Chess "GOAT" discussion

I think there have been so many outstanding players since the beginning of ABA/NBA that it's impossible to create that list.

What about Wilt, Olajuwon, Jabbar, Shaq, Gervin, LeBron?

I thought of this thread yesterday because the Cavs won game 2.  You were giving LeBron a hard time for playing an almost flawless mega game(in game 1) that the Cavs lost.  He comes back, and plays the SAME EXACT game(except Delanove touches up Curry the WHOLE game) and he wins without Irving.  The series could easily be 2-0 Cavs, of course it could also easily be 2-0 Warriors.

I've watched LeBron's entire career, I'm not neccessarily a fan of any NBA player, I watched Shaq's full career, Kobe's, Duncan's, I watched most of Jordan's.  I've never really had 'a team' I root for, I just wanna see the best players.  I like it like this because I Watch the NFL also, and I am a DIEHARD Panther's fan(since the day they announced the franchise)  and it's hard being a 'true fan' of a sports team, it makes the games WAY TOO intense for me, and I find it hard to enjoy the season.  But, with basketball, I don't really care, I just wanna see the best play their best. 

With LeBron there is NO DOUBT in my mind that he is the greatest 'all around' basketball player to ever play in the NBA.  I noticed this from the VERY FIRST time(s) I saw him play.  I remember thinking "who in the hell is this guy?  He has A LOT more god given talent than Kobe, he really is something special".  LeBron was drafted onto one of the worst teams in the NBA, with one of the worst coaches, and some of the worst players.  He still went to the damn Finals, and eat the playoffs up year after year.  He then goes to the Heat and leads them to 4 finals in four years.  He leaves the Heat, goes back to the Cavs with a group of noobs that no one hardly even knows of, and over the course of 1 season he turns the team into a Finals contender.  They get into the Finals down 2 starters, and they still 'beat and hang with' what may be the best shooting, back court I have ever seen play.

Jordan won his first title of 6 when he was 28, LeBron is 30, he has been to the finals 6 times, has won twice, and he is VERY likely to win this one. Another thing with LeBron, is that he isn't injury-prone, if he plays into his late 30's, I think he will go down in NBA history as "the GOAT", the player to live up to.  His stats will be RIDICULOUS in 10 years(they are now), and as far as rings?  He could quit today(right in the middle of the finals) and still be one of the top 10 players to ever play.

hey, guys. What do you think about the NBA Finals?

In my opinion - outstanding show!

In game 4 LeBron was doing 'okay' till he busted his head open.  I'm no expert, but I'd have to guess he was slightly concuss(by the 4th quarter he looked like a zombie).  Della was GASSED, and just couldn't put the defensive beat down on Curry he had been.

The Warriors switched up their defense on LeBron, throwing a nasty double on him when he posted up.  This, mixed with Lebron's fatigue, and slight conccussion were just too much for him(he couldn't get a shooting rhythm).  JR Smith couldn't get a shot going, neither could Shumpert, and this left the center Mosgov as the Cav's highest scorer at 28(weird ha).

Even thought the Cav's are REALLY short and EXTREMELY fatigued,  you have to hand The Warriors their respect(for how they handled game 4).  They switched things up, got good shots, kept the game paced to suit them, played with emotion, and effort, and tied up a series against a team they had just lost twice to, on the road. 

The series could go either way.  It favors The Warriors at this point.  But, nothing 'really' favors you in the NBA if LeBron James is on the other team.

Coach Kerr did his homework. During previous games LeBron was being guarded 1 on 1. G4 was different. James was doubled, even tripled. I really admire Cavs for great fight despite plague of injuries (Love, Irving, Varejao). They have short bench as well.

I think Warrions are gonna win the title but Cavs deserve for much respect!

In the first 3 games The Warriors were purposely using isolation defense on LeBron.  This means, they each guarded only one man, no double teams.  This left Lebron with limited assists(cause everyone was covered), something LeBron is EXTREMELY good at(assists in perfect rhythm).  This is why LeBron had been taking the ball to the top of the post, just sitting there for about 10 secs then slowly taking his single man coverage on, and scoring the most points(by one man) ever scored in the NBA finals before(in the first 3 games).

Last night Della was GASSED.  So, the Warriors put Curry on him early.  Curly would pick him up all the way in the back court, and make him 'work' to get the ball going.  This put Della outta the game early(Della just isn't used to playing those kinda minutes).  They were still using isolation coverage on LeBron, but after he hit his head, and when it became obvious he was fatigued, they started pressing him(while still cutting off his assists), and he just couldn't fight through it(mentally or physically).

For the first 3 games(cause in reality Cavs could have won game 1 EASILY)  LeBron had been setting the tempo of the game.  He was taking his time, taking his time, taking his time.  This worked against the Warrior's fast paced friendly offense.  Forcing them to 'lose tempo' and get all outta wack.  Plus, Lebron was hitting ALL his shots in those 3 games.  Last night though, the Cavs took a SOLID first quarter lead, and with them being up 2-1 LeBron didn't stay mentally tough.  He started playing faster, this opened up the Warrior's Offense, and then after LeBron cracked his head open, he just wasn't the same(shocked, sluggish, then he just fell asleep).  He hit that camera HARD.  I saw it happen live, and I heard his head hit the camera.  There aren't any mics down there, you gotta hit a camera PRETTY DAMN hard to be able to hear the impact in a loud arena like that.  He was concussed.

Yes indeed, the "crash" wasn't irrelevant. On the other hand LeBron flopped before that. I mean he pretended that he was fouled harder than he really was.

I think there were 2 keys to Warriors' victory: Curry's "normal" accuracy from 3 point range (4/7) and Draymond Green's "reborn". "I'm baaaack" he shouted. He was back indeed. Thanks to DG's performance coach Kerr could switch "small-ball mode" on with him as a Center (I remind he's "only" 2.02cm [=6.6ft] height).

Iguodala is gonna be the Finals MVP!

I don't see LeBron letting this one slip out of his fingers.  He just has too much skill, too much experience, and it is ALL he exists for.  I respect GS's shooting abilities, but, they are finals noobs(LeBron is a Finals native ha).   Fatigue lost game 4 for the Cavs,  it wasn't LeBron's fault he hit his head, it wasn't a flagrant foul, it was just a freak accident.  After he hit his head, he couldn't seem to get focused.  And by the time the 4th quarter came along he looked the worst I've ever seen him.  If the Warriors were gonna beat the Cavs(easily), they wouldnt have lost both game 2 and 3 in a row.  I don't see the Cavs or the warriors winning two in a row here.  Which leads to a game 7, and in game 7? haha  That's gonna be a CRAZY game.

There are only two types of NBA fans these day, ones rooting for LeBron, and ones rooting against him. 

I am a great fan of Dwayne Wade.

I really admire LeBron and I find him the best player in the world but I don't like him to much.

I support GSW because this team was built in right way. Step by step.

They played really big b-ball this season.

Dude, LeBron leaves the best team in the NBA to 'go home', he picks up SCRAPS and now has them tied 2-2 in the finals(the same year?).  I mean, what is there not to like(personality wise?)  LeBron was thrown into SUPERSTAR fame(and god given talent) at the age of 14-18(like say Justin Bieber), yeah, he's used to be a little cocky(he was a child superstar), but not really.  He has always had a pretty good head on his shoulders, he isnt a 'punk', or a wanna be gangster(he came from that era).  Yeah, it's a little silly that he tattooed "The Chosen One" on his back(I'm sure he'd put something different up there if he could go back haha).  He seems pretty humble to me.  I just don't get all the hate??

The only reason one could possibly 'truly' hate LeBron is if you had a NBA team you passionately followed(that he wasnt on, especially one he played 4 times a year).  Of course you'd hate him, haha.  But, just in general, I don't understand why people hate LeBron so much(as a person).  Not these days anyways.

He named himself "The King". Maybe that's the reason.

I don't think that was a name he picked

http://hoopshype.com/articles/lebron_meyer.htm 

Already named the "Chosen One" by "Sports Illustrated," it seems "King James" will be the next moniker to stick, as that is showing up on shirts worn by St. V. fans. Published reports say Nike and Adidas are the most likely to win the bid for LeBron's shoe contract, and the price likely will be in the $20 million to $25 million range which will easily dwarf his first NBA contract

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol5no26next.html 

Either way, LeBron Fever was off the charts after the Cleveland workout, even though critics still saw a kid who drifted to the perimeter on offense and looked indifferent on defense. Adidas and Nike didn't care.
Adidas engraved his sneakers and made him a gold mouthpiece with "King James" across the front and "Gloria" across the molars. Nike handed him swooshed rubber-band
wristlets with "King" on one side and "James" on the other.

Who's watching G6 ???

Hello guys!

We had very interesting discussion a year ago during NBA Play-Offs.

Now there are another post-season.

Which team do you support?

Do you think we can name Stephen Curry GOAT after 2 MVP seasons in a row?

as far as teams, mine isn't in it, so i just like watching good games.

as far as curry? no way. two years a career does not make.

I agree. We can consider him as the GOAT for 3-4 years from now. Of course as soon as he plays at that level for that time.

Can't be the GOAT if you can't keep your knees together(cough-so many explosive style point guards here-cough).  If he can stay healthy, GS will have a great shot again this year.