4/15 - Bulls (41-40) vs. Toronto (32-49) - 7 pm, CSN

[UMFan83]

i'm not all that infatuated with lebron. he's the best player in the east, but is he a player that you want taking the shot at the end of a game?

 

Why not?

 

he's not a jump shooter. he'll overwhelm you with physicality, but i don't think he has even as many game winning shots as ben gordon does.

 

anybody else think he looked bad during the olympics?

 

They did a study on it recently. LeBron leads the league in GW shots over the last 3 years.

 

LeBron can beat you in so many ways, I can't see why you'd think you wouldn't want him taking that shot. He's a 49% shooter this year, and obviously a lot of that is because he goes to the basket a lot, but that's still an impressive shooting % for a guard

[Hairyducked Idiot]

In the last five minutes of games or in OT and the game within five points either way, James leads the league with the equivalent of 55.5 points per game

 

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

[Tyrant]

In the last five minutes of games or in OT and the game within five points either way, James leads the league with the equivalent of 55.5 points per game

 

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

 

What you said and what UMFan said.

 

After Jordan retired, I was sure he'd be the best basketball player I ever saw. Now I'm not so sure. As a huge MJ fan, that's hard for me to admit.

[sneakypower]

In the last five minutes of games or in OT and the game within five points either way, James leads the league with the equivalent of 55.5 points per game

 

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

and looking at that table, it appears he's leading the league with the worst TO%, an ungodly 7.7 TO/g equivalent

 

Carmelo really jumps out at you, i didn't realize he was so efficient in that spot

[Magnetic Curses]

In the last five minutes of games or in OT and the game within five points either way, James leads the league with the equivalent of 55.5 points per game

 

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

and looking at that table, it appears he's leading the league with the worst TO%, an ungodly 7.7 TO/g equivalent

 

Carmelo really jumps out at you, i didn't realize he was so efficient in that spot

 

quite frankly, i'd rather have melo taking the shot.

[wolf stansson]

After Jordan retired, I was sure he'd be the best basketball player I ever saw. Now I'm not so sure. As a huge MJ fan, that's hard for me to admit.

Me too. TT knows how much of a Jordan homer I am. I don't know if he'll win 6, but he is good good good good good good great.

[illiniguy]

After Jordan retired, I was sure he'd be the best basketball player I ever saw. Now I'm not so sure. As a huge MJ fan, that's hard for me to admit.

Me too. TT knows how much of a Jordan homer I am. I don't know if he'll win 6, but he is good good good good good good great.

He won't win 6 because there is another guy in his talent level in the league at the same time. Kobe is pretty much right there as well. Jordan never had anyone in his stratosphere when he was playing.

[Garwilly]

After Jordan retired, I was sure he'd be the best basketball player I ever saw. Now I'm not so sure. As a huge MJ fan, that's hard for me to admit.

Me too. TT knows how much of a Jordan homer I am. I don't know if he'll win 6, but he is good good good good good good great.

He won't win 6 because there is another guy in his talent level in the league at the same time. Kobe is pretty much right there as well. Jordan never had anyone in his stratosphere when he was playing.

 

They are in different conferecnes. How many times will the James title train run into Kobe in the finals? Once? Twice?

[imb]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

[Guest]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

Exactly.

[Magnetic Curses]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

jordan generally took the shot and, more times than not, made it. you knew he was going to take the shot and there was nothing you could do about it. i remember him passing to wennington at the end of the knick game in 95 and pax in the finals in 93, but jordan was taking the shot because he was generally the only one he trusted with taking it.

[illiniguy]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

jordan generally took the shot and, more times than not, made it. you knew he was going to take the shot and there was nothing you could do about it. i remember him passing to wennington at the end of the knick game in 95 and pax in the finals in 93, but jordan was taking the shot because he was generally the only one he trusted with taking it.

Steve Kerr as well, but your point remains. Jordan was going to get a good shot.

 

Me though, I would go with Kobe. He is like Jordan in that you know he's shooting and he usually gets a pretty good look.

[illiniguy]

After Jordan retired, I was sure he'd be the best basketball player I ever saw. Now I'm not so sure. As a huge MJ fan, that's hard for me to admit.

Me too. TT knows how much of a Jordan homer I am. I don't know if he'll win 6, but he is good good good good good good great.

He won't win 6 because there is another guy in his talent level in the league at the same time. Kobe is pretty much right there as well. Jordan never had anyone in his stratosphere when he was playing.

 

They are in different conferecnes. How many times will the James title train run into Kobe in the finals? Once? Twice?

True.

[imb]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

jordan generally took the shot and, more times than not, made it. you knew he was going to take the shot and there was nothing you could do about it. i remember him passing to wennington at the end of the knick game in 95 and pax in the finals in 93, but jordan was taking the shot because he was generally the only one he trusted with taking it.

 

that's not what i'm talking about though. Defenses had to account for the fact that not only was jordan the best player in the league, but that he would dish it off if he had to. Same with LeBron. Maybe you want to zone at the end of a game and take the paint away, but as a coach are you really going to commit 3 guys into the lane when LeBron will just dribble to the free throw line and toss it out to an open shooter?

 

Carmelo's a deadly shooter, but if he has the ball, you really dont think "ok, watch out for the drive and dish here". You can sell out to just make sure a guy is in his face. With Lebron you can't do that.

[Magnetic Curses]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

jordan generally took the shot and, more times than not, made it. you knew he was going to take the shot and there was nothing you could do about it. i remember him passing to wennington at the end of the knick game in 95 and pax in the finals in 93, but jordan was taking the shot because he was generally the only one he trusted with taking it.

Steve Kerr as well, but your point remains. Jordan was going to get a good shot.

 

Me though, I would go with Kobe. He is like Jordan in that you know he's shooting and he usually gets a pretty good look.

 

kobe all day, no question in my mind.

[Magnetic Curses]

why does it have to be "who do you want taking a shot at the end" question? who would you rather have the ball in their hands at the end of a game, carmelo (or whoever else) or Lebron? ill take LeBron. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can get to the rim unlike anyone else in the league, and if the other team loads up in the paint, he's not afraid to make a pass to someone who will shoot. that's something that made jordan so dangerous at the end of a game.

 

jordan generally took the shot and, more times than not, made it. you knew he was going to take the shot and there was nothing you could do about it. i remember him passing to wennington at the end of the knick game in 95 and pax in the finals in 93, but jordan was taking the shot because he was generally the only one he trusted with taking it.

 

that's not what i'm talking about though. Defenses had to account for the fact that not only was jordan the best player in the league, but that he would dish it off if he had to. Same with LeBron. Maybe you want to zone at the end of a game and take the paint away, but as a coach are you really going to commit 3 guys into the lane when LeBron will just dribble to the free throw line and toss it out to an open shooter?

 

Carmelo's a deadly shooter, but if he has the ball, you really dont think "ok, watch out for the drive and dish here". You can sell out to just make sure a guy is in his face. With Lebron you can't do that.

 

you could say the exact same thing about chris paul, though, or rose.

 

i totally understand your point. lebron is good at getting open looks for his teammates, but i honestly want a guy who is a bigger danger to drain one off the dribble after pulling up from about 17-18 feet.

[SpongeWorthy]

Grant was the one who kicked it out to Pax for the shot that buried Phoenix. I believe all 5 guys on the floor touched the ball on that possession and MJ was the first.

[Magnetic Curses]

Grant was the one who kicked it out to Pax for the shot that buried Phoenix. I believe all 5 guys on the floor touched the ball on that possession and MJ was the first.

 

i was thinking of kerr, then. i remember jordan feeding pax time after time in game 5 of the 91 finals, though. maybe that's what i was remembering.

[wolf stansson]

LeBron is the answer to every question that starts with "Who's hands do you want the ball in if..."

[jersey cubs fan]

LeBron is the answer to every question that starts with "Who's hands do you want the ball in if..."

 

if....it's your ball? I don't think so.

[Magnetic Curses]

LeBron is the answer to every question that starts with "Who's hands do you want the ball in if..."

 

kobe.

[CubbieGager]

Honestly, if I had to take one player to take a game winner, I'll take Kevin Durant. He has unbelievable shot making ability, and generally has a mismatch regardless of who's guarding him at any time. I truly think we're witnessing something truly special with him. There has never been anybody at his size with the offensive diversity that he has. I really believe he will play the Bird to LeBron's Magic. No offense to all the Kobe fans, but he's already played, what, 1000-1100 NBA games? How long do you think he'll be able to maintain the ability to play the game at his current level offensively and defensively? In comparison, Jordan hadn't played that many games til somewhere around Title #6.

[RynoRules]

Grant was the one who kicked it out to Pax for the shot that buried Phoenix. I believe all 5 guys on the floor touched the ball on that possession and MJ was the first.

 

i was thinking of kerr, then. i remember jordan feeding pax time after time in game 5 of the 91 finals, though. maybe that's what i was remembering.

 

That is correct. Jordan fed Pax all through the last two games of the 91' Finals.

 

The Game 6 shot by Pax in 1993 was off a feed from Grant, who was open under the basket but had been brutal offensively during that game. IIRC, Pippen found Grant, and Grant turned and hit Pax.

[17 Seconds]

well that 11 point lead disappeared quickly

[Guest]

Grant was the one who kicked it out to Pax for the shot that buried Phoenix. I believe all 5 guys on the floor touched the ball on that possession and MJ was the first.

 

You counting MJ on the inbound? Otherwise BJ Armstrong was the first to touch the ball.

 

My favorite part of that is BJ Armstrong falling backwards as Paxson releases (in celebration). Way to not be prepared if Pax missed.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIi0CTMrHEY