SQ_Crazies wrote: 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.

I would agree if it was 3 years ago but the cavs have loaded the team with guards. When Poe comes back they are going to be a much better team. I think there offense should be to try to get him the ball in the post as much as possible. With the rules in the NBA with the defensive 3 seconds and the ring you can not stand it, he would be a beast down low.

I agree, he would be. But 90% of the time is ridiculous. Every single NBA team wishes LeBron would play in the post for 90% of the game.

SQ_Crazies wrote: I agree, he would be. But 90% of the time is ridiculous. Every single NBA team wishes LeBron would play in the post for 90% of the game.

I don't think so because I don't think there is a player in the NBA who can stop him down low. I would also love to see him play at the top of the key too. His first step is so much faster than any other 4 guard in the NBA. So teams would have to put shorter guys on him and he could simply hit 10 to 15 foot jumpers all night.

I am rethinking 90% in the post you are correct that is crazy. What I mean is 90% inside the three point line. Around the key as much as possible. He is just such a force down low and with the NBA's rules about defense in the keys, he is unstoppable.

I'd say he is inside the line 90% of the time. He has to be out on the perimeter--the best part of his game is slashing, and it opens up a lot of the rest of the team. I absolutely do not think that putting in at the 4 and limiting that ability would help anybody but the defense.

SQ_Crazies wrote: I'd say he is inside the line 90% of the time. He has to be out on the perimeter--the best part of his game is slashing, and it opens up a lot of the rest of the team. I absolutely do not think that putting in at the 4 and limiting that ability would help anybody but the defense.

Who would stop him one on one down low? also if he gets double teamed. Kick it out to one of those good guards.

He can drive and kick it out--how often does he get stopped from getting the shot he wants anyways? He's too versatile to bury in the post. There are a number of guys who could check him down low better than anyone can when you don't know where he's going--I'm telling you, defenses would love it. It'd be much easier to limit his productivity that way.

I'll take Lebron James.

SQ: That chart really doesn't tell me anything I don't know. Contracts have gone up throughout the years. So has pretty much everything else in our lives. I don't think Magic and Bird where the reasons for that. I also don't think they started the media craze and TV networks. However, they brought it back, and after a few years took it to new highs. Basketball did pretty good in ratings during the mid 70's. They hit a tough spot for a few years. When Magic and Larry started getting to the finals the ratings picked up once again. I definitely don't think Magic and Bird where the guys that made big contracts the "new thing". If any one man deserved credit before another, it would be MJ. I would also say MJ would deserve credit before anybody for talking the media and tv marketing to a whole new level. With that said, I don't think it falls on any one man's shoulders. Magic once signed a 25yd 25M deal. Jordan banked over 30M a year at one time. Magic and Bird had ratings 13-15 range. MJ took the ratings to 16-18. Like I said, no one man made basketball what it is. It started a long time ago, and with each decade, we've seen improvements of the game. But I would definitely have to say that if I was going to crown a pioneer, it would start and end with MJ.

SQ_Crazies wrote: 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.

Jordan definitely took it to new heights. But they started the craze while they were still in college.

The thing about Shaq is that he was high reward, low risk. He played close to the basket, so could pretty much get his numbers every single came with little letdown.

However, with Lebron you have higher reward, higher risk. He does slash a lot, but he is also kind of streaky with his shot so some games he may hurt the team with his insistence on playing iso late in the game, but he may also blow-up like in the Detroit game or hit crazy shots like against the Magic in the ECF.

So, I will say this: with a bad-to-middle of the road team Lebron will be a better asset because he distributes, makes those around him better, and can take over a game big time. With an upper-level team, you pick Shaq.

^Good post.