The Lakers are overrated
0-2, baby!!! I couldn't quite understand why Laker fanboys were celebrating the Harden trade like they just won the Western Conference title. For a team that went 0-8 in the pre-season--which basically means they have not won a single game since their summer heist--I just don't get the cockiness. It's just absolutely ridiculous. Of course it's too early in the season, but considering that they lost rather easily to a Dirk-less Mavs and a rebuilding Portland team, I'd say it's a much more alarming predicament than the Laker Nation would like to believe.
Here are just some reasons why: Steve Nash can't play more than 30 minutes a game. Neither can he defend. His backup, Steve Blake, wouldn't make the cut in at least 20 other NBA teams... Pau Gasol is declining faster than Boris Diaw has been gaining weight. Just 3 years ago, he was arguably the most offensively polished big man in the league. Right now, he's not even in the same level as a 36-year old Tim Duncan... The only way this is gonna work for the Lakers is for Kobe to limit his touches and dump the ball inside to the bigs and let Nash run pick-and-rolls. Does anyone really think the most selfish player of all-time can do that?
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OKC won't win the West
To say that I was surprised by the Harden trade is an understatement. OKC GM Sam Presti is well-respected in NBA circles but it still doesn't make much sense--the timing, at least. Why not try to win the title this year and then decide on Harden at the end of the season? I reckon that if they have the #1 seed in the West before the trade deadline, and the media keeps on pestering Harden about his future, he'll eventually sign an extension. If not, then they could've simply shopped him and got better value. The getting familiar with the system argument doesn't really hold because they traded him way after summer camp anyway.
Sure, they got decent players in return. Kevin Martin is a solid scorer but he's not the spark plug that Harden is off the bench. More importantly, it's a chemistry thing. Durant, Westbrook and Harden genuinely liked playing with each other. And chemistry is such a peculiar thing--it's not just a matter of other players filling in for Harden's stats.
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LeBron will not be the GOAT
Bill Simmons recently wrote an article about LeBron possibly surpassing Michael Jordan as the greatest of all-time. Charles Barkley also made a similar statement recently. Of course, it's all too premature but let me quote Simmons himself on why any LBJ as GOAT argument must fail:
"Michael Jordan would have wanted to
kick Dwyane Wade's butt every spring, not play with him. This should be
mentioned every day for the rest of LeBron's career. It's also the
kryptonite for any 'Some day we'll remember
LeBron James as the best basketball player ever' argument. We will not.
Jordan and Russell were the greatest players of all time. Neither of
them would have made the choice that LeBron did. That should tell you
something."
Sure, LeBron will probably end up with more career points, rebounds and assists. He'll probably even surpass MJ's 5 MVPs. Heck, the 6 titles isn't totally out of the equation. But when we put things into perspective, remember the 2011 NBA Finals. Remember the 2010 East semis against Boston. Yes, he got over the hump but it doesn't erase those times when he quit. MJ lost to Larry's Boston Celtics and to Detroit's Bad Boys before finally winning his first title, but he never quit in any of those series.
For me, LeBron's ceiling is Kareem. Number 3 of all-time. Great career stats and individual accolades. But both never had Mike's aura of invincibility. Nor Bill Russell's "there's no effin' way my team is losing today" type of leadership.
