it’s interesting to wonder how LeBron’s game would have advanced had he stayed in Cleveland, whether he would still be winning scoring titles by being his team’s only offensive threat, or if he would have seen the all around improvement in his game we’ve witnessed over the years

The Lakers with Chris Paul would have had a monster lineup in terms of personnel. However, would it have worked? Questionable, seeing Kobe and Paul’s need to have the ball in their hands. Would Kobe have let CP3 run the team? Doubtful, seeing as he takes Nash off the ball a lot.
Also, in reply to an earlier comment by someone, I believe Chris Paul to be an overrated defender, at least in a one on one sense. Sure he gets steals, and he’s good at organising a team’s defense. But steals can be misleading; steals don’t equate to a good defender, as they are often the result of irresponsible gambles on defense that can expose the team. Paul is often too small to prevent his man from scoring one on one, though not through lack of effort like some people. He plays his ass off every night.

Ah okay, I didn’t get to follow Jordan’s career so I wasn’t aware of all the rule changes that affected him. Thanks for clarifying.

Yeah, MJ v Kobe isn’t a debate. MJ wins, hands down. Kobe really doesn’t compare.

Malone is hurt historically because he never won a ring and he had a few memorable moments where he shrunk in the clutch. Also, he benefited hugely from playing with Stockton in that slow methodical system. He never really raised his play, he just kept on performing at the same level, very good but not at the top level of someone like jordan, which is to be admired but also hurts him.
Barkley in his prime was nearly unstoppable, but he always thought he was a little better than he actually was, and he also never won a ring. Plus, his conditioning issues prevented him for excelling for a longer period of time (in stark contrast was malone, a gym freak who excelled longer than normal).
Bird and LeBron are arguably the two best passing small forwards of all time, maybe throw Rick Barry in there as well.
Durant is a good rebounder, but lacks the defense or passing that LeBron has. No doubt he’s a better shooter though, not in terms of his fg% where LeBron is killing it but in terms of his jump shot.
No one will ever be like Mike. Though not for the reason you suggest. Michael was a below average outside shooter, 33% from 3 for his career, while in LeBron is a career 34% shooter, not much better, but he is improving as his last two seasons have been the highest of his career.

He really could. He’s just starting to hit his prime, and it seems a lock that he’ll make it to at least the eastern conference finals every year.
No one has ever had the combination of size strength and speed like he does.
He doesn’t have the best shot, but it’s improving, 40% from three this year. Plus, when you can get to the rim like he can, it’s not as big a deal. I doubt anyone will come close to Bird as the best pure shooter from the small forward position. He combines Scottie’s defense and athleticism with Magic’s versatility, he has a very rare skill set.
He doesn’t have the offensive mindset that Jordan does. He doesn’t need to dominate the game with his scoring. He’s happy to drop 25 a night on 55% shooting while getting all his teammates involved, he just does what helps them to win. I have no doubt he could score 30-35 a night if he had that mentality. He can get to the rim when he likes. He gets to the line. He can shoot from outside. He can post up. He can beat you in so many ways. And if you double him he’ll hit the open man. He’s nearly impossible to stop.
He bears a resemblance to Pippen, only a more destructive offensive player than scottie was.

its really an unecessary topic to even consider, as there is no way in hell he would leave the NFL.
you could say the same about a lot of the players in the NFL, most of the top backs and receivers would absolutely kill it in league or union

David Lee and Steph Curry not even getting honourable mentions? Can’t say i agree with that, personally I believe one or both of them should make it.

Love the Jrue Holiday inclusion, I’m a huge fan, but he doesn’t appear to be getting the recognition he deserves in terms of all star votes. I disagree with Monta as well, he’s very overrated by all star voters. And I think Chandler would make it over Noah, and Kyrie should start ahead of Wade

When on the court, Davis has been even better than expected. The problem is the qualifier “when on the court”. His inability to stay healthy means Lillard, enjoying one of the best rookie point guard seasons of all time, is the front runner for ROTY so far. At the end of the season, if Davis manages to play a significant number of games, I still expect him to win ROTY, although it will be a lot closer than many expected at the start of the season

I follow Saint Marys in college basketball quite a bit, and i rate Dellavedova very highly. As stated, he can guard multiple positions, and he is also capable of shooting the 3, driving to the basket, or dishing it to teammates. While likely not a first rounder, I definitely think he deserves a roster spot.
Not an aussie, but another player I think is ready for the NBA is New Zealander Tom Abercrombie. An outstanding athlete, top notch defender, good rebounder, terrific alley-oop finisher, and a reliable 3 point shot all point towards Abercrombie having the skills necesarry to land himself on an NBA roster. After the Olympics he generated interest from the Houston Rockets, as well as several European clubs, before ultimately staying with the Breakers. While I was happy as it meant i got to continue watching him for the breakers, I felt he could have taken his opportunity to jump to the NBA when it came.

I don’t think its fair to place all the blame on Deron. Yes, he made the comments saying that he didn’t feel comfortable in the system, which could have contributed to the firing. However, the team simply wasn’t performing, and some of that responsibility must fall on the coach and on the rest of the team. Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace are all on this team as well, and none were performing to their full capabilities (although Lopez has been much better of late after missing time due to injury). Avery played a very iso heavy system, which didn’t suit Deron’s game, and as such he struggled to score effectively.
I do agree that Deron needs to raise his level of play, back to near his 20 points 10 assist averages that made him an all star and fueled the CP3 or Deron debate which has been rendered irrelevant over the last two years. If Deron doesn’t return to all star level in the new system, the team will struggle

The East has been weaker by comparison for the last few years. While the Heat will be, in my opinion, the best team in the league at the end of the season, after them there is a drop off. The Knicks are starting to stutter, albeit without Carmelo, and eventually they will hit a cold shooting streak from outside. The Nets simply don’t have the right system in place, or the depth of a top level team. The Celtics are looking older and it increasingly feels like their title window is closed. Atlanta don’t have a superstar of enough quality offense to go far in the playoffs. Indiana don’t quite have the superstar to take over, as i don’t believe Granger is that level. Chicago and Philadelphia without Rose and Bynum are non factors. Besides Miami, there doesn’t seem to be a safe bet in the east.
In the West, you have the ever competitive and seemingly non aging Spurs, the league leading Clippers, the superstar power of the Lakers, the juggernaut that is the Thunder, and even the second tier of Western teams; Memphis, Denver, Golden State at this stage, would be top level in the East

I agree, he can’t keep relying on a well past his prime Henry to come in every January and save the team. Use the players you already have

Its no easy task to improve Scotland. They play incredibly boring rugby, with very little flair. They specialise in Drop Goals and Penalties rather than scoring tries, and are painful to watch at times.
Admittedly, due to their lack of talent compared to other nations, their approach is understandable.

I don’t know if the article is saying that Selig is the “best”, more that he is the “least worst” over recent years, due to the other three leagues having a variety of problems to overcome, with each of the three encountering lockouts, in addition to Stern’s trade veto and the all too convenient situation of the Hornets winning the lottery, Goodell and the farcical replacement referee’s and Bounty scandals. Selig has essentially become the “best” by default

It’s a loss for tennis that Nadal won’t be at the Australian, any tournament is worse without him there. However, as a fierce Andy Murray fan, this creates hope that he can mount another charge at the Australian Open title, having lost in the final the last two years. I’m hoping this is the year he finally captures this particular title.

Walcott continuing his efforts to prove that he can play through the middle for Arsenal, it’d be a shame if Arsenal let him go

The fantastic play of Kevin Martin seems to have justified the move to some extent so far, despite Harden excelling in Houston.
Harden would never have had the shots or possessions to fully reach his level in Oklahoma City, so for him it was great to move to a team where he could be the number one option. He is a phenomenal offensive player, able to shoot the 3 effectively and get to the line almost at will. A huge coo for Houston to get him and lock him up to a long term deal.

As a Warriors fan, I’m left praying that Bogut can somehow get healthy. I wasn’t one of Ellis’ biggest fans, but even I was a little disappointed at the trade, trading your teams leading scorer for an injury prone centre isn’t always an encouraging move.
Seeing as Bogut has hardly been on the court, you’d have to say Milwaukee won that trade at this stage.

The NBA is better with the Knicks and Nets relevant again. However, both appear to be very flawed teams, particularly Brooklyn.
For New York, if Carmelo has an off game, or their 3 point shooting cools off, they struggle on the offensive end. Additionally, despite Melo’s significant increase in defensive effort, the Knicks are still not a particularly good defensive team, as not even Chandler can cover up all their mistakes.
Brooklyn seem to be struggling due to their two highest paid players having down seasons. Joe Johnson, widely critcised and classed as horrendously overpaid with his contract ranging somewhere from overpaid to ludicrous, and Deron Williams, having perhaps his worst season since his rookie year, are not living up to their “superstar” status or their paychecks. As a huge Williams fan, it kills me to see him playing so poorly. I’d like to see them implement some of the offensive system they ran in Utah to try and get him going, and take a break from the isolation heavy offense they currently run

I’m a huuuuuge Kobe hater, but his season has been absolutely phenomenal. Having your most efficient shooting season at this age? unparalleled.
I wouldn’t even consider trading Gasol until you have a significant sample of the big 4 playing together, Nash will surely help Gasol’s game hugely, and Gasol passing to Howard down low is something to behold.
If they can get some decent contributions from Metta World Peace on the defensive end, and from Meeks and Jamison off the bench, and receive any sort of production from Ebanks Morris and the like, they should be a force at the end of the season

The breakers defense in the second half was absolutely phenomenal, Adelaide couldn’t do anything against it, and often struggled to bring the ball over half court. This is an underrated part of this breakers team, their defense. They have a very strong defense, with players like Cedric Jackson and Tom Abercrombie leading the way, and their full court pressure causes some serious problems for teams

This was my first article written, so thanks for the positive feedback 🙂
In 2 years time, LeBron could very well still be in his prime, and may actually be peaking as an all around post up-facilitator-rebounded-defender, or he could just as easily still be throwing up 25-30 points a game. He really is that good, he could take on any playing style and still be the best in the league. No one else compares to his incredible all around skill set.
I do agree that LeBron’s supporting cast could decline, as Wade looks to be headed that way as much as he tries to prove us wrong. However, i personally would hope that would lead to an increase in Chris Bosh’s role, one of my favourite offensive players and a seriously under utilised part of the Miami offense in my opinion.

Couldn’t agree more.
While not a fan of the Heat as a team, I am in complete awe of both LeBron and Carmelo’s seasons. Carmelo has taken his game to previously unreached heights, with s substantial improvement on the defensive end, while also improving the Knicks ball movement and becoming less of a ball stopper on offense. However, no one in the league can match the all around level of play that LeBron brings night in and night out.
I agree with the Jordan comparisons. People are simply searching for any reason, no matter how ridiculous, for LeBron not to be MVP. People have just gotten bored of voting for him. And I worry it may lead to LeBron not winning the number of MVPs he deserves