Prime Shaq or Prime LeBron James

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SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 12:27 AM
My shit? I was the first person to be called insane. Your opinion is just that as well, a fucking opinion. I'd say my point is pretty valid--we're talking about the best player to ever play the game. Shaq is damn good in his own right, but Jordan is without a doubt the best player that ever played the game. I'm not talking about titles--this has NOTHING to do with titles, we're talking individual players here. Not that the title argument supports your side anyways.
Dec 18, 2009 12:27am
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Dec 18, 2009 12:32 AM
James easy.. hack-a-shack most famously done by the spurs has killed shaqs teams over the years in the playoffs (most recently the suns) and now that he is with cleveland it will hurt them in the playoffs as well.
Dec 18, 2009 12:32am
Darkon's avatar

Darkon

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3,476 posts
Dec 18, 2009 7:32 AM
SQ_Crazies wrote: LOL, alright. If you want to talk about greatness--they're both great players. If you want to talk about game changing--I could argue that Larry did more to change the game than Shaq.
Not sure I agree that Larry "changed" the game. Great player but I don't believe he changed the game.

Back on Topic.
I'll take Shaq over LBJ.
With a dominent big man it's not as hard to biuld a championship team.
Dec 18, 2009 7:32am
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Bluepride13

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75 posts
Dec 18, 2009 7:54 AM
I think Bird could be in an argument for the most complete player. He could beat you in any phase of the game. He wasnt fast, couldnt jump that well, but as far as basketball instincts he may have been the best. He could have scored many more points than he did but was a total team player...on both ends of the court.

In reply to the question...probally Shaq. Alot of room for argument though.
Dec 18, 2009 7:54am
Darkon's avatar

Darkon

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Dec 18, 2009 7:59 AM
Bluepride13 wrote: I think Bird could be in an argument for the most complete player. He could beat you in any phase of the game. He wasnt fast, couldnt jump that well, but as far as basketball instincts he may have been the best. He could have scored many more points than he did but was a total team player...on both ends of the court.

In reply to the question...probally Shaq. Alot of room for argument though.
I agree, but I don't believe Bird changed the game like say Wilt, MJ, or Magic.
Dec 18, 2009 7:59am
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Bluepride13

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Dec 18, 2009 8:42 AM
Maybe. They certainly had some great matchups against each other. The one quote Magic made always sticks out in my mind about Bird. Magic said..."There is only one man I ever feared on a basketball court...Larry Bird". That says alot. I know they are good friends now but that took years. They actually didnt like each other for a long period of time. Either way...it says alot about the respect Magic had for Bird.
Dec 18, 2009 8:42am
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 12:28 PM
If it wasn't for Larry and Magic, Shaq/LeBron/Kobe/D-Wade/Jordan/etc/etc/etc, wouldn't be household names--nor would they be making as much money as they are. If you don't think Larry Bird did as much to change the game as Shaq then I don't know what to tell you...
Dec 18, 2009 12:28pm
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Bluepride13

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Dec 18, 2009 12:40 PM
They were great to watch compete. It was a great era imo.
Dec 18, 2009 12:40pm
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jpake1

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2,389 posts
Dec 18, 2009 1:07 PM
SQ- Why exactly wouldn't all those guys you mentioned be household names, nor have the money they do? I'm mostly interested in knowing why Magic and Bird are the reason those guys are household names.

Each great player leaves their footprint in NBA history. Each great player adds to the history, present, and future of the NBA. Bird definitely left his footprint in history. He also was the reason for something called Bird Rights, which is a pretty big deal.
Dec 18, 2009 1:07pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:11 PM
I agree that every player leaves their footprint--but figuratively speaking Shaq's isn't any bigger than Bird's.

But Bird and Magic changed everything--they started the major media fascination and the primetime TV market. The average salaries for players has always gone up because the league has always made more money--but it EXPLODED because of them and television is why.
Dec 18, 2009 1:11pm
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SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:14 PM
Dec 18, 2009 1:14pm
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bo shemmy3337

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Dec 18, 2009 1:16 PM
LTrain23 wrote: IMO, prime is when you have nearly maxed out your potential.. I don't see that yet.

LeBron has gotten ridiculously good from the 3, but still needs to get a better back-to the-basket game...

LeBron should be in his prime by 26.

But, this is just one mans opinion.
Lebron's 3 point % is .368%. I am not seeing the ridiculously good three point shooter.
Dec 18, 2009 1:16pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:19 PM
Bird and Magic essentially MADE the league what it is today--no disrespect to those before them, they had the benefit of the technology but that's how timing works sometimes.

Of course then Jordan took the reigns--but they got the ball rolling while they were still in college.
Dec 18, 2009 1:19pm
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devil1197

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6,220 posts
Dec 18, 2009 1:21 PM
bo shemmy3337 wrote:
LTrain23 wrote: IMO, prime is when you have nearly maxed out your potential.. I don't see that yet.

LeBron has gotten ridiculously good from the 3, but still needs to get a better back-to the-basket game...

LeBron should be in his prime by 26.

But, this is just one mans opinion.
Lebron's 3 point % is .368%. I am not seeing the ridiculously good three point shooter.
For someone like LeBron, that is pretty damn good.

Better than the other elite players like Kobe and Wade who both play SG.
Dec 18, 2009 1:21pm
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bo shemmy3337

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962 posts
Dec 18, 2009 1:40 PM
devil1197 wrote:
bo shemmy3337 wrote:
LTrain23 wrote: IMO, prime is when you have nearly maxed out your potential.. I don't see that yet.

LeBron has gotten ridiculously good from the 3, but still needs to get a better back-to the-basket game...

LeBron should be in his prime by 26.

But, this is just one mans opinion.
Lebron's 3 point % is .368%. I am not seeing the ridiculously good three point shooter.
For someone like LeBron, that is pretty damn good.

Better than the other elite players like Kobe and Wade who both play SG.




What does that mean? SO because he is Lebron his shooting % is great regardless of what it is? I get he is not a true shooting guard but if you are going to make that argument you should agree with me that he needs to get off his high horse and move to the true 4 spot and be the best PF in the game today. No one could stop him down there. The Caves would be the front runners to win the tittle if Lebron would post up more often. Playing the 4 spot the way he does only hurts the team. Having 4 guys up top limits 2end chance opportunity and is a major hole in there offense.
Dec 18, 2009 1:40pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:42 PM
LMAO, LeBron should not move to PF. I won't argue that he should work on his post moves--but he's too good from all over to have any sort of labelled position. It's all situational, no way he should be held back by banging in the post all night.
Dec 18, 2009 1:42pm
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devil1197

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Dec 18, 2009 1:45 PM
He should post up more often, but he should never move to a true 4 until later in his career when his driving ability diminishes.
Dec 18, 2009 1:45pm
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bo shemmy3337

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Dec 18, 2009 1:45 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote: LMAO, LeBron should not move to PF. I won't argue that he should work on his post moves--but he's too good from all over to have any sort of labelled position. It's all situational, no way he should be held back by banging in the post all night.
Big O was not held back. I am not saying he needs to always be down there and never shoot jump shots but when he is playing the 4 spot he tends to have the ball at the top of the key way to much. He is such a rare talent and he should play to his strength and that is he is very powerful.
Dec 18, 2009 1:45pm
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bo shemmy3337

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Dec 18, 2009 1:46 PM
devil1197 wrote: He should post up more often, but he should never move to a true 4 until later in his career when his driving ability diminishes.
See I love his driving ability late in a game and in fast breaks but when everything settles down he needs to be down low more often.
Dec 18, 2009 1:46pm
SQ_Crazies's avatar

SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:47 PM
He's not the Big O. I think it's safe to say that the comparisons can stop now--he's LeBron. There hasn't even been a player quite like him.
Dec 18, 2009 1:47pm
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bo shemmy3337

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Dec 18, 2009 1:48 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote: He's not the Big O. I think it's safe to say that the comparisons can stop now--he's LeBron. There hasn't even been a player quite like him.
Not an comparison just and example. I just think he should play down low a lot more for the teams sake.
Dec 18, 2009 1:48pm
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SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:49 PM
I said I agreed he could do it more often--but that isn't what you said. What you actually said was he should move to the 4--you're acting like he needs to just bury his talents into the post. That has to be a joke.
Dec 18, 2009 1:49pm
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devil1197

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Dec 18, 2009 1:50 PM
And I think you will see that later in the year with Lebron at the 4 unless Cleveland makes a trade.
Dec 18, 2009 1:50pm
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bo shemmy3337

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Dec 18, 2009 1:53 PM
SQ_Crazies wrote: I said I agreed he could do it more often--but that isn't what you said. What you actually said was he should move to the 4--you're acting like he needs to just bury his talents into the post. That has to be a joke.
Everything does not have to end in a smart comment. You can have an argument about Lebron without getting your panties in a bunch. I do think if it is not at the end of the game or a fast break he should be in the post. So 90% of the time I think he should be in the post and that is my opinion.
Dec 18, 2009 1:53pm
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SQ_Crazies

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Dec 18, 2009 1:55 PM
Alright, that's fine you can have that opinion--my opinion is that you're nuts. I don't wear panties, thanks :)

I don't disagree that he should play down on the block sometimes--but 90% of the game? LMAO, that takes away a big part of his game and makes it much easier on defenses.
Dec 18, 2009 1:55pm