Lebron Upset He was 2nd in DPOY

[fairweatherfan]

I know logic dictates he's getting away with fouls, but personally, I'm not really seeing it. I don't see him getting away with that much more than others do.

I agree.  When I watch the Heat games LeBron is almost never out of position, rarely grabs or hand-checks, and almost never is in a 50/50 block/charge situation.  He plays physically when he guards post players, but so does every other good post defender in the league.

At some point, you have to figure that maybe, just maybe, he's not some caricature of a coddled media-manufactured golden boy, and is in fact really, really, really good at basketball - on both ends.  Doesn't mean we've gotta like him, though.

[slamtheking]

seriously, not protecting him?  You just lost any credibility if you're suggesting he's not getting away with calls that almost no one else in the league would be allowed to get away with.

He's a fantastic athlete and in that sense, yes, he can make plays many others can't make but there's no way a player as aggressive as he is on D can go for games at a time without committing a foul.  No way, no how.  he's fouling and the refs are keeping their whistles firmly planted in their butts.

If you are going to call my credibility into question, I would prefer you didn't do it by taking my quote out of context.

I said they don't protect him ANY MORE THAN OTHER GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS.

Bruce Bowen used to get away with murder, as did Artest. 

My guess is in a couple years, Avery Bradley will get similar leeway, but he is still learning his limits, and building his reputation. 

This is how it works.  Elite defenders get the benefit of the doubt, just like elite offensive players get the benefit of the doubt.

Calling NBA games is hard.  There is a lot of split second decisions, and when things are moving that fast, reputation goes a long way.

I didn't take anything out of context, quoted your entire statement.

Bowen and Artest, both thugs at one point, weren't accorded Lebron's level of non-calls.  In Fact, Bowen is a great example of a player that was a foul magnet when with the C's and once he's in SA, starts getting calls he never used to get and all of a sudden, he's a great defender.  he was really good with the c's (very underrated) but his rise as a defensive player can be directly attributed to refs swallowing their whistles instead of calling appropriate fouls.  Lebron is an extreme case of this with the notable exception in that he never went through the foul magnet stage.

[StartOrien]

Still -

Think about a team like the Grizzles before trade. What other guy could swallow up both Rudy Guy and Zach Randolph defensively.

[moiso]

My thing is, congratulate Gasol, and keep it moving. I'm sure Durant hates he came up 2nd in scoring and more than likely 2nd for MVP. Get over yourself and your greatness.

Did Jordan or Bird ever congratulate the winner and move on?

Maybe I am wrong, but I think they had a tendency to get p---ed off, and then work harder to make sure it doesn't happen again. 

That's what the great ones do.

Yes they did always congratulate the winner and move on.  Even in terms of championships.  I know they boiled within, but they always gave respect when they were beaten.  As far as individual awards, Bird may have had a wisecrack or something, but he would never whine about it.

[Who]

I know logic dictates he's getting away with fouls, but personally, I'm not really seeing it. I don't see him getting away with that much more than others do.

I agree.  When I watch the Heat games LeBron is almost never out of position, rarely grabs or hand-checks, and almost never is in a 50/50 block/charge situation.  He plays physically when he guards post players, but so does every other good post defender in the league.

At some point, you have to figure that maybe, just maybe, he's not some caricature of a coddled media-manufactured golden boy, and is in fact really, really, really good at basketball - on both ends.  Doesn't mean we've gotta like him, though.

Me either.

LeBron plays some of the most fundamentally sound position defense in the NBA. The way he plays defensively, he is not a guy you would expect to foul often.

[bfrombleacher]

Hate to agree but yes. He's not coddled on the defensive end from what I've seen.

[BballTim]

The picture would be painted in the media totally differently if Rondo had complaints about his recognition in the league.

But Rondo isn't the best player in the world. 

Lebron should have won the DPOY.

  According to synergysports LeBron was 168th in ppp allowed and the Heat were 9th in defense after being top 5 the previous 3 years. I can see "could have won" but I'm not sure about "should have won".

[ianboyextreme]

The dude literally has no case for DPOY. He allowed .86 points per play overall and .82 ppp in iso situations.

Just to refresh everybody's memories, Avery Bradley allowed .69 ppp overall and .63 in iso situations.

There might not be a more undeserving vote getter than Lebron James.
I dont care how many people you can defend if you cant keep them from scoring.

[ianboyextreme]

seriously, not protecting him?  You just lost any credibility if you're suggesting he's not getting away with calls that almost no one else in the league would be allowed to get away with.

He's a fantastic athlete and in that sense, yes, he can make plays many others can't make but there's no way a player as aggressive as he is on D can go for games at a time without committing a foul.  No way, no how.  he's fouling and the refs are keeping their whistles firmly planted in their butts.

If you are going to call my credibility into question, I would prefer you didn't do it by taking my quote out of context.

I said they don't protect him ANY MORE THAN OTHER GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS.

Bruce Bowen used to get away with murder, as did Artest. 

My guess is in a couple years, Avery Bradley will get similar leeway, but he is still learning his limits, and building his reputation. 

This is how it works.  Elite defenders get the benefit of the doubt, just like elite offensive players get the benefit of the doubt.

Calling NBA games is hard.  There is a lot of split second decisions, and when things are moving that fast, reputation goes a long way.

I didn't take anything out of context, quoted your entire statement.

Bowen and Artest, both thugs at one point, weren't accorded Lebron's level of non-calls.  In Fact, Bowen is a great example of a player that was a foul magnet when with the C's and once he's in SA, starts getting calls he never used to get and all of a sudden, he's a great defender.  he was really good with the c's (very underrated) but his rise as a defensive player can be directly attributed to refs swallowing their whistles instead of calling appropriate fouls.  Lebron is an extreme case of this with the notable exception in that he never went through the foul magnet stage.

Bruce Bowen a thug?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[BballTim]

seriously, not protecting him?  You just lost any credibility if you're suggesting he's not getting away with calls that almost no one else in the league would be allowed to get away with.

He's a fantastic athlete and in that sense, yes, he can make plays many others can't make but there's no way a player as aggressive as he is on D can go for games at a time without committing a foul.  No way, no how.  he's fouling and the refs are keeping their whistles firmly planted in their butts.

If you are going to call my credibility into question, I would prefer you didn't do it by taking my quote out of context.

I said they don't protect him ANY MORE THAN OTHER GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS.

Bruce Bowen used to get away with murder, as did Artest. 

My guess is in a couple years, Avery Bradley will get similar leeway, but he is still learning his limits, and building his reputation. 

This is how it works.  Elite defenders get the benefit of the doubt, just like elite offensive players get the benefit of the doubt.

Calling NBA games is hard.  There is a lot of split second decisions, and when things are moving that fast, reputation goes a long way.

I didn't take anything out of context, quoted your entire statement.

Bowen and Artest, both thugs at one point, weren't accorded Lebron's level of non-calls.  In Fact, Bowen is a great example of a player that was a foul magnet when with the C's and once he's in SA, starts getting calls he never used to get and all of a sudden, he's a great defender.  he was really good with the c's (very underrated) but his rise as a defensive player can be directly attributed to refs swallowing their whistles instead of calling appropriate fouls.  Lebron is an extreme case of this with the notable exception in that he never went through the foul magnet stage.

Bruce Bowen a thug?? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  The funny part wasn't "Bruce Bowen a thug", it was "at one point", seeing as that one point lasted for the bulk of his career.

 

[Moranis]

The dude literally has no case for DPOY. He allowed .86 points per play overall and .82 ppp in iso situations.

Just to refresh everybody's memories, Avery Bradley allowed .69 ppp overall and .63 in iso situations.

There might not be a more undeserving vote getter than Lebron James.
I dont care how many people you can defend if you cant keep them from scoring.

He also was generally guarding the opposing teams best player regardless of position.  I mean he would guard Carmelo Anthony one game, Zach Randolph the next, then Kobe Bryant, then Chris Paul, then Kevin Durant, etc.  When you have that versatility and skill you are going to give up more points per possession than a guy like Avery Bradley who plays a lot less minutes and doesn't generally guard the opposing teams best player.

[sed522002]

For me, it's not about whether he deserved to win, but elaborately complaining about why you didn't win. Let your coach or your teammates argue the case for you.

That's like when PP didn't get picked to be an All-Star. Rondo and KG made the case for why he should've been picked. You didn't hear PP give a long laundry list of reasons he should have made it.

[Moranis]

For me, it's not about whether he deserved to win, but elaborately complaining about why you didn't win. Let your coach or your teammates argue the case for you.

That's like when PP didn't get picked to be an All-Star. Rondo and KG made the case for why he should've been picked. You didn't hear PP give a long laundry list of reasons he should have made it.

He was asked a direct question.  Did you want him to just ignore it or be honest about it and move on?

[sed522002]

For me, it's not about whether he deserved to win, but elaborately complaining about why you didn't win. Let your coach or your teammates argue the case for you.

That's like when PP didn't get picked to be an All-Star. Rondo and KG made the case for why he should've been picked. You didn't hear PP give a long laundry list of reasons he should have made it.

He was asked a direct question.  Did you want him to just ignore it or be honest about it and move on?

You can be honest by saying it sucks that I came in 2nd I thought I did well and kept it moving. He didn't have to go in depth about who he guards and how he does it and blah, blah, blah. That's sour grapes, especially when he knows he's going to be MVP and if they win, Finals MVP.

[fairweatherfan]

For me, it's not about whether he deserved to win, but elaborately complaining about why you didn't win. Let your coach or your teammates argue the case for you.

That's like when PP didn't get picked to be an All-Star. Rondo and KG made the case for why he should've been picked. You didn't hear PP give a long laundry list of reasons he should have made it.

He was asked a direct question.  Did you want him to just ignore it or be honest about it and move on?

You can be honest by saying it sucks that I came in 2nd I thought I did well and kept it moving. He didn't have to go in depth about who he guards and how he does it and blah, blah, blah. That's sour grapes, especially when he knows he's going to be MVP and if they win, Finals MVP.

Sour grapes would be saying he didn't want to win anyway.  This is just regular complaining. 

And I agree, he had a good case to win, I don't mind him being ticked off about losing, but he went overboard in griping about it to the interviewer.  Plenty of more diplomatic ways to handle the question.