Is it possible we are watching the best to ever do it in Lebron James ?

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by e-monk

I dont get this one?

I'm referring to his special place as a place that doesn't have two 7 footers guarding the paint, like there was in the series against Dallas.

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by XxIrvingxX

I'm referring to his special place as a place that doesn't have two 7 footers guarding the paint, like there was in the series against Dallas.

oh, I see - well, sure...? are you counting Dirk or Alexis Ajinca as the 2nd one? Brendan Haywood probably?

In all seriousness I would think Ibaka (I know, I know, only 6'10") would have been a similar deterrent seeing as he almost literally had more blocks in 66 games last season than the Mavs entire team did in 82 the season previous

[XxIrvingxX]

Originally Posted by e-monk

oh, I see - well, sure...? are you counting Dirk or Alexis Ajinca as the 2nd one? Brendan Haywood probably?

In all seriousness I would think Ibaka (I know, I know, only 6'10") would have been a similar deterrent seeing as he almost literally had more blocks in 66 games last season than the Mavs entire team did in 82 the season previous

Well Dirk is 7 feet tall...both him and Tyson Chanlder (who's 7 ft 2) were in the starting line up so yes I'm referring to him.

And yea sure Ibaka did have a lot of blocks but the thunder's defense was a lot different than the Mavs defense, and the Ibaka/Perkins combo isn't nearly as effective as the Dirk/Chandler combo.

[Luke]

When exactly did Dirk become a factor defensively?

[kbdullah]

Dirk doesn't really protect the rim, but the fact that you have to guard against him makes it more difficult for the Heat to go small, which was key to the Heat's championship run this past year.

[e-monk]

I think the keys to the Mavs title run were two fold - 1) Dirk played out of his mind and the whole team was nailing treys timely 2) Lebron turned Lebron into a jumpshooter

and although as Cuban so enjoyably schooled Skip Bayless this spring the Mavs schemes may have had a little something to do with that I dont remember anyone's schemes slowing down Mike, no matter what how or who (unless you count curve balls)

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by XxIrvingxX

Well Dirk is 7 feet tall...both him and Tyson Chanlder (who's 7 ft 2) were in the starting line up so yes I'm referring to him.

And yea sure Ibaka did have a lot of blocks but the thunder's defense was a lot different than the Mavs defense, and the Ibaka/Perkins combo isn't nearly as effective as the Dirk/Chandler combo.

I'm looking at the boxscores for the thunder heat finals and really scratching my head at the rotations Brooks was putting on the floor - there were games where Fisher was getting more minutes than either Perkins or Ibaka

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by e-monk

I'm looking at the boxscores for the thunder heat finals and really scratching my head at the rotations Brooks was putting on the floor - there were games where Fisher was getting more minutes than either Perkins or Ibaka

Ibaka was off the floor for long stretches. I honestly don't understand why. He never looked bad out there to me, but he was always getting pulled.

Collison had a huge spark plug type role that he played extremely well, but it was a real head scratcher keep Ibaka on the pine so often.

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by e-monk

I think the keys to the Mavs title run were two fold - 1) Dirk played out of his mind and the whole team was nailing treys timely 2) Lebron turned Lebron into a jumpshooter

and although as Cuban so enjoyably schooled Skip Bayless this spring the Mavs schemes may have had a little something to do with that I dont remember anyone's schemes slowing down Mike, no matter what how or who (unless you count curve balls)

I don't agree. You can slow down anyone if you plan your scheme around them.

Problem with doing that against Bron or Jordan was there's other guys to pick up the slack if you do so. Wade and Pip are both title winners on their own. Doubling James or Jordan leave sketchy coverage for Wade and Pip, which makes it a tough gamble.

[e-monk]

Originally Posted by R-Star

I don't agree. You can slow down anyone if you plan your scheme around them.

Problem with doing that against Bron or Jordan was there's other guys to pick up the slack if you do so. Wade and Pip are both title winners on their own. Doubling James or Jordan leave sketchy coverage for Wade and Pip, which makes it a tough gamble.

I think I'd take my chances with Wade these days then

[R-Star]

Originally Posted by e-monk

I think I'd take my chances with Wade these days then

With Wade these days? For sure. He's a joke compared to the Wade that was in the Finals with Lebron against the Mavs.


Until further notice, Wade is a shell of his former self. But against the Mavs he was just as effective as Bron. If not more so. Making for very tricky defensive coverage if you ever try to double one of them.

[e-monk]

we're still talking about the differences between the way the Mavs successfully dealt with Lebron and the Thunder less so right?

[23AJ]

To answer the original poster. Not even remotely.

[doctordrizzay]

It's true he right now is the best to ever do it. Already the best all around player of all-time a few years ago. Now he is likely going to be the best player of all-time.

[23AJ]

Originally Posted by doctordrizzay

It's true he right now is the best to ever do it. Already the best all around player of all-time a few years ago. Now he is likely going to be the best player of all-time.

The guy isn't even top ten yet. He's a top 20 player right now, and might one day crack the top five. That's pretty much where it will shake out for better or worse.