Lebron and Wade!! THE FUTURE OF THE NBA....oh yeah and melo

[John-John Joe]

Just like I was trying to tell cats last year Bron Bron is without a DOUBT the better player than Melo. Bron isn't only the future but he's the present, yes, the present. Here's how I rank the league's perimeter players. Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch I understand that some of the following players also spend time at the three, but we all know that these are the guys who we all debate about in terms of the two guard position.

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Paul Pierce
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Vince Carter

"WHAT??? Did this dude just say that a freakin' second year player is better than [insert name here]?!?"

Yes, I did and I'll kill it even more. He was number two the day he first took the NBA hardwood against the Kings last year, I just didn't know it then....

[Donatello]

hm...not really an argument with that....just curious where you would place ray allen?

[MaD_hAND1e]

I agreed. Carmelo Anthony is just another Glenn Robinson but with different style of play.

... isn't that the same as saying apple and oranges are the same thing, except they are different?

But I think the off court problems may have affected Melo, he just doesn't have the experience and maturity to handle it, therefore it affects his game.

I think Ray Allen would be better than Vince

[fgrep15]

Just like I was trying to tell cats last year Bron Bron is without a DOUBT the better player than Melo. Bron isn't only the future but he's the present, yes, the present. Here's how I rank the league's perimeter players. Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch I understand that some of the following players also spend time at the three, but we all know that these are the guys who we all debate about in terms of the two guard position.

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Paul Pierce
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Vince Carter

"WHAT??? Did this dude just say that a freakin' second year player is better than [insert name here]?!?"

Yes, I did and I'll kill it even more. He was number two the day he first took the NBA hardwood against the Kings last year, I just didn't know it then....

Don't agree with that, I think this year he's arguable at 1st, but a good 2nd, but last year he didn't have the defensive intensity, and also had poor shot selection, he didn't face as much defensive pressure as the other guys because he was a rookie and you don't give a rookie that much respect till they earn it, but he took too many jumpshots for a guy so athletic and long [Carmelo drove more than him], and his defense was very lacking.

[John-John Joe]

hm...not really an argument with that....just curious where you would place ray allen?

Hey Don... (love the name, I'm quite sure it is in reference to the philosopher biut I used to be a big Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles fan. LOL)

Ray-Ray? I think you'd have to put Ray at a solid six and steadily approcahing number 5 status. One might retort that he should be number 5 over underacheiving Vince and I might have to give that some credence..... But for right now I'm comfortable with him at the six spot.....

[John-John Joe]

Just like I was trying to tell cats last year Bron Bron is without a DOUBT the better player than Melo. Bron isn't only the future but he's the present, yes, the present. Here's how I rank the league's perimeter players. Now before anyone gets their panties in a bunch I understand that some of the following players also spend time at the three, but we all know that these are the guys who we all debate about in terms of the two guard position.

1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Paul Pierce
4. Tracy McGrady
5. Vince Carter

"WHAT??? Did this dude just say that a freakin' second year player is better than [insert name here]?!?"

Yes, I did and I'll kill it even more. He was number two the day he first took the NBA hardwood against the Kings last year, I just didn't know it then....

Don't agree with that, I think this year he's arguable at 1st, but a good 2nd, but last year he didn't have the defensive intensity, and also had poor shot selection, he didn't face as much defensive pressure as the other guys because he was a rookie and you don't give a rookie that much respect till they earn it, but he took too many jumpshots for a guy so athletic and long [Carmelo drove more than him], and his defense was very lacking.

Everything you say makes perfect sense but you have to completely throw logic out of the window when discussing Bron Bron. You really do.

- Respect should be earned and not granted.

- His defense which to me is still suspect was very bad last year at times.

- Shot selection was suspect as well, typical for a rook learning the ins and outs of the game....you definitely know the game fgrep....

Now, do I still stand by that statement? Yup! Why? Simple, because his IQ is off the charts. Right now he's a smarter player than 8 year veteran and 3 time champ Kobe Bryant and last year despite just learning the game he still was.

Floor vision from day one was top 5 along with passing ability, athleticism and unselfishness. Sure everything you named was true but was also indicative of what it means to be a rookie in this league.

He's a special breed, and yes, was number two the day he first set foot on the floor.

[J@3]

hm...not really an argument with that....just curious where you would place ray allen?

Hey Don... (love the name, I'm quite sure it is in reference to the philosopher biut I used to be a big Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles fan. LOL)

Lol funnily enough it actually is a Ninja Turtles reference.

[John-John Joe]

hm...not really an argument with that....just curious where you would place ray allen?

Hey Don... (love the name, I'm quite sure it is in reference to the philosopher biut I used to be a big Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles fan. LOL)

Lol funnily enough it actually is a Ninja Turtles reference.

Oh okay, so I wasn't going in the wrong direction there!

[Dogg]

It seems Melo is out of his slump and hitting shots again.
Good for him.

[beau_boy04]

I could have not put it better. Lebron was number 2 as soon as he planted his foot in the hardwood. Kobe, you better watch out next year or maybe even this year.

[John-John Joe]

I could have not put it better. Lebron was number 2 as soon as he planted his foot in the hardwood. Kobe, you better watch out next year or maybe even this year.

True indeed, and I NEVER thought I'd be uttering these words. Kobe is my favorite player on the planet earth but when it comes to the game of basketball I'm an NBA fan before I'm a Laker fan. I push aside any hint of "homerism" so I can just weigh in with good, solid critical analysis...

Before Bron Bron stepped foot in the league, admittedly I was a first class hater. There were several factors why, I suppose primarily it was the fact that ESPN was broadcasting his high school games and gushing over him like they wanted to date him or something. It sickened me to the core....

I made sure to watch those games and came away unimpressed, expecting him to drop like 60 points and be this high wire act that was Jordan, Dr. J and Dominique all rolled into one. I kept saying, "This is nonsense. So what if he's doing well against a bunch of friggin high school kids? They're like six to seven inches shorter than he is!"

Then there was that nickname, "King James." The audacity, the sheer gall of this kid to liken himself to royalty. And once the shit hit the proverbial fan about the throwback jerseys and the hummer I truly didn't like him and awaited his downfall so I could see all of those ESPN guys look real stupid for giving him so much so early........

I watched the McDonald's All-American game and couldn't believe it when he threw that behind the back flip pass while going out of bounds that must have traveled 40 feet right into the hands of the intended receiver. "Whatever, that was pure luck!" And took another swig of Haterade......

So he steps into the league ready for his first NBA game against the Sacramento Kings and I could NOT wait for him to come crashing down to earth. And what happens? I saw the past, present and future right before my very eyes. Two more games and I was hooked, he'd converted me and won himself a life long fan. Paul Pierce needs to give up the moniker to someone who really deserves it, LeBRon James is the TRUTH.

[fgrep15]

Everything you say makes perfect sense but you have to completely throw logic out of the window when discussing Bron Bron. You really do.

- Respect should be earned and not granted.

- His defense which to me is still suspect was very bad last year at times.

- Shot selection was suspect as well, typical for a rook learning the ins and outs of the game....you definitely know the game fgrep....

Now, do I still stand by that statement? Yup! Why? Simple, because his IQ is off the charts. Right now he's a smarter player than 8 year veteran and 3 time champ Kobe Bryant and last year despite just learning the game he still was.

Floor vision from day one was top 5 along with passing ability, athleticism and unselfishness. Sure everything you named was true but was also indicative of what it means to be a rookie in this league.

He's a special breed, and yes, was number two the day he first set foot on the floor

I hear what you're saying, but last year, I'm talking about when the season started before the Tmac breakdown, how many people would've said Lebron is a better player even if he put up 20-5-5 considering Tmac just can of a 32-6-5 year?

Not one person, Tmac was still being vastly argued with Kobe as to who was the better SG, and Kobe's advantage at that time was mostly the same only one he has on Lebron now, defense.

[John-John Joe]

Everything you say makes perfect sense but you have to completely throw logic out of the window when discussing Bron Bron. You really do.

- Respect should be earned and not granted.

- His defense which to me is still suspect was very bad last year at times.

- Shot selection was suspect as well, typical for a rook learning the ins and outs of the game....you definitely know the game fgrep....

Now, do I still stand by that statement? Yup! Why? Simple, because his IQ is off the charts. Right now he's a smarter player than 8 year veteran and 3 time champ Kobe Bryant and last year despite just learning the game he still was.

Floor vision from day one was top 5 along with passing ability, athleticism and unselfishness. Sure everything you named was true but was also indicative of what it means to be a rookie in this league.

He's a special breed, and yes, was number two the day he first set foot on the floor

I hear what you're saying, but last year, I'm talking about when the season started before the Tmac breakdown, how many people would've said Lebron is a better player even if he put up 20-5-5 considering Tmac just can of a 32-6-5 year?

Not one person, Tmac was still being vastly argued with Kobe as to who was the better SG, and Kobe's advantage at that time was mostly the same only one he has on Lebron now, defense.

Understandable, to answer your question about how many people would have said what I said? Not many, they just didn't know yet. They were actually arguing that Melo was not only better but way better, that wasn't only laughable to me but it wasn't even open to discussion where I stood.

I can honestly say that I knew he was the second best perimeter player in the league in December of 2003.