Tony Parker uncertain for game 4..noooo

[NocturnalRebel]

UPDATE:

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo

MRI says @tonyparker has a strained hamstring with no tear or defect.....Tony Parker tells Y! Sports, "Hopefully I will be good tomorrow. "

Good news. It would be a big blow to tha Spurs if Parker went down with something severe. I hope Parker will be good to go tomorrow tho. I'm here in San Antone for tha remainder of their home games and I would hate to not see tha Spurs floor general out there.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Hey, Chainsmoker, that article on Lebron's game, my friend, is what they call a 'puff piece.'

Yes, Lebron supposedly worked with Hakeem one summer.  The team has him shoot from different locations.  That's the story.  Oh, and he's more efficient now than he was as an 18 year old rookie on a terrible team.

What the article DID say, though, was that he uses his size mismatch inside now.  Again, put that against all the big lineups in the 80's, and he's just another player.

Remember early in his career when he worked on his jumpshooting and 3pt shot?  He came out in the first game of the season and went crazy on 3's?  And now his jumpshooting has cost his team in the Finals, all these years later? 

I'm sticking with my story:  Today's game completely favors LBJ's strengths while covering his weaknesses.  The game has changed, and swapping the player into another era is swapping him into another game entirely, and Lebron wouldn't have been as good after Bill Laimbeer laid him out on his ass.

Well, pal, I would hardly characterize Kirk Goldsberry's writing, and that particular article, as a "puff piece." That classification seems to belie more about the classifier than the subject at hand. An easy dismissal of verifiable statistic analysis that happens to go against the viewpoint you have gone in with.

As for your other points. I think the Spurs have done an excellent job defensively at limiting LeBron to what they want him to do (in game 3 that is). I hardly see it as LeBron worked on his jumpshot, and shot the ball dang well this year, and that is the reasoning for his bad game 3. Far more credit to The Spurs defense is needed to be given. I'm not claiming LeBron shot well but I also don't see it as indicative of some glaring flaw in his game. This: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01/shooting/2013/ seems like a pretty impressive season and a very positive impact on a basketball team.

If you want to play the dump a guy into another era as is game, which I above said is oft foolish, well, I tend to think LeBron matches up physically just fine with a Bill Laimbeer. I know who I think is stronger. Yes, the game was different then, but I really don't perceive LeBron not being able to be amazingly successful in that context and style. Particularly if you allow, in this abstract experiment, that he has come up in that style game. I just don't understand the glee with which some people dismiss LeBron's game. Hate him all you like but to denigrate just how good he is as basketball makes one look foolish.

[Celtics4ever]

MIA needs to spend time scheming against Green and Neal.   I think SA will use different players next time and waste these adhustments they are a great team about getting it to the hot hand.

Green and Neal outscored MIA big three.

[Neurotic Guy]

I hope Lebron isn't as great as i think he is.  I fully expect him to dominate at least 2 of the next 4 games.  SA needed Game 3 bad, but unfortunately will need Game 4 also.  A Heat win tomorrow just gives Miami more confidence that they can win whenever they really need to.  SA needs to put big pressure on the Heat and go up 3-1.  Otherwise, I think the Heat will take the series.

I am not a Lebron hater -- actually think he's not such a bad guy.  But I really want the Spurs to take this series, though I am dubious of their ability to do so.

BTW -- how does a person play top-flight basketball with a strained hamstring? 

[Greenback]

There is nothing abstract about Bill Russell's 11 championships in 13 years (one year he didn't win, he was hurt).

I think LeBron would have been average in the 1960's.  There wasn't any 3 point line.  You couldn't just run in the paint and knock people over and get free throws.  And if you flopped people would just laugh and give you a reason to be laying on the floor.

[Fafnir]

There is nothing abstract about Bill Russell's 11 championships in 13 years (one year he didn't win, he was hurt).

I think LeBron would have been average in the 1960's.  There wasn't any 3 point line.  You couldn't just run in the paint and knock people over and get free throws.  And if you flopped people would just laugh and give you a reason to be laying on the floor.

Oscar Robertson wasn't average, so I don't think LeBron would have been either.

[wdleehi]

There is nothing abstract about Bill Russell's 11 championships in 13 years (one year he didn't win, he was hurt).

I think LeBron would have been average in the 1960's.  There wasn't any 3 point line.  You couldn't just run in the paint and knock people over and get free throws.  And if you flopped people would just laugh and give you a reason to be laying on the floor.

I don't care the era or the rules being played, there is nothing average about a man that size, speed and skill with the ball in his hand. 


To say he would be average when the average player was smaller is ridiculous.


Just as ridiculous when I hear Lebron would be average if he played when more physical play was allowed.  Lebron is PG with a PF body.  I think he would welcome being allowed to throw around his weight and strength.

[Greenback]

When LeBron wins 11 titles, let me know.  Wilt would make him look foolish.

[Finkelskyhook]

This is a case of Pops being Belichickian with the injury report.

[wdleehi]

When LeBron wins 11 titles, let me know.  Wilt would make him look foolish.

Let me know when someone not name Russel lead his team to more then 6 titles.



Wilt would likely make Lebron pay "if" Lebron the "SF" was defending the "C".


Just like Lebron would make Wilt look foolish if Wilt had to defend Lebron starting from the top of the key.  Because teams always send out their "C" to defend the other teams "SF".  Especially when the "SF" works as the "PG" on offense. 




Or more to the point, outside of Russel and Wilt, the rest of the players from that era were "average"?

[Kiorrik]

Let's keep this on topic guys. LeBron, Russel and Wilt can have another topic for themselves.

[More Banners]

There is nothing abstract about Bill Russell's 11 championships in 13 years (one year he didn't win, he was hurt).

I think LeBron would have been average in the 1960's.  There wasn't any 3 point line.  You couldn't just run in the paint and knock people over and get free throws.  And if you flopped people would just laugh and give you a reason to be laying on the floor.

I don't care the era or the rules being played, there is nothing average about a man that size, speed and skill with the ball in his hand. 


To say he would be average when the average player was smaller is ridiculous.


Just as ridiculous when I hear Lebron would be average if he played when more physical play was allowed.  Lebron is PG with a PF body.  I think he would welcome being allowed to throw around his weight and strength.

Of course, Rodman spoke to extremes, but right now, there is nobody in the league on his level, with that combination of size, strength,and skill.  He is deified, crowned, etc.

In the 80's, he would have been a near-draw on most counts with the likes of Bird and Magic, which is surely awesome company, but he would have been part of the league, not the whole thing.  And without a supporting cast and good luck, he would surely have gone with just as few titles and even appearances as other great players like Barkley, Hakeem, etc.

I think that point, in particular, is pretty valid.

[wdleehi]

Would the Spurs consider holding Parker out of the next game if they would get him back neat full strength for game 5?



I doubt it.  They want to stay away from game 7.

[Greenback]

I don't think LeBron would run into Wilt too many times in the paint.

Having seen history - it gives a good perspective.  For example, Walt Bellamy would probably be the best center in the league right now.

No one has won 11 titles in 13 years like Russell and yet people are saying LeBron is the greatest.  Please.

Rick Barry, The Logo, the Big O, Cousy, Havlicek, Nate Thurmond, Jerry Lucas, Baylor, Sam Jones, Hal Greer, DeBusschere, Lew Alcindor, Dave Bing, Walt Frazier, Elvin Hayes, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Wes Unseld, Lenny Wilkens - these guys all played in the 1960's and among the 50 greatest.   

Archibald, Cowens and Pistol Pete started in 1970.

LeBron is not that special in that group of players. 

Again, when LeBron wins 11 titles, let me know.  How many does he have, again, 1?

[wiley]

The Heat have been overrated since their inception.  Last year they did attain a very high level, and they needed it to get past the Celtics.  But overall, overrated.

Lebron no.  He's not overrated.  He's the real deal.  But he's not omnipotent and he's certainly over-marketed.