I do think Billups can take over a game, and he has done it b4, he just played like shit in these playoffs, as did the whole Pistons team.
I think saying he played like shit is an understatement. But, by taking over a game, I mean the other team just knows they can't stop him. That happened a number of times in the Finals. The Mavs couldn't stop him, and yes, they tried just about everything. They tried the zone, they tried to deny him the ball, and they did double team him in the fourth quarters. And they couldn't stop him.
Yes Wade took over the finals, but IMO he wasnt extremely dominant. There wre spurts when he would just go off, when he would get an easy look, then put togehter a string of 4 free throws, and a difficult shot or too. Just remember that more than half of his points were from the free throw line.
Most of the foul calls he got were legitimate. Josh Howard had no faith his the weakside defense. He played defense with his hands and not his feet, and he's their best on-ball defender. Wade was being grabbed all series long. He earned most of his free throws.
Wow, Wade ahead of Kobe. I am the biggest non-Kobe fan there is out there, but I don't agree with this one.
Kobe doesn't make players around him better. He just doesn't. And that is a major weakness. Wade doesn't nearly get the credit he deserves for his passing ability.
Flopping and actually getting hit and falling are two different things. When you act like you were molested and fall 10 feet that is flopping, when someone comes down the lane like a crazy ass and knocks you over that is charge.
One is a pussy foul and one is being a man.
He played a very cerebral game about it. If I had to compare Wade's movements to anyone, it would be Vince Young. You just can't fathom how fast he is moving because of the fluid motions he makes. If the officials are going to call, you flop. Blame the officials. Wade isn't cheating or being a pussy. He was playing smart. Don't think LBJ doesn't do the same thing. The biggest difference is that Lebron whines more.
I know the teams would of been different, but there is no doubt in my mind that you put LBj on a team with Shaq and Zo, and then have a guy like Haslem Walker and Williams to hold the defenders from double teaming LBJ. This team wins the finals. If they clog the middle how is Wade able to get to the hole. I promise you that LBJ could get to the hole, and LBJ can spread a D more than Wade, b/c he can hit the 3, unlike Wade who hardly takes them.
I think you answered your own question, b/c while you say Wade needs the support LBJ doesnt and with the support he is that much better.
Wade couldn't get a team to the second round of the playoffs without support. Lebron can. But it's in the difference of style. When Lebron pulls up for a jumper, it could go in just as many times as it airballs. So players play off of Lebron. When LBJ drives, the defender sags into the paint, where Lebron leans in for contact, and a possible 3-point play. Wade, on the other hand, has a 15-20 foot jumper defenders have to respect. So they play tight on him, and he blows by, leaving his defender to grab at him, or allowing him into the paint. Either way, the defender isn't cloggin the paint, so Shaq can screen his man out of the paint, leaving space. The same wouldn't work with Lebron.
The question really is, could Lebron play on a team where he doesn't HAVE to take over. Commentators gush over his vision all the time, but Lebron has to have the ball in his hands. He has to have it. He can't run off screens or spot up for jumpers. Wade can do those things. So could Lebron be effective on a team where he doesn't have the ball in his hands on every possession, or where he is asked to move without the ball? I haven't seen him move consistently without the ball at any point in his career to this point, so I'd say no.
I said with a solid 2g. They would be unstoppable and depending on if the 2g was a solid outside shooter, I think they are very good. In that position I think Bosh could be a goto guy. He wouldnt take a game over, but they would be a very tough team to contend with and I think that he could lead them to the finals.
You think too highly of Chris Bosh. He's a poor man's Jermaine O'Neal at this point. He has a ton of that dirty word, "upside." But don't kid yourself. He's not close to ready to "lead" on a championship stage. And there's no one else on that Miami team capable of being the goto guy.
As for Anthony, I am sure they would have a little different lineup, but the point is the same that he could be able to score when Shaq is the focus of the offense.
I have not seen a point where Carmelo has taken over a game as a pro. He has difficulty creating his own shot, and I fear that he's reached his ceiling. Shaq isn't good enough to be the focal point of any championship-caliber offense at this point in his career.
The point in this is basically that Wade is not head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the class.
Wade and Lebron are head and shoulders above Carmelo and Bosh. Wade is slightly ahead of Lebron, in my opinion, because of his maturity, intelligence and humility. Lebron has him on talent, skill, and athleticism. But he's far behind on the former 3.
Yeah, but that was 2 years b4 they went to the finals when they had more experience. It was also back in the days of the best of 5, when you had upsets. I agree with the regular season thing, but to say that b/c they won 2 games any other team could of, is a little off base.
I didn't say "any other team could." But this Heat team certainly could. Wade is better than Payton or Kemp were on that Sonics team. You make it sound like the Heat are a mediocre team that got lucky because the NBA sucks, that the Sonics were a great team that got unlucky because they ran into the Bulls, and the Bulls were an unbeatable team that slipped up against a great team led by Shawn Kemp. If that's the scenario, you're wrong on all counts.
Also tell me how Wade scores the points he would need to win, against Jordan and Scottie.
A valid point. Certainly they are better defenders than stone-hands Josh Howard. But I believe Wade is a great player, and great offensive players will get their points against good defensive players.
I never said Wade isnt good, but wait till Shaq is retired and LBJ takes over the Eastern conference. The comparison will be few and far between, just like they were with Kobe.
This is an argument that will be settled in the future when the scenario plays itself out. But I reiterate that this Shaq is half as good as the old Shaq.
Again, this kind of exaggerated statement makes me think you're biased because Wade won a title b4 Lebron.
