2012 Finals !!

[czvo]

This is a toss up as far as I'm concerned. Only thing I know for sure is that Bosh will DESTROY Ibaka if they are matched up against each other. Ibaka really isn't a good man defender.

 

[Rich]

Offensively? It's been close.

Defensively? yeah, no.

And what are we basing this on? Are there SFs who have been killing Durant on defense these playoffs? I haven't seen them yet.

 

[Mdog1]

And what are we basing this on? Are there SFs who have been killing Durant on defense these playoffs? I haven't seen them yet.

Yes the powerhouse SF's of Shawn Marion and Ron Artest. Oh how could I forget the offensive dynamo Steven Jackson! Seriously Durant is untested defensively this playoffs.

 

[gourimoko]

Yes the powerhouse SF's of Shawn Marion and Ron Artest. Oh how could I forget the offensive dynamo Steven Jackson! Seriously Durant is untested defensively this playoffs.

It's pointless Mdog.. Anybody that thinks Durant is equal to LeBron James is out of his fucking mind... We all want OKC to win, but rationalizing Durant being as good as LBJ is nuts. LBJ will dominate this series. It's up to everyone else to compensate.

 

[Mdog1]

It's pointless Mdog.. Anybody that thinks Durant is equal to LeBron James is out of his fucking mind... We all want OKC to win, but rationalizing Durant being as good as LBJ is nuts. LBJ will dominate this series. It's up to everyone else to compensate.

I don't know if LeBron will dominate. He seems to have a rough time in the finals, but at the same time he when he has a marquee matchup he seems to excel.

 

[Typhoon]

Thunder will have to pull a Van Gundy. Let Le6 score all the points and completely shut down the supporting cast. Wade is key here.

 

[gourimoko]

That's completely debatable.

2012 Playoff Statistics

James - 22 shots per game, 31 PPG, .512 FG%, .281 3PT%, .719 FT%, 9.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 3.5 TOPG, 2.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Durant - 18 shots per game, 28 PPG, .505 FG%, .364 3PT%, .870 FT%, 7.9 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.9 TOPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG


Pretty damn close overall, and I think everyone can agree that Durant has played against much better competition thus far. If LeBron is better (and again, that's debatable), it's not by much.

We watched him play for 7 years. He's by far the better player. He can play every position on the floor, is an exceptional ball handler and passer, he can rebound with the best of them, he is hyper-athletic, strong, and tall enough to shoot over most defenders. He's among the fastest players and has one of the highest basketball I.Q.s of any top-level player. To compare him to anybody playing today is absurd...

He could have been the GOAT.

I hate the guy more than probably anybody here, but I've never said he isn't the best - and comparing him to Durant, again, is silly.

 

[gratefuldead]

with bosh back, and if he keeps shooting like he did last night

i have a bad feeling, the king might just get his ring :-(

i dont know if KD and crew are ready yet....they have to defend home court at ALL costs

and brooks has to really out coach spoelstra

 

[Mdog1]

Here's a fairly interesting thought The Heat could play a 4 wing line up against the Thunder with LeBron at the C to guard Perkins. Perkins isn't going to light you up no matter who is on him, so a line up of Wade/Miller/Battier/Bosh/LeBron against Westbrook/Thabo or Harden/Durant/Ibaka/Perkins is completely possible, and may be their best chance to light the Thunder up fr some quick fast break points.

 

[MDLT]

We watched him play for 7 years. He's by far the better player. He can play every position on the floor, is an exceptional ball handler and passer, he can rebound with the best of them, he is hyper-athletic, strong, and tall enough to shoot over most defenders. He's among the fastest players and has one of the highest basketball I.Q.s of any top-level player. To compare him to anybody playing today is absurd...

He could have been the GOAT.

I hate the guy more than probably anybody here, but I've never said he isn't the best - and comparing him to Durant, again, is silly.

Then why won't he? The truth is ultimately James had letdowns in the last two playoffs in the 2010 Boston series and the 2011 Finals series. We're about to find out who is the best all-around player between KD and James - and part of that is coming through when everything is on the line.

 

[gourimoko]

Then why isn't he? The truth is ultimately James had letdowns in the last two playoffs in the 2010 Boston series and the 2011 Finals series. We're about to find out who is the best all-around player between KD and James - and part of that is coming through when everything is on the line.

You're right, that is a knock on him. This finals won't make him the GOAT because to me he surrendered any and all chances of that happening when joined up with the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. You can't be the best when you're not challenged, and personally I've never felt the Heat weren't the overt favorites in any match-up; including this upcoming series against the Thunder.

But my point is entirely this: LBJ is not only the best player in the league, he's the best player in a generation. He's the best player since Jordan, and it's not close. The comparisons to Kobe, when LBJ was a Cav, were silly. And now those same styled comparisons to Durant, are equally silly.

 

[metalman213]

You're right, that is a knock on him. This finals won't make him the GOAT because to me he surrendered any and all chances of that happening when joined up with the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. You can't be the best when you're not challenged, and personally I've never felt the Heat weren't the overt favorites in any match-up; including this upcoming series against the Thunder.

But my point is entirely this: LBJ is not only the best player in the league, he's the best player in a generation. He's the best player since Jordan, and it's not close. The comparisons to Kobe, when LBJ was a Cav, were silly. And now those same styled comparisons to Durant, are equally silly.

We'll see. Durant just helped his thunder beat the defending champs, the champs before them, and the champs before the champs before them. Durant lit it up on the offensive end, rebounded the ball well, and shut down kobe during some key stretches. You are severely underestimating durant. You are severely overestimating finals lebron.

 

[Mdog1]

Then why won't he? The truth is ultimately James had letdowns in the last two playoffs in the 2010 Boston series and the 2011 Finals series. We're about to find out who is the best all-around player between KD and James - and part of that is coming through when everything is on the line.

This series doesn't make Durant a better player than LeBron. This series doesn't make LeBron better than Durant either. This series either makes the Heat better than the Thunder, or the Thunder better than the Heat. LeBron will always be better than Durant, unless he loses an arm.

 

[metalman213]

This series doesn't make Durant a better player than LeBron. This series doesn't make LeBron better than Durant either. This series either makes the Heat better than the Thunder, or the Thunder better than the Heat. LeBron will always be better than Durant, unless he loses an arm.

Its silly to think 23 year old kevin durant cannot improve his game. To think we are even comparing 23 year old durant to the current version of lebron speaks volumes about durant. He's getting better too, especially on the defensive end. He has the potential to be better than lebron.

 

[melecoaze]

It's pointless Mdog.. Anybody that thinks Durant is equal to LeBron James is out of his fucking mind... We all want OKC to win, but rationalizing Durant being as good as LBJ is nuts. LBJ will dominate this series. It's up to everyone else to compensate.

Just like he dominated Shawn Marion and the Mavs last year? Oh yeah.