Built Ford Tough

Why is Durant more reliable? Through their first 5 years of their careers: LeBron: 27.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 6.6 apg on 54.6 TS% and a 25.1 PER Durant: 26.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg on 58 TS% and a 22.2 PER LeBron made the playoffs 3 out of 5 times, advancing to the second round twice and the NBA Finals once. Durant made the playoffs 3 out of 5 times, eliminated in first round, advancing to the WCF once and whatever happens this year. LeBron averaged 28 ppg, 8 rpg, 7.1 apg on 53.3 TS% and a 23.8 PER in those 3 playoff runs. Durant averaged 26.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.8 apg on 56.3 TS% and a 22.6 PER in those 3 runs (obviously, his stats this year aren't final). LeBron won 222 regular season games and Durant won 206 games (averaged this season out to a full 82 games) LeBron was a 4 time All-Star, 1 time scoring champ*, 4 time All-NBA (2 1sts, 2 2nds) Durant was a 3 time All-Star, 3 time scoring champ, 2 time All-NBA (2 1sts) *LeBron averaged 31.4 ppg his third year and didn't win the scoring title, which is more than Durant has ever averaged despite winning 3 scoring titles. So, again, why is Durant more reliable? LeBron accomplished more individually and from a team standpoint through his first 5 years, and even if you want to throw out his "struggles" in the last few years, he still advanced further in the playoffs than Durant ever did by getting to the Finals last year (as well as another conference finals), won 3 MVP awards, but up better numbers (playoffs and regular season), scored more 4th quarter points and won more games during this time than Durant has.

And you are the most impartial person on this forum when it comes to James, right?

Also, I forgot to mention in my latest post, I have no idea what Vogel was thinking going small late in the third and early in the fourth. I know Hibbert and West were both in foul trouble, but I still hate the decision to go small against Miami. The biggest advantage the Pacers have in this series is their size and length, especially with Bosh out, yet he threw that away and played right into Miami's hands by going small. He also waited too long to bring them back in. Put them in earlier and trust that they will be able to avoid picking up their final two fouls. If they foul out, who cares, it is better than not having them on the floor when Miami was putting this game out of reach. There is no point in saving them if there is no game for them to come in and save. He is a good coach, I'm definitely not trying to say otherwise, but those were two very big blunders by him tonight. At least in my opinion.

What did LeBron finish with? 40/18/9? He did a fantastic job keeping Hibbert off the glass, especially in the 4th quarter. One thing I didn't quite understand was why Vogel took out Collison. He was probably the best Pacer on the floor tonight and was playing great on both ends of the floor, yet he went back to George Hill down the stretch. I like Hill, but he was giving the Pacers nothing all night. I didn't like that move at all. Not that I think the Pacers would've won the game had they kept Collison in, because I don't, but I don't understand why he was taken out. He was 10X better than Hill today.

At least he didn't miss both.

Haslem has been huge in this quarter. Indy is throwing everything at James and Wade daring the Heat role players to beat them. They would not hold onto this lead if not for Haslem finding his stroke again. EDIT: And as I post this, he misses a jumper. Still, the point stands.

Nice play out of the timeout for the Pacers.

Stupid shot from James. You have West, who has 4 fouls already, isolated and you take a step back jumper from the elbow? Bad decision.

Very nice play from Collison on both ends of the floor.

One thing that would worry me about the Heat's chances of holding onto this lead is just how hard LeBron and Wade have had to work to get the team back into the game. They are expending a lot of energy since the Heat aren't getting any easy baskets off of set plays. It is pretty much all LeBron creating off the bounce and Wade cutting and slashing. Will they wear down in the 4th if they have to continue to exert so much energy? Especially since LeBron has to chase Granger around multiple screens defensively as well. I know if I was a Miami fan I'd be hoping this lead will be as large as possible before Hibbert and West come back into the game.

Now West picks up his 4th. If Miami is going to really take control of this game, now would be the time with both Hibbert and West on the bench.

Big foul on Hibbert, especially with Miami getting on a roll offensively. Taking Hibbert out of the paint is huge. That was a dirty pass by James.

Nice of Wade to finally show up.

Nope. LeBron is better. You're wrong.

Actually, he has always been like this. He always acts tough, talks a lot of crap and shit like that. People just never realized it because nobody gave a damn about the Pacers for basically his entire career. This really is nothing new.

LeBron literally does everything for Miami. No player in the league comes even close to doing what he does for his team. Primary scoring option? Check. Defensive anchor? Check. Guard the best perimeter player? Check. Primary playmaker? Check. Clean up the glass? Check. Primary ball handler? Check. 4th quarter scorer? Check. * * Don't give me any garbage about him not doing anything in the 4th. Sure, he may struggle in the final two minutes, but he carries the team for the first 10 minutes of the 4th. Durant does about three of these things (primary scorer, clean up the glass and 4th quarter scorer). He does not anchor the Thunder's defense, rarely guards the best perimeter player, isn't the primary ball handler and is an average at best playmaker. Of course, none of this matters because his name is LeBron James.

Well, he doesn't have a lot of options when his big rotation consists of Dexter Pittman, Joel Anthony, Eddy Curry and Udonis Haslem. Three well below average players and one average at best. Even then, Haslem is undersized. I guess with Battier and Miller being liabilities out there (not sure about this game since I just turned it here) you might as well throw out some size but they all basically suck.

Thunder are lucky Westbrook kept them in the game for 22 of the 24 second half minutes before allowing Durant to take over.

What a shot by Durant.

Lakers offense has been pathetic over the past 6 minutes. No movement at all. They just dribble or hold the ball aimlessly only to jack up a contested jumper as the shot clock expires.

Westbrook has carried the Thunder in this half. He has hit some big shots and made some big plays.

Lakers offense has completely stagnated since Bryant came back into the game. Too much standing around and watching him hold the ball outside the arc.

Kobe turning back the clock these final few minutes. Impressive drives finishing through contact. Luckily for Westbrook that didn't appear to be knee or achilles related. Looked like a groin.

It must really suck to have 4 bigs who are basically liabilities at the end of the game. Jordan, Evans, Martin and even Griffin to an extent are all such pathetic free throw shooters that it makes it nearly impossible to make a comeback when you are playing against a coach like Pop or, really, any coach worth a damn for that matter.

I'm honestly not surprised. Ok, that may be a stretch as I can't legitimately say I saw the Spurs going on a 24-0 run and holding the Clippers to 4 points through the first 10:30 of the quarter, but I am not surprised at all to see the Spurs come back and take the lead. I just love watching this team when they are clicking. So much fun to watch.