeBron is basketball's greatest ever physical specimen, but Durant is just a better basketball player. Offensively he laps LeBron, and Durant's defensive efficiency rating is higher than LeBron's this year.

If LeBron "coasting" is your argument, then your argument sucks. Jordan never coasted. Even Kobe who I despise never coasted. Can't be considered the greatest ever if part of your argument is "well if he always played at full intensity". The greatest ever always do play at full intensity.

Most criticilally, we'll never see a "Duranting" theme start, unless its representing shooting at an absurdly efficient clip

Shaq? Wilt?

darklord700 · 02-02-2014, 01:16 PM

Pacers signed Bynum for $1M. The Heat only has the minimum to offer but Pacers' $1M isn't that much more. And it's only for half a season so that net earning difference to Bynum after tax is minimal.

It seems like the Heat gave up on signing this cancer player rather than the Pacers winning the Bynum sweepstake.

Senator Clay Davis · 02-03-2014, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Shaq? Wilt?

I'd put LeBron #1 and Shaq #2. I obviously can't really judge Wilt without a lot of available evidence. But since Wilt and Shaq were both 7'1" with Shaq being 330lbs (!!!) and probably being a better athlete, I'd give Shaq the edge. LeBron is just ahead of Shaq because he can do everything any of the 1-4 positions can at a very high level and is one of the fastest guys in the league even at 6'8", 265lbs.

FlamingLonghorn · 02-04-2014, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Well Durant is 4 years younger that James, and has been to the same amount of finals as James at the age of 25. You would expect him to have at least one title by then, especially if James goes into a decline. The one thing that will be interesting to see is if Durant leaves OKC once his contract his up. You rarely see a player of Durant's calibre sticking around in smaller markets, as there is probably much more money he can make elsewhere. If he's willing to stay in OKC he should be applauded for it, as stars leaving smaller markets to go to bigger ones has almost ruined the league.

I would be shocked to see Durant leave OKC. They will pay him max contract and he will be happy with that. Doesn't seem like someone who is going to chase endorsement deals.

Senator Clay Davis · 02-04-2014, 09:37 AM

LeBron with the very rare double flop on the same sequence. Chris Paul, LeBron and Manu Ginobli really need to somehow play on a team together to see who can outflop the others.

https://v.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/26285...quhQWpQxPmXbzI

JonDuke · 02-09-2014, 08:52 AM

Hockey_Ninja · 02-09-2014, 01:06 PM

It makes me laugh that people actually think Melo is somehow better than Durant, especially after that 62 point game. Today's game put that dumb theory to rest.

ForeverFlameFan · 02-11-2014, 06:49 AM

Why are my Jazz winning games....?

Hockey_Ninja · 02-13-2014, 06:59 AM

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miam...nba-all-greats

Quote:

"I'm going to be one of the top four that's ever played this game, for sure," LeBron James said in an interview that will air on NBA TV on Monday. "And if they don't want me to have one of those top four spots, they'd better find another spot on that mountain. Somebody's gotta get bumped, but that's not for me to decide. That's for the architects."

Can he do it?

Senator Clay Davis · 02-13-2014, 07:27 AM

No. Sorry but how is he getting in front of the following 6 guys.

Jordan
Kareem
Wilt
Bird
Magic
Oscar Robertson

Just don't see it for LeBron. And none of those guys are built like a tank and flop like a fish. Also, he really needs to stop talking so much about how people view him, he comes off as incredibly insecure.