Lebron is a much more complete offensive player and on the defensive end there is no comparison. Lebron is the best player in the NBA so I have no problem with him winning the MVP.
There's definitely a comparison defensively. In fact, statistically Durant was a better defender this year:
* Durant held opponents overall to fewer points per possession
* Durant held opponents to a lower FG%
* Durant held opponents to a lower 3PT%
* Durant was better on isolation plays, post-ups, and spot-ups
So, Durant's defense was, at minimum, every bit as good as Lebron's, and based upon evidence, was actually better.
Those kind of defensive stats are misleading.
Really, does anyone ACTUALLY think Durant is better than LeBron? Especially on defense? If you actually watch them both play defense, it's not even close. LeBron is in the mix for defensive player of the year (I think he should have gotten it) and Durant was not. I think that says enough. There's not some magic to Durant's defense no one is seeing and that just comes through in the stats. He's become a pretty good defender, don't get me wrong, but he's not in LeBron's league.
LeBron should have won the MVP last year too. I figure a lot of people on this board, as Celtics fans, should appreciate more than stats and especially scoring numbers. That's the stupid logic that let Rose win when he was a poor defender last year. That's half the game.
I understand if you guys don't like LeBron as a person and how he carries himself, but you can't deny how good he is. It sounds silly.
I doubt anybody denies how good the messiah is.
The problem, Snakehead, is that the playing field is not level. So to compare his defense to Durant's is futile.
The messiah is the most physically gifted player in NBA history. Maybe in the history of sports.
But it'd be hard for anybody to make a case that he's not officiated completely differently than anybody else in the NBA. He doesn't need the help but that obviously doesn't matter to David Stern. Since we're comparing his defense to Durants.... Defensively, he gets away with the same things Jordan did. Particularly late in games. Durant doesn't. The fact that the messiah also safely assumes that he will never be fouled out of any game allows him to play with an aggression that nobody else can. Do you actually think somebody who plays with his abandon could possibly average less than 3 fouls per game if he was officiated by the book?
Take away the advantage he has just because he is officiated differently...And he probably works a little harder and gets to the same place defensively that you perceive he's at now. But the messiah's defense is essentially better than average...Mixed in with a couple of hacks or barreling through somebody into the passing lane leading to spectacular dunks. But to come to the conclusion that the messiah is a lockdown defender..You must be watching only ESPN highlights and not his games in their nauseating entirety. There's no magic to the messiah's defense without the advantages.
Is Durant the better player? No. But take away the advantages only the messiah gets and it's a lot closer.
No, I watch the games. If you want to talk offense, you can. He gets superstar calls, but so do superstars. I don't really agree with how that's treated but it's the game and how it has been since the Jordan era. I will say though, that LeBron does take quite a lot of contact. He is so strong that it doesn't knock him over but a lot of other players would hit the deck. He does initiate contact a lot but so do guys like Rose and CP3. That's just how the game is called.
As far as defense, I don't know what you're talking about at all. Again, I watch the games. He plays defense no more physically than someone like KG plays defense. If you want him to be less physical then I guess you want to neuter the game and the defenders ability to defend. I'm not in favor of that. Contrary to some people's opinions, it is a contact sport.
Bottom line: if you think he is an average defender you're just wrong. He is the best wing defender in the league and is also very versatile.
If you want to talk about him getting calls on offense, fine, but if you are going to say he also gets defensive calls you are just trying to rob him of his accomplishments. Seems pretty probable with your whole "messiah" thing. Just give the dude some credit, even if you don't like him.
Topic: Who votes for MVP? (Durant snubbed imo) (Read 7582 times)