NBA: *** Official 2015 NBA Playoffs Thread ***

Horace Grant or Rodman? Maybe. Pippen? No. Pippen is the reason why Jordan wasn't triple teamed every time he had the ball like LeBron James currently sees - you put that much focus on Jordan and Pippen would have killed you. Granted, LeBron had that kind of support in Miami, and they won 2 championships and went to the Finals all four years because of it.

Honestly, I think the litmus test of LeBron James' greatness came in the 2008-09 season where LeBron dragged a cast of nobodies and Mike Brown to the best record in the NBA and the NBA Finals where they got beat down by the San Antonio Spurs, easily the definition of TEAM in the last decade plus.

Do I think Jordan could have done the same thing if he were in LeBron's position? Yes, I think he could. The point is pre-Pippen Jordan couldn't (yeah, he was still developing as a player at that point), and after Pippen he never had to.

I think both of us actually agree - LeBron James is one of the greatest ever to play the game. I actually think it's unfair to compare LeBron to Jordan because LeBron is actually more of a hybrid of Jordan and Magic Johnson. Whereas Jordan would take insane shots (and make them) even with teammates with wide open looks, LeBron will pass the ball off to the teammate with the better look. That's better team basketball. Another thing, Jordan is considered to be an adequate, if not good, defensive player - but there is no way he could nor would be guarding LeBron 1-on-1, because he would be eaten alive.

Fine, perhaps I do slightly overrate Jordan's supporting cast. That's mostly because LeBron haters, Bulls fans, and especially Chicagoans act like Jordan didn't even have teammates, even Pippen, during the 6 championships, when Jordan had a supporting cast that LeBron James could only dream about (and actually had in Miami). That's why I always bring up the supporting cast and the 1993-94 season.

Agree with most of it except nobody who saw Jordan play would call him an "adequate if not good defender", he was a beast on defense. I don't know if any 6'6" player could defend LeBron well, but I had to pick one it'd be Jordan an in instant, especially the bulkier second 3peat MJ who was pretty nasty and would get in your head like no other. Jimmy Butler did OK on him this year and Jordan was a better defender than Jimmy Butler.

The thing about LBJ that gets people itchy to pull the GOAT trigger is that we have never seen anything like him. He's like Magic except faster, stronger and can score the ball better...that's a ton of "if". He simply hasn't been seen before. To ever see a player as unique again we'll need to see a guy with Shaq's build playing guard.

With Jordan we've had several recent players like Kobe and Wade have very similar games...just they aren't nearly as good at that same game. He's less unique...but it doesn't make him less lethal or less clutch.
 
There are guys that have never committed a foul in their life. Timofey Mozgov is one of those guys.
 
Mozgov's mental game is about 3 feet above the rim and his actual game is about 12-18" above the rim.
 
I wonder if we look back at this series as the start of LeBron 2.0 as he becomes more of post up player, I thought it'd be because of age but in this case maybe because of having to create offense every possession.

Tristan Thompson has been all over the place the whole playoffs.
 
Vlade Divac was the best at this. Tim Duncan is really underrated too.

Tim Duncan's two expressions. Total boredom and total shock. Only two modes.

tim-duncan.jpg
 
Klay Thompson just gave the expression of a guy realizing his previously well oiled team may get beat down by one unstoppable tank of a player.
 
This Curry collapse is the biggest I've seen in the Finals since 2011.

GO AWAY SETH CURRY, I WANT STEPH!!!
 
I am surprised Cleveland isn't slowing down the pace like the first two games. It is working though they are getting to the rim and getting good looks. Lebron is locked in, JR too. Still GS only down 5 have got to feel fortunate.
 
Lebron gets away with virtually anything.

He gets hacked a ton (more than they could ever notice or whistle, same as Shaq did) but he also gets some calls that no other player in the league gets.

Vs Chicago there was a play where Jimmy Butler jumped straight up for a rebound, got the ball, LeBron fell down beside him...foul on Jimmy Butler. Not sure any other player right now gets that call. Others have in the past, but right now that's a call one player in the NBA gets.

In some ways he gets the best calls, in some ways bad calls, but overall he gets the star advantage. It's a big picture question when you look at a physical player like Jordan or LeBron vs an elite shooter like Curry. Curry's just not going to get fouled as much regardless of how fair the refs are. LBJ has gotten better as he's fell out of love with that deep jumper except when he really needs it.
 
Golden State doesn't look ready for this stage. I'm giving the wife the remote until around 10. They look terrible now.
 
These finals have been really competitive, but these have been some really sloppy, ugly games.
 
If I'm a Cleveland or LeBron fan...I really want to hang on to Blatt.
 
These finals have been really competitive, but these have been some really sloppy, ugly games.

Which is exactly what Cleveland would want without Irving and Love...really it's what any team would want against Golden State.
 
Warriors playing like garbage. They are lucky they have 1 win in this series


#WESTERN CONFERENCE OVERRATED

You are thinking the same way as me my man...it's our Cyclone rationalizing skills seeping into our Bulls fandom.

We gave the champs their toughest series!!! ;-)
 
Anyone else catch the blond out in the front row at the end of the 1st half? Cross your legs girl! Nice white panties though.
 
Golden State doesn't look ready for this stage. I'm giving the wife the remote until around 10. They look terrible now.

It's pretty rare for a team to just blast their way to a Championship without paying dues. Still could go either way, but if Cleveland goes up 3-1 and they already played two OT games @GS...
 

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron