I dont know enough about all the players to state it definitively, so you tell me. If I leave him out, write it in.
Who is the best player in the NBA today.
- Thread starter saltybulldog
- Start date
Because I'd rather have him on my team than the other two, but the numbers aren't really in his favor..
Kobe
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> RPG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> 3P%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>28.1</td> <td> 4.9</td> <td> 5.5</td> <td> 1.3</td> <td> .339</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Lebron
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> RPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> FG%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>28.5</td> <td> 7.4</td> <td> 7.0</td> <td> 1.7</td> <td> .492</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
CP
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> 3P%</td> <td> FT%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>21.4</td> <td> 11.1</td> <td> 2.7</td> <td> .357</td> <td> .852</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Kobe
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> RPG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> 3P%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>28.1</td> <td> 4.9</td> <td> 5.5</td> <td> 1.3</td> <td> .339</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
Lebron
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> RPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> FG%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>28.5</td> <td> 7.4</td> <td> 7.0</td> <td> 1.7</td> <td> .492</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
CP
<table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="statsheader center"> <td>PPG</td> <td> APG</td> <td> SPG</td> <td> 3P%</td> <td> FT%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="statics" style="MARGIN: 0px"> <tbody> <tr class="stats center "> <td>21.4</td> <td> 11.1</td> <td> 2.7</td> <td> .357</td> <td> .852</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
How would you guard them? Almost any college team would have to double up every single one of those players.
Now, if you were able to get a trio of the best college coaches and were able to get a starting 5 of any players in the country, they might could keep it respectable.
There would be a ridiculous lot of scoring in that game though.
Now, if you were able to get a trio of the best college coaches and were able to get a starting 5 of any players in the country, they might could keep it respectable.
There would be a ridiculous lot of scoring in that game though.
And his ability to get to the FT line, which is yet again indicative of his ability to get to the basket, not his true shooting ability. Add that to the fact that there's not really another good offensive threat on the Heat...and you get the NBA scoring leader.
LeBron and Kobe, on the other hand, are better shooters and have the same ability to drive to the basket. But, they also have a better surrounding cast, which means better scorers around them as well.
LeBron and Kobe, on the other hand, are better shooters and have the same ability to drive to the basket. But, they also have a better surrounding cast, which means better scorers around them as well.
I'll take 49% from the field for my SG every day of every week (higher than Kobe has ever achieved, despite being a supposedly superior shooter). I thought the object was to put the ball in the hole. Lebron isn't a great jumpshooter either (although his 3pt% has been creeping up lately), but why take jumpshots if you can get into the paint no matter who is guarding you? Plus the Cavs have a bunch of really good shooters at every position except PF (Wallace and Varajao).. even Ilgauskas has 3-point range.
If I'm starting an NBA team today and could pick anyone, my order would be:
Paul
LeBron
Kobe
Howard
Wade
Without Paul, the Hornets are a sub-500 club. I expect the MVP will go to James this year.
Paul
LeBron
Kobe
Howard
Wade
Without Paul, the Hornets are a sub-500 club. I expect the MVP will go to James this year.
and he has been solid. On the other hand my next to last pick was Devin Harris and he has been every bit as solid as CP3
You obviously missed that part.
Part of being the best would mean you are the most well-rounded, as well. That includes the jumpshot, which, unfortunately, is an almost foreign concept to too many HS and college players these days.
And, on LeBron's 3pt shooting...his 3pt shooting avg, over his first 5 seasons, is better than this list of players in their first 5 seasons:
Larry Bird, Jordan, Magic, Melo, Wade, and Kobe. Everybody talks **** about his 3pt ability, but over his first five seasons, he shot better than three of the purest shooters to ever play the game. If you don't believe me, look it up.
LeBron is the best player in the game, hands down, its not even close. He can get to the rim and finish on anybody in the game, he can jump over you to create a shot, he can post you up, and he can drain the 3. He can play the point, off guard, and either forward position. He's also one of the most underrated defenders in the league, and a good rebounder. He can easily guard 3 positions, and arguably 4 or 5 (obviously couldn't guard Yao or Shaq at the C position, but he could guard some C).
Its not even close. Barring injury, he will be the greatest player (stats wise) this game has ever seen. He won't win the championships that Jordan, Kareem, or Russell won, but he'll be the best.
Part of being the best would mean you are the most well-rounded, as well. That includes the jumpshot, which, unfortunately, is an almost foreign concept to too many HS and college players these days.
And, on LeBron's 3pt shooting...his 3pt shooting avg, over his first 5 seasons, is better than this list of players in their first 5 seasons:
Larry Bird, Jordan, Magic, Melo, Wade, and Kobe. Everybody talks **** about his 3pt ability, but over his first five seasons, he shot better than three of the purest shooters to ever play the game. If you don't believe me, look it up.
LeBron is the best player in the game, hands down, its not even close. He can get to the rim and finish on anybody in the game, he can jump over you to create a shot, he can post you up, and he can drain the 3. He can play the point, off guard, and either forward position. He's also one of the most underrated defenders in the league, and a good rebounder. He can easily guard 3 positions, and arguably 4 or 5 (obviously couldn't guard Yao or Shaq at the C position, but he could guard some C).
Its not even close. Barring injury, he will be the greatest player (stats wise) this game has ever seen. He won't win the championships that Jordan, Kareem, or Russell won, but he'll be the best.
Lebron makes more impact plays on defense with big blocks and steaks but Kobe is a better on-ball defender when he decides to be. Kobe gambles too much and puts his bigs in bad position and sometimes he loses concentration on defense. He gets by on reputation now but he's definitely not the best defender in the league as some would have you believe.
I'm with you.. I'll go to war with Lebron every day of the week. He's not just an athletic freak but he understands the game. When you listen to him talk in interviews about the game, he understands everything that's going on all the time at all 5 positions. I heard he was trying to get DWade to sign with the same team when they're free agents in 2010. If that happens, forget about it. They might win as many rings as Jordan. Lebron probably won't hit his prime for another 3 years or so. It's gonna be scary.
As for Kobe and DWade, you can throw them in a hat pretty much. DWade is a little more willing to buy into the team concept, even with lesser players and I like that. Plus he still shoots a high percentage from the field (sorry Hubie). When Kobe plays with less talented guys, he becomes a chucker.
As for Kobe and DWade, you can throw them in a hat pretty much. DWade is a little more willing to buy into the team concept, even with lesser players and I like that. Plus he still shoots a high percentage from the field (sorry Hubie). When Kobe plays with less talented guys, he becomes a chucker.
Kobe is widely thought of in the NBA as one of if not the best one-on-one defender in the league. The thing with his defense though is that he can't exert himself as much on the defensive end because his team relies on his offense so much so he has to conserve some of his energy, but he always switches to the other team's best player towards the end of the game and in key situations and goes full out. If you don't think he is one of the best defenders and a better defender than LeBron pull out some tapes of Team USA this summer when his team didn't need him to contribute on offense as much and he could devote himself to defense. He was Team USA's lockdown defender and always took the best player on the other team.
As to the debate of who is better, I think it is extremely close, but I give the slight edge to Kobe. My reasoning is because Kobe is a more complete player and is slightly better when it comes to the "killer instinct." LeBron is probably better than Kobe at what he does well, but Kobe has the most complete game in the NBA bar none. LeBron still needs to improve his jump shooting to develop his complete all-around game. As far as the "killer instinct" goes, the reason I say that about LeBron is because his unselfishness and passing ability is one of the things that makes him so great and fun to watch, but I think at the end of games, he needs to be more selfish and not pass up crutial shots like he does occasionally. He has gotten better at this, but he's still not on Kobe's level yet. When its all said and done, I think LeBron and Kobe end up in the top 5 of best all-time players in the NBA, but I don't think either will ever overtake MJ just because the 6 titles seperate him.
As to the debate of who is better, I think it is extremely close, but I give the slight edge to Kobe. My reasoning is because Kobe is a more complete player and is slightly better when it comes to the "killer instinct." LeBron is probably better than Kobe at what he does well, but Kobe has the most complete game in the NBA bar none. LeBron still needs to improve his jump shooting to develop his complete all-around game. As far as the "killer instinct" goes, the reason I say that about LeBron is because his unselfishness and passing ability is one of the things that makes him so great and fun to watch, but I think at the end of games, he needs to be more selfish and not pass up crutial shots like he does occasionally. He has gotten better at this, but he's still not on Kobe's level yet. When its all said and done, I think LeBron and Kobe end up in the top 5 of best all-time players in the NBA, but I don't think either will ever overtake MJ just because the 6 titles seperate him.