LeBron combining with Davis should diminish his legacy rather than increase it. The greats from the past didn't create super teams.
So does Pippen’s MVP candidacy during MJ’s baseball hiatus diminish MJ’s legacy?
The Bulls replaced MJ with Pete Myers and still contended for a title. I dare say the current Lakers without LeBron wouldn’t be as good.
Exactly. Pippen led that team to a Conference Finals without MJ. Tell me how well a team does the year after Lebron leaves?
And AD wasn't a better player this year than Pippen was at his peak. Nobody else on this Lakers team is more than a slightly above average player, and most were below average.
LeBron combining with Davis should diminish his legacy rather than increase it. The greats from the past didn't create super teams.
So does Pippen’s MVP candidacy during MJ’s baseball hiatus diminish MJ’s legacy?
The Bulls replaced MJ with Pete Myers and still contended for a title. I dare say the current Lakers without LeBron wouldn’t be as good.
Exactly. Pippen led that team to a Conference Finals without MJ. Tell me how well a team does the year after Lebron leaves?
And AD wasn't a better player this year than Pippen was at his peak. Nobody else on this Lakers team is more than a slightly above average player, and most were below average.
Nit pick: it was the Conference Semis when they lost to the Knicks in 7 due to an infamous phantom foul. (No replay in those days, also different rules about what constitutes a foul.) Of course, the Knicks ultimately went on to lose the Finals in 7.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
AD vs Pippen is a difficult comparison. Pippen was a shot maker, creator, and lead defensive player against other scorers all the while being well coached, on an established team. I would compare AD’s hypothetical sans Lebron success to that of KG when he was with the TWolves at best.
I just as well wouldn’t compare Lebron to MJ, either. Their games are so far apart from one another. Lebron’s game is a hybrid of Pippen, Magic, and Malone - neither of whom I would say dominated the league the way Lebron has. I can’t imagine however any team Lebron has played on would have ever defeated MJ’s Bulls in the 90s.
AD vs Pippen is a difficult comparison. Pippen was a shot maker, creator, and lead defensive player against other scorers all the while being well coached, on an established team. I would compare AD’s hypothetical sans Lebron success to that of KG when he was with the TWolves at best.
I just as well wouldn’t compare Lebron to MJ, either. Their games are so far apart from one another. Lebron’s game is a hybrid of Pippen, Magic, and Malone - neither of whom I would say dominated the league the way Lebron has. I can’t imagine however any team Lebron has played on would have ever defeated MJ’s Bulls in the 90s.
I think the Miami teams would have prevailed. That is the best overall team (and coaching) Lebron has been on. I agree that it is unlikely the Cleveland team (and no way this Lakers team) would have won. The Bulls had a much better roster (sans MJ) than either of those teams sans Lebron.
Has a championship team in recent history not had two stars? The only I can think of are the Pistons and last years Raptors (don’t count Lowry on same level as Kawhi, Lebron, AD)
Last year's Raptors aren't beating a healthy Ws team.
And this year's Lakers team wasn't all that special. They ran into a smaller, injured Heat team that was grinding its way thru the East. The Bubble Suns would've given the Lakers more trouble.
Has a championship team in recent history not had two stars? The only I can think of are the Pistons and last years Raptors (don’t count Lowry on same level as Kawhi, Lebron, AD)
You could argue the Spurs never had 2 top 10 players after their first championship.
LeBron combining with Davis should diminish his legacy rather than increase it. The greats from the past didn't create super teams.
Since when is a duo a super team?
Agreed. Was Stockton/Malone a super team? What about when Houston traded for Barkley?
If Pippen, Barkley and Olajuwon had all been in their primes when they joined up, it would have been a super team.
“Are you crazy?! You think I’m going to go for seven years and try to get there? You enjoy the 2030 draft picks that we have holding? I want to try to see the game today.” — Ish 3/13/25
I am not sure I would put AD in the top 5. I guess if you just look at him when he is locked in and playing hard, sure. But that isn't as often as it should be for a top 5 player. If you were given your choice of picking any two players for a single season to lead you to a championship, I am not sure many folks would pick AD as the #2.
I am not sure I would put AD in the top 5. I guess if you just look at him when he is locked in and playing hard, sure. But that isn't as often as it should be for a top 5 player. If you were given your choice of picking any two players for a single season to lead you to a championship, I am not sure many folks would pick AD as the #2.
I think you probably gotta take Lebron, so it becomes who fits best with Lebron. I do think AD has a pretty good case there. I’m not sure there is a better fit alongside Lebron. Perhaps a healthy Curry or Durant, just from their ridiculous talent and ability to be deadly off the ball.
Feels like there is too much overlap between Luka, Giannis, or Harden and Lebron. That leaves Lillard? Or Jokic? I think I’d take AD.
Has a championship team in recent history not had two stars? The only I can think of are the Pistons and last years Raptors (don’t count Lowry on same level as Kawhi, Lebron, AD)
You could argue the Spurs never had 2 top 10 players after their first championship.
Dallas 2011 only had Dirk (this is why that title puts Dirk on another level and why it was such a stain for Lebron).
Olajuwon in his first title didn't have Drexler (and when he did the following year, Clyde was not in his prime anymore).
David Robinson was not in his prime either for the Spurs in 1999, and neither were Parker or Ginobili in 2003.
Sometimes teams win championships and sometimes stars win championships. The Spurs, Pistons, Mavs, Raptors titles are teams winning IMO. Now there are stars on those teams, but in all those situations, the stars fit into the team. I think the Warriors were also a team winning and then morphed into stars winning when they got Durant.
Sometimes teams win championships and sometimes stars win championships. The Spurs, Pistons, Mavs, Raptors titles are teams winning IMO. Now there are stars on those teams, but in all those situations, the stars fit into the team. I think the Warriors were also a team winning and then morphed into stars winning when they got Durant.
I am still amazed at the Cleveland title over the 73 win Warriors. I hadn't seen a championship like that where a star just took over and won it.
I am still amazed at the Cleveland title over the 73 win Warriors. I hadn't seen a championship like that where a star just took over and won it.
The best argument for Lebron as GOAT (which I do not agree with, as is well documented here) is how he tore the heart out of that record-breaking 73-win Warriors team. They were thought to be unbeatable, but he proved otherwise. Really impressive title win for him and the Cavs there.
