[quote]scj119 wrote:
PG - Rose (Rondo’s speed with Westbrook’s jumping/dunking)
SG - Vince (on sheer athleticism, but really, Kobe/MJ/like 5 others are tied if we’re judging only athleticism… how would you “judge” prime Vince vs. Prime Kobe?)
SF - Nique
PF - C-Webb (in his prime was a tossup with Kemp, watch some old Michigan highlights)
C - Robinson… close over Olajuwon but he ran the floor a bit better.
Understand if I was considering skill at all the list would be way different.
[/quote]
Carter jumped higher, dunked harder and was more acrobatic than anyone we’ve ever seen. Bryant is a close second, but VC is on his own level. I would’ve loved to have seen Bryant and Carter go at it in the dunk contest in their primes. Bryant was doing things no one had ever seen before, he just didn’t care to enter after he won. I loved Webber’s game, but he wasn’t on the same level as Barkley, Stoudamire, Kemp or Larry Nance.
David Robinson wasn’t chasing down the fastest guards in the league and blocking their shots. Olajuwon was. Olajuwon’s speed, footwork, dexterity, hand eye coordination, timing and leaping ability were a combination we’ve never (and may not again) seen. He was unreal.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Nate Robinson, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Gerald Green off the top of my head, and if I sat down and thought about it I could come up with several more. James is athletic for sure, but he’s only got the one leg, doesn’t handle contact well, isn’t particularly acrobatic and isn’t near as fast as people pretend he is. Having the advantage of taking 3 steps before you have to dribble on a breakaway will make anyone look faster than they really are.[/quote]
Come on now, it’s clear you don’t like Lebron but give him some respect. The 260 pound guy is ridiculously fast, how else would he consistently get chase down blocks on guards? 3 steps? If you call Lebron out for travelling i seriously hope you don’t like basketball at any professional level, Dirk, Kobe, Lebron, Ginobli, Durant, Howard all of them travel on a regular basis, don’t just knock Lebron. Rose carries the ball every single time he goes into the paint but nobody cares about that because that is what the NBA has become. Jumping well doesn’t equal athletic in my mind. Just because Green can fly doesn’t mean he is half the athlete Lebron is. For size and weight I think Dwight Howard and maybe Griffin are the two biggest freaks compared to James.
I’m a Cavs fan, and from Cleveland. So i have an un-natural hate for him, but the Dude is a freak. Could probably play all 5 spots if he wanted. Not many other players can do that.
I’m a Cavs fan, and from Cleveland. So i have an un-natural hate for him, but the Dude is a freak. Could probably play all 5 spots if he wanted. Not many other players can do that. [/quote]
I will say this: he’s the only player I’ve seen that can adequately guard every position other than Dennis Rodman.
I’m a Cavs fan, and from Cleveland. So i have an un-natural hate for him, but the Dude is a freak. Could probably play all 5 spots if he wanted. Not many other players can do that. [/quote]
Exactly, I respect that. If i was from Cleveland I would absolutely despise the guy, it makes perfect sense. What I don’t understand is disrespecting the man’s size and athleticism. It is completely and utterly illogical.
No shit I don’t like James, but I can still be subjective. Yes he’s fast, but he’s nowhere near the fastest dude in the league. Yeah he can jump, but bed nowhere near the best leaper in the league. You see where I’m going with this? If you think James is the best athlete in the league you need to watch more basketball. End of discussion.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
No shit I don’t like James, but I can still be subjective. Yes he’s fast, but he’s nowhere near the fastest dude in the league. Yeah he can jump, but bed nowhere near the best leaper in the league. You see where I’m going with this? If you think James is the best athlete in the league you need to watch more basketball. End of discussion.[/quote]
That is like saying James isn’t the best pure shooter, he isn’t the best dunker, he isn’t the best passer, he isn’t the best at blocking shots so he isn’t the best in the game. I think his overall game is the best in the league and his overall size and athletic ability put him at the top of the league in that regard as well. It isn’t one outstanding aspect, its the combination thereof.
I consider Lebron the best athlete in the NBA for the same reason I think the NFL is the most athletic league overall: 6’5+ 260lb+ defensive ends that run sub 4.6 40s, sub 3 second shuttles, and jump 35+ inches sounds impossible, but there they are doing it. This is completely subjective and I won’t really argue it or have any issues with someone like WF who doesn’t agree.
Edit: Random aside about athletes, did anyone catch the College Dunk Contest? Kid who won it was 5’9 and had some INSANE ups. I know those jump meters they run are bogus but I wouldn’t be shocked to hear he has a legit 45+ vert(but that may never happen because he’s not an NBA prospect, so no combine for him).
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
No shit I don’t like James, but I can still be subjective. Yes he’s fast, but he’s nowhere near the fastest dude in the league. Yeah he can jump, but bed nowhere near the best leaper in the league. You see where I’m going with this? If you think James is the best athlete in the league you need to watch more basketball. End of discussion.[/quote]
That is like saying James isn’t the best pure shooter, he isn’t the best dunker, he isn’t the best passer, he isn’t the best at blocking shots so he isn’t the best in the game. I think his overall game is the best in the league and his overall size and athletic ability put him at the top of the league in that regard as well. It isn’t one outstanding aspect, its the combination thereof.[/quote]
But if there are guys who can do ALL OF THOSE THINGS BETTER, than how can he be the best? Here’s the answer: he can’t.
Who is faster, quicker, stronger and a better jumper that weighs more than 250 or is 6’8? Nobody, there are quite a few that are better in each category but I don’t believe any can combine it with his mass. Who do you think is overall better than Lebron?
[quote]americaninsweden wrote:
Who is faster, quicker, stronger and a better jumper that weighs more than 250 or is 6’8? Nobody, there are quite a few that are better in each category but I don’t believe any can combine it with his mass. Who do you think is overall better than Lebron?[/quote]
What does his size have to do with anything? We’re talking about sheer athleticism, and height and weight have nothing to do with that. He’s the most athletic 6’8" 250lb dude out there, but there are several better overall athletes.
[quote]red04 wrote:
I consider Lebron the best athlete in the NBA for the same reason I think the NFL is the most athletic league overall: 6’5+ 260lb+ defensive ends that run sub 4.6 40s, sub 3 second shuttles, and jump 35+ inches sounds impossible, but there they are doing it. This is completely subjective and I won’t really argue it or have any issues with someone like WF who doesn’t agree.
Edit: Random aside about athletes, did anyone catch the College Dunk Contest? Kid who won it was 5’9 and had some INSANE ups. I know those jump meters they run are bogus but I wouldn’t be shocked to hear he has a legit 45+ vert(but that may never happen because he’s not an NBA prospect, so no combine for him).[/quote]
Exactly - who’s the anomaly?
I see Russell Westbrook athleticism in street ball and college. Similarly, there are guys who can get up higher than VC ever could.
I don’t think we’ve ever seen a LeBron James playing BASKETBALL.
Hes been ripped this year, and at times rightfully so but Melo over the past 10 games has been playing excellent at both ends…this win makes that Indy loss so much worse.
[quote]red04 wrote:
I consider Lebron the best athlete in the NBA for the same reason I think the NFL is the most athletic league overall: 6’5+ 260lb+ defensive ends that run sub 4.6 40s, sub 3 second shuttles, and jump 35+ inches sounds impossible, but there they are doing it. This is completely subjective and I won’t really argue it or have any issues with someone like WF who doesn’t agree.
Edit: Random aside about athletes, did anyone catch the College Dunk Contest? Kid who won it was 5’9 and had some INSANE ups. I know those jump meters they run are bogus but I wouldn’t be shocked to hear he has a legit 45+ vert(but that may never happen because he’s not an NBA prospect, so no combine for him).[/quote]
Yeah, James Justice. He was doing some nice things, but he was WAY less impressive than the 5’11" kid who won last year, Jacob Tucker. Also, I read Get’s post while not logged in. Yeah, there are several guys just like Westbrook in streetball and college who are blowing through NBA defenses and getting dunks in traffic, and guys just like Carter who are jumping over the best centers in the NBA and dunking and doing reverse pumps in traffic against NBA defenders. Your stupidity and general lack of basketball knowledge is fucking astounding.
[quote]red04 wrote:
I consider Lebron the best athlete in the NBA for the same reason I think the NFL is the most athletic league overall: 6’5+ 260lb+ defensive ends that run sub 4.6 40s, sub 3 second shuttles, and jump 35+ inches sounds impossible, but there they are doing it. This is completely subjective and I won’t really argue it or have any issues with someone like WF who doesn’t agree.
Edit: Random aside about athletes, did anyone catch the College Dunk Contest? Kid who won it was 5’9 and had some INSANE ups. I know those jump meters they run are bogus but I wouldn’t be shocked to hear he has a legit 45+ vert(but that may never happen because he’s not an NBA prospect, so no combine for him).[/quote]
Yeah, James Justice. He was doing some nice things, but he was WAY less impressive than the 5’11" kid who won last year, Jacob Tucker. Also, I read Get’s post while not logged in. Yeah, there are several guys just like Westbrook in streetball and college who are blowing through NBA defenses and getting dunks in traffic, and guys just like Carter who are jumping over the best centers in the NBA and dunking and doing reverse pumps in traffic against NBA defenders. Your stupidity and general lack of basketball knowledge is fucking astounding. [/quote]
I missed last years, may have to go scrap together youtube clips now.
And I’m pretty sure there are players poll out there with the same consensus.
WF you’re ignorant and nearly nothing you post is objective. Being biased is one thing but claiming you can justify your bias with some superior knowledge is the epitome of ignorance, arrogance and foolishness.
That’s GM’s giving Lebron an overwhelming majority of the vote. But apparently they are also have an astonishing lack of basketball knowledge.
I’m pretty sure he could do double clutch dunks, and windmills everytime down the floor if he wanted, but as much of douche as he is; he really doesnt show off that much. Doing streetball moves in the NBA really isnt that impressive.
