Jesse Jackson response to Cavs owner Gilbert

[Charge]

95% is about what he shot from the free throw line. He averaged over 30 pts a game that year, LeBron averaged 29.7 this year, so I don't get your point.

[Rebels on 3]

My point is take Rick Barry in his prime and match him up against LeBron and who do you think would win?

[Charge]

Shooting I would take Barry, athletic wise I would take LeBron. That Washington team Barry beat, had Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld on it, they were pretty good players.

[Rebels on 3]

Not as good as LBJ.

[JChipwood]

Maybe the people of Cleveland liked winning the 19 games they did the year before Lebron got there.

So overall who wouldn't take Lebron over Barry?? Barry was a better shooter but that is a very minute part of the game, however that is a part that seems glamorous and gets highlights on SC. About the equivalent of saying Lebron dunks better than Barry did......... so what. Who sees the floor, passes the ball, REBOUNDS, and plays defense better? That makes a player not shooting the ball. Many great shooters can't play for a living because they are shooters not basketball players.

[Rebels on 3]

Maybe the people of Cleveland liked winning the 19 games they did the year before Lebron got there.

So overall who wouldn't take Lebron over Barry?? Barry was a better shooter but that is a very minute part of the game, however that is a part that seems glamorous and gets highlights on SC. About the equivalent of saying Lebron dunks better than Barry did......... so what. Who sees the floor, passes the ball, REBOUNDS, and plays defense better? That makes a player not shooting the ball. Many great shooters can't play for a living because they are shooters not basketball players.

Good post.

[Charge]

Year Player PTS FG% FT% RB AST
(1) Barry 24.8 44 86 10.2 2.1
(1) James 20.9 41 75 5.5 5.9
(2) Barry 31.5 45 86 8.1 2.1
(2) James 27.2 47 75 7.4 7.2
(3) Barry 31.5 51 89 8.7 3.6
(3) James 31.4 48 73 7.0 6.6
(4) Barry 28.8 50 86 7.1 3.5
(4) James 27.3 47 70 6.7 6.0
(5) Barry 24.9 47 90 5.8 4.2
(5) James 30.0 48 71 7.9 7.2
(6) Barry 25.1 46 88 6.0 3.3
(6) James 28.4 48 78 7.6 7.2
(7) Barry 21.4 45 90 8.5 4.7
(7) James 29.7 50 76 7.3 8.6

This is Barry and James stats for their first seven years. The REBOUNDS sounded good until you look at the stats and see Barry avg 7.77 rebounds his first 7 years and Le Bron avg 7.05.

[farmer]

Rick Barry played only one year with the 3 point line.

Gilbert did say that Lebron would not even talk with Coach Izzo when the Cavs were interested in him as a coach. That makes it seem like Lebron had his mind made up. Gilbert was trying to help but LeBron would not talk to the owner.

[Raiderball]

95% of people dont even know who Rick Barry is. Also look at teams and player from that time and compare to now.

You must be a youngster if you dont know who Rick Barry is.

[JChipwood]

I emphasized rebounds because of all the silly analysis based on shooting by everyone. Funny part is that Lebron makes his team better by passing the ball (assists) which is the stat with the biggest margin on the list, everything else is pretty close. Too many people get caught up in SC and their second rate sports stories and emphasis on numbers because most of the sportscasters don't have the ability to watch the game and determine what makes a good player and who is a good player.

As far as Izzo goes, double edge sword imho. Lebron talks to him (?????) and gets accused of running the team - doesn't talk to him and gets accused of letting the team down. Gilbert was the one selling Cleveland to Izzo and most people that follow the two levels of basketball knew Izzo wouldn't leave MSU for any NBA job. He loves to teach, makes plenty of money, loves recruiting, is a saint in E. Lansing, has a close friend that tested the pro waters and saw the difference firsthand, loves to teach (x2), and has built the most consistant program in the nation recently.

[Rebels on 3]

Another thing you have to remember is LeBron was only 20 years old three years into his NBA career, and to put up stats like that at that age is amazing.

[JChipwood]

^^^ Yep!

[Charge]

I think LeBron is a fine player, I don’t like that he is so full of himself. My point is everyone is making him out to be the greatest player ever, look at Barry’s stats for example they are just as good as LeBrons. We really didn’t need an hour special for LeBron to talk about himself in the third person. He has no championships and now if he gets one he will be like ARod in baseball. Assists are great to have. If you are a point guard you are going to have more assists then someone who plays forward or center, just as the forward, or center should have more rebounds than a guard. There have been several great players in the NBA with stats that match or exceed LeBron’s. If he would be a little more humble, he would be more likeable. I watched him play in the state tournament and he even had different rules than. As far as what the Heat done, I really don’t care for. They are the Yankees of the NBA now, I personally like it when teams are more evenly matched.

[Rebels on 3]

I agree that he didnt need to do an hour special on ESPN just to say where he was goin. He should have just did it like everyone else and just signed. Also alot of people to try to make him out to be the greatest. Dont get me wrong he is great, and will be remembered forever because of his talents. But until he win 5 or 6 championships like Jordan and Kobe he will always be known as second best.

[JChipwood]

Yes and no..... I personally don't think a team trophy defines individual talents. Bo Jackson and Barry Sanders weren't great by that philosophy? Allen Iverson wasn't a great player. I do agree totally that the blown up ordeal was ridiculous and he could have just signed the contract. I have watched enough pro sports to know that he isn't alone in being full of himself but some players get a pass because their team has more rings which is wrong. Many 25 year olds need humbled. The NBA is a league of seperate rule books for different levels of stardom and that is absurd.

I really don't mind what the Heat have accomplished and moreover what the players have done to sacrifice individuality and money. That is really missing in sports today and as silly as the signing thing was the sacrafice of those 2 things more than equals it out for me. I'd rather see the look at us attitude than the look at me stuff.