NBA Bubble Thread
- Thread starter JimboBBN
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You seriously underestimate playoff Lebron. Dame was cooking when they were already in do or die playoff mode, while the rest of the league was easing themselves in and working out the kinks.
Dame has consistently had brilliant games...and consistently been unable to lead his team to deep playoff runs.
He’s 35 lol don’t act like this is normal for him to be doing this at this age. He’s one of the best ever and still producing at a high rate. Hope we get the All LA WCF
Who said anything about normal? Being one of the two best players in the history of the game isn’t normal. Yes, Lebron is a freak of nature. All the more reason not to pick him to lose in the first round to a sub-.500 8 seed.
We are talking about a guy who’s never lost a first round series. Ever.
Because Luka does far more than Dame. He’s an elite rebounder. He’s an elite playmaker. He’s a bully in the paint. He’s just a better overall player than Dame.
Steph is the greatest shooter in the history of basketball. His shooting is FAR superior to Dame’s.
Luka impacts the game in a lot more ways than just scoring.
Y’all seriously can’t see the difference between someone like Dame and someone like Luka? Come on now.
oh I mentioned I don’t disagree that both are better players, just wouldn’t say it’s bc their d is better than dames.
Okay...but no one said it was because their D was better. I’m confused.
I said Steph is better because he’s on a totally different level shooting wise.
Doncic just isn’t the same type of player. He averages nearly a triple double.
Love what I see from JJJ (watched every Memphis game this year except maybe 5), but I wouldn't give him credit for "good to great defense". If anything, he's been less of a defender as he was advertised coming out of college. Can't guard in the paint at all. Doesn't rebound and is in foul trouble a lot.
I've said since college that his best spot in the NBA is the 3, not the 5. I still believe that and his offensive perimeter game and lack of interior defense is making a case for that as well.
Well, its not that impressive considering how awful the east has been the last 15 years. I don't think you can blame anyone for thinking a 35 year old in year 17 might take a few steps back.
East has been abysmal for some time. Has always lacked depth. And LeBron missed the playoffs the first two years of his career, too.
It's an impressive run. Yet, he's missed the playoffs 3 times. Had he been in the West the whole time, things would have played out much differently.
In 2007, 2015, and 2017, Cleveland was a 2 seed. Had they been in the West with the same record for those respective seasons, they would have been a 6-seed. Cleveland was swept by the Spurs in 2007; had they been the 6 seed in the West in 2007, they would have faced San Antonio in the 1st Round. In 2008, Cleveland was a 4 seed in the East. In the West, they would have missed the playoffs by 5 games.
LeBron has never faced a team in the playoffs that has won more than 44 games. In the 13 years that LeBron played in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, only three times has the 8-seed from the West won fewer than 44 games. In 2008 and 2010, the 8-seed in the West won 50+ games. This isn't even considering the fact that if he played in the West, LBJ would be playing 52 games against Western Conference opponents, instead of the typical 30. That would almost assuredly alter the numbers in the win and loss columns. He's an impressive athlete - and probably the second greatest basketball player of all-time. But, he's had an absolute cakewalk in the 1st Round.
Facts. And I also believe he's number two all time. His playoff stats are definitely inflated due to competition. I guess that counter point to that would be, if he was in the West, he would be 3 - 0 in title series.
lol yeah. 3-0 in the NBA Finals, instead of 3-6. A possible counter to that, however, is you have to beat multiple really quality teams in the West to advance to the Finals. So while they beat Golden State in 2016, they very easily could have lost to San Antonio or Oklahoma City, before even advancing to the WCF. Regardless of all the what-ifs, he's had an impressive run.
Stoked about the Clipps-Mavs game tonight. PG needs to get his head out of his ass for the clippers to win. Never would’ve thought Dallas could win this series.
Utah-Denver game intriguing also. If Donovan goes off and gets some help, the Jazz take it in 5 (which is wild because I had Denver wining the series) I think Denver could win though. It’s a toss up imo.
Utah-Denver game intriguing also. If Donovan goes off and gets some help, the Jazz take it in 5 (which is wild because I had Denver wining the series) I think Denver could win though. It’s a toss up imo.
Kristaps out tonight. Gonna take another heroic effort from Luka for the Mavs to win. I don’t expect the Clippers to let off the gas tonight, though.
out again? WTF! Is it the same knee he hurt? Not a good sign if 2 years later he can't play in playoff games.
I said for a guy like him to be top 5, he’d have to be an ELITE shooter because he’s an average defender (and obviously doesn’t bring much to rebounding). That’s why Steph can be top 5 even though Steph is also an average defender, because Steph is the best shooter the game has ever seen.
Dame isn’t the shooter Steph is, no where near. So he can’t be top 5. He’s not good enough in other areas to be top 5 overall while only being a very good, not elite shooter. This is why you see Portland consistently losing early in the playoffs.
Luka is in another conversation completely. He’s not a diminutive guard who’s best asset is shooting. He’s a point forward who, while yes he is an average defender, is a ridiculous rebounder and playmaker.
A normal 35 year old I would agree. But Lebron spends obscene amounts of time and money taking care of his body. This dude averaged 25/8/10 this season. And that’s on like 34 minutes a game.
Then he comes out in game one and becomes the first person in NBA playoff history to have 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 15+ assists in a game. And folks are questioning whether he is falling off?
Pro tip—if Charles Barkley makes a prediction, go the opposite direction.
“Never faced a team in the playoffs that has won more than 44 games.”
^^Not sure if you misspoke, but that’s categorically false.
How many other guys in the East during that time didn’t lose in the first round? I’m not saying he’s the greatest ever. I’m not saying it’s some untouchable stat. All I’ve been saying for the last 3-4 weeks is that Portland (or any other 8 seed) ain’t gonna beat the Lakers.
Lebron is 3-6 in the Finals because he dragged awful teams to the Finals. It would be like Dame finding a way to drag this Portland team to the Finals and then losing to the Bucks. Just getting to the Finals would be the incredible accomplishment.
The Heat losing to the Mavs will forever be a giant black stain on his resume. It was a true choke job. But other than that, he shouldn’t be punished for single handily carrying Boobie Gibson and Delonte West to the Finals.
If Beverly remains out for the Clippers, Donovan Mitchell has to be licking his chops at the prospect of trying to be defended by Lou Williams or Reggie Jackson. Mmm mmm mmm. He’ll put up 60.
Ha, agree on the last part for sure. But you do realize at some point, he will slow down, right? Father Time is undefeated, and at some point, LeBron will no longer be LeBron. I’m not calling someone crazy if they thought it would be this year and show a little.
I was exclusively referencing the 1st Round match-ups. He's been playing a Gonzaga-type schedule in the opening round. Doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the hype. Just noting that no player in the West could ever go 13 consecutive years playing a team with 44 wins or fewer on the season. Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and everyone else has lost in the 1st Round in the West, mostly because the competition is infinitely better.
The only completely underwhelming roster was the '07 Cleveland squad. His 50-point performance against Detroit was impressive. And yes, LeBron put the team on his back. I'd say being in the East was a bigger factor to advancing to the finals, however, as I don't think they would have made it to the Western Conference Finals... they would have lost in the 1st round to San Antonio if they were in the West in '07. Some of the Cleveland squads had injuries, but they still was Kyrie and Kevin Love. Miami, of course, had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
You ain’t lying. He’d dominate both off the dribble imo. The Clipps need to win this game tonight. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Mavs-Jazz game though...that is if Denver doesn’t come back guns a blazin.
I could see Lebron slow down at 39-40. But the dude is a different specimen. He’s not gonna stop until he gets another ship or two.
I'm not a fan of his at all but I do think it would be kina neat to see him and his son play against each other in the NBA
I wonder where Bronny is going to college? You think he’ll opt out or do G league maybe, or the rule might change by then?
Absolutely at some point he will slow down. I actually passed on him in my fantasy draft this year because I thought this was the year he slowed down.
But a season’s worth of games told my i was wrong. And the lay-off with Covid only helped.
Maybe next season.
Of course. That’s why I never understand the MJ nut huggers who constantly yell “6-0, 6-0!”
If MJ was in the West, his Finals record would have been something like 6-4. He might have made the Finals in the late 80s but still would have lost to the Bad Boys.
If Lebron was in the West he would have made fewer Finals but he would have been undefeated in them. So maybe 3-0? Or 4-0?
The Finals records are a reflection of their conferences. MJ faced his toughest comp in the Eastern Con playoffs which is why he had so many early round exits. LBJ faced his toughest comp in the Finals which is why he’s 3-6.
He'll go to Duke for sure if he goes. Lebron is a massive Coach K fan.
I could see that. I don’t see Bronny getting as tall and big as Bron. I feel like Bryce looks more like his dad and has more of his frame. I still say Bronny ends up prob 6’5 or so.
Isn’t it insane that the West has been better than the East as a conference basically since Jordan’s Bulls. And it doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon with the Nuggets looking primed for a nice future with Jokic and Murray under 25 as well as Big time talents in bol bol and Porter Jr, as well as Utah with Mitchell and Dallas with Luka and Porzingas.
It’s pretty amazing that the West has been the better conference basically for an entire generation. Sure the Lebron/wade/bosh Miami teams were great teams but the West was still the better conf imo.
what does this come down to? Luck? Drafting ability. The fact that the worst teams in the west get throttled by the best teams and usually have worse records than the worst teams in the East? Pretty mind boggling.
Im on the same page. I never thought Dame was a top 5 player or anything, top 5 pg maybe.
I was just noting the irony that whoever it was called out his defense as to why he isn’t a top 5 player, but then immediately mentioned Luka and Steph. But again I realize both are much better players than Dame and it’s really not even close.
Yea Utah blew that 16 pt lead in the third letting the Nuggets starters run raw through Utah’s second unit. Might be a mistake that cost them the series, bc they controlled 75% of that game only to choke it away.
And Murray was unbelievable again. Nuggets are gonna be a force for a long time if they can keep their core together. Their window isn’t now but it’s in the near future imo.
And Murray was unbelievable again. Nuggets are gonna be a force for a long time if they can keep their core together. Their window isn’t now but it’s in the near future imo.
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