Who is currently the best player in the NBA?

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A difficult question to answer

I am a huge NBA fan, I watch most nationally televised game and nearly every Suns game, and I often think about the question of who the best player is.

A lot of it depends on the criteria one uses to determine what "best" means. Is it the most skilled player? (I'd say Kobe). The most athletic player? (LeBron would be my choice here). The player who most helps his team go? (Steve Nash would be my homer pick).

When it comes down to it--as much as it pains me to say this--I'd say the best player in the NBA is Tim Duncan. I do not like the San Antonio Spurs (in fact I hate them with every fiber of my being) but it is impossible to argue with Duncan's track record. The guy wins games. He plays basketball the right way (despite his constant whining after every call).

Duncan is getting old, however; and there appears to be a new big dog emerging to take his place as the best player in the NBA. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is quickly becoming the most dominant big man in the game today. The dude has infinite potential. Not only is he an absolute physical beast, he is a devout Christian and won't harm his body with drugs/alcohol which cannot be said for a lot of the players. You could legitimately see Howard dominate into at least his mid-30's, considering the guy is barely into his 20's he has the potential to shatter records in the league.
Posted on: 12-21-2007, 1:32 AM
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Everyone has some flaw

Replied to: LeBron's got it all
It's hard to pinpoint the best player in the NBA right now because everyone has some kind of flaw. LeBron is amazing and is averaging insane numbers, but even with LeBron back in the lineup, Cleveland is struggling and they've lost 10 of their last 13 now. He also needs to work on his free throws. Dwight Howard is a beast in the paint, but the magic has been in a slump and Dwight Howard's poor free throw shooting isn't helping. Kobe is playing like his usual self and his team is getting better, but his numbers aren't mvp caliber. Nash is probably averaging around his average, but he is surrounded by great players. Kevin Garnett is also dominating defensively and helping out Boston to the best start in years but you can attribute that to have Ray Allen and Paul Pierce next to you. So really, anyone of these guys can take the MVP in my book. It just depends how you look at it and what your definition of MVP is. I'm going to wait the rest of the season before I make my pick.
Posted on: 12-24-2007, 11:35 PM
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LBJ the new 23

Lebron? overrated!? Whoever thinks that needs a whoopin'.



Lebron is the most physically dominating player in the league. As a high-school senior he was 6'8" and around 240 lbs. D-Howard is probably the best physical specimen in the league, but he's 6'10" and kinda slow.

Lebron can play the 1-4, and could probably match up against a smaller 5 (center). Defense still a little weak, but by no means awful. Best finisher for his size (yes, a better finisher than kobe). His jumpshot is improving daily, and the 3 pointer we saw against detroit when he dropped 51 and led his team to the finals is falling smooth like silk.

Why compare him to Michael Jordan, though? Different styles completely. Lebron is like a Magic Johnson or Oscar Robertson. Who else in the league can get you 30 pts, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists and still shoot over 40%? Jason Kidd, maybe, but where are the Nets? nowhere. Cleveland was the worst team in the league, and without LBJ still are the worst team in the league.

We'll see Lebron lift him game up when they face the Celtics in the eastern finals, and once again we'll see LBJ in the finals. PLAYING THE SUNS HOPEFULLY.
Posted on: 01-25-2008, 1:58 PM
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LeBron's got it all

There is currently no better player in the NBA than LeBron James. He has the court vision, the athleticism to get to the basket at will, and the strength to get any rebound he wants. He single handedly led his mediocre team through the playoffs last year and into the NBA Finals, and is currently close to averaging a triple double.

As much as I enjoy watching players such as Steve Nash (who is my favorite player but has a ton of talent surrounding him), Dwayne Wade (who has ridiculous plays but plays with Shaq on a currently terrible team), or Gilbert Arenas (who always seems to make ridiculous buzzer beaters, though they're usually against a terrible team like the Bucks). I mean who does LeBron have surrounding him, Z?

The only thing one needs to look at to validate my points are to look at his highlight reel from last years playoffs, he destroyed opponents, something other players fail to do consistently. He is the future of the NBA, and we are currently all witness.
Posted on: 12-19-2007, 3:47 PM , Last edited: 12-19-2007, 3:49 PM
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LeBron=overrated

Replied to: LeBron's got it all
You are nonsense. Lebron is very overrated, for the following reasons:

1. His stats are very inflated and skewed. For instance, in the 25 points or so he'll make in one game, at the very most 45% will actually be shots that may be deemed worthy. The vast vast majority (over 75%) of his shots are within the 10-15 foot vicinity of the basket, and since when has that been acceded to being called "the best" ?

2. He single-handedly took his team to the finals.. that is, through the eastern division. And what exactly does the eastern division entail-the barren wizards team (lacking Arenas), antiquated nets team, and a very dejected pistons? With that kind of standards, any team could "single-handedly" be taken to the finals. Clearly shown by them being demolished during the finals, the conference final result was nothing more than a reflection of how much the east sucks, not of LeBron's strength.

3. He consistently airballs from the free throw line (what does he have, an at the most 70% free throw rate?,) he gets away with too much (example-traveling during the playoffs against the Wizards), he doesn't play well under pressure (as shown by the 2007 finals or any 4th quarter Cavs game for that matter)..etc

4. His hype is more potent than his actual game. It seems like what carries LeBron is not his stats but rather the attention he receives- as the "King," as the kid who came directly from high school, as the next MJ, as the "rags to riches" player..etc.

In about a few years, I agree- maybe he will be the best player in the NBA. But until then, call him a player with the most potential, or one of the most entertaining players on the court, or commend him for bringing some light into an otherwise deplorable Cleveland team... NOT the status quo best player.
Posted on: 12-20-2007, 11:40 PM
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LeBron? oh Please

Who do i think the best player is in the NBA?
Well uhmm defenetly not ching ding ring MING or what ever his name is. of corse its nash. thats a given.
Posted on: 01-11-2008, 7:51 PM
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motivation

LeBron dropped 41 @ Los Angeles to get the W.

In Toronto a few weeks ago, Chris Bosh's girlfriend and some of her friends were heckling LBJ due to his poor performance. He missed a dunk! How embarrassing. Then, in the 4th quarter. He lit it up, and took over to get the Win for his team.

After being swept in the finals, he was mad. Worked on his game and now he has that missing jumpshot. When Amare is heckled, or isn't doing well, you can tell he kind of gets frustrated, the sign of an immature player. I love Amare, but he's not as mature as LBJ.
Posted on: 01-29-2008, 1:10 AM
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Not Lebron

In my opinion, Lebron has yet to prove himself as the one of the top three, let alone the best player in the NBA.

His lack of a reliable jump shot is mainly what is holding him back. The ability to consistently knock down a jump shot from anywhere inside the arc is what made Jordan the greatest ever and currently makes Kobe the hardest player to defend in the NBA. Due to his size, Lebron can get in the lane and score in the paint better than Kobe and maybe even Jordan. The problem is, that's pretty much all he can do. Sure he has great court vision and passing skills. But, if you look back at his highlight reels, his best passes are almost always a result of him getting into the paint, drawing a couple of defenders, then dishing it out to one of his teammates.

The point of all this? Defenders have learned that leaving Lebron an abundance of space when he's outside is a no-cost option because his jumper is more often off than on. Until he learns to at least hit mid range jump shots on a regular basis, players like Kobe, and even McGrady, will continue to be much more taxing on defenses in the NBA.
Posted on: 12-29-2007, 2:26 AM , Last edited: 12-29-2007, 2:26 AM
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Re: LeBron's got it all

Replied to: LeBron's got it all
Yao Ming ftw.

No but seriously, LeBron is great. Maybe not Michael Jordan great (for now) but he is a good player, young, and in an up-and-coming team. Can't ask for anything more if you want to see a nobody become a great.
Posted on: 12-29-2007, 2:40 PM
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Stats don't Lie

When you talk about the best player it gets difficult because of what you look at when you decide who is the best player. Are you looking at winning, or at offense, defense, or what. When you look at a player all around I think it does become clear that their are only really a couple of players who could be called the best.
The first of these would be Dwight Howard. With all due respect to Duncan, who is one of the if not the best pf of all time, Howard has taken over the top big man role, 23-15-3 is just too much to ignore. Combined with the fact that he is on a winning team, even in the east, that has managed to take down a tough Boston team.
The next one would be the commonly claimed Kobe Bryant. Averaging 27-6-5 along with 2 steals puts him in big number land. In addition to this he has his team winning in the tough west, including a big win against the suns early on.
The last player who I feel deserves discussion is LeBron James. The numbers he has put up have been insane so far this year, 30-7.5-7.5 along with 2 steals and 1.25 blocks. Well he certainly has some flaws, mostly on the ft lane, and beyond the arc, along with some questions on defense, I still feel that those huge Jordan like numbers, compared to Jordan's best overall season of 32.5-8-8-3-1. I think coming this close to those numbers is super impressive, along with the fact that James is pretty much singlehandedly keeping the Cavs afloat as seen when he went down recently.
Posted on: 12-21-2007, 5:16 PM
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