Mugthis said:
Is it? Stylistically, it's a huge difference, but in terms of effectiveness? Statistically, Bosh is as valuable if not more so than mid-80's Kareem. I know i know i know. Kareem vs. Bosh? Har har har. This should not be crazy. We're talking 10-15 years after Kareem's peak. He was about to retire. He was old as shit. It shouldn't be controversial to say that 39-year old (back when that really meant something) Kareem isn't a huge advantage over an all-star center in their prime.
First off, this is a great debate, very fun to discuss.
But wow, Bosh is up there with Kareem? Kareem was still averaging close to 20ppg and shooting 57%, and when your team can just dump it off in the post on demand and you are going to get 1.14 points per shot thats a huge thing. Bosh's numbers are helped by 3s and 3s are great to spread the floor (remember that inside out spreads the floor as well) but you cant take them on demand. So to me if Kareem & Bosh's PPS were identical I think Kareem is more valuable because of his on demand offensive ability. Kareem was old in years but he was effective from an efficiency standpoint to almost the very end, and his one freak move required almost zero athletic ability.
Mugthis said:Well, that's basically all you need. Fast breaks are run by wing players primarily. And it's also misleading, Bosh is a good moving big-man, who can also spot up for a 3 on a fast break, and LeBron and Wade can run down the court like no other while having always have the option to kick out to Ray Allen or the many other 3-point shooters that trail on their fast breaks. This didn't exist much in the 80s but it's a huge part of today's game, especially for the Heat. To claim that any team is superior to Heat in the open court requires A LOT of evidence.
And the Heat have nothing like Magic? LeBron is like Magic, only better and more versatile.
So you're implying that as long as you have 2 great fast break players thats all you need so having 4 of those guys provides no additional value? There are diminishing returns but there are still returns. I dont think we can prove statistically how efficient or effective either teams fast break is, but I can say that the Lakers fast break was the best I have ever seen.
Lebron is a different type of player. You have made the case that 'no one can defend Lebron because of all of his unique abilities', and my counterpoint is that Magic also has unique abilities that are comparable to Lebron. I realize you think Lebron is the best player in the world ever and forever, but there are superstars who have had similar impacts on their teams in different ways and Magic is one of those guys.