[Highlight] LeBron James and Marcus Smart pretend to slow down, trying to bite more time from the clock, and suddenly Smart finds LeBron for the cutting dunk (with replays).
Lakers up 7, with less than a minute remaining in regulation
Kevin Durant has never been, and will never be a better basketball player than LeBron James
Had to join a 73-9 team to beat him amen
Hate that coward for that. Single-handedly tainted his legacy
Also denied LeBron his legit chances at getting a couple of more championships
Seriously. This. Golden state vs the cavs was already incredible basketball. Its possible we could be talking about 6 time champion lebron right now. Kd ruined it all.
Things people need to bring up/discuss more:
fuck yeah, i remember when 2017 to 2018.. KD is more better on LeBron. just like they forgot KD just in the Warriors. KD is really no a bus driver. He cant lead. lmao
Dont sell your team short. Yall would have had al horford had kd committed. Would have had 3/ 4 contenders with gsw, okc and rockets
Yeah it would have been a great time for the league even if the Warriors won. It took until 2019 for things to shift back to some sort of normal.
I’m ok with it
[deleted]
You have got to be like 15 years old. Heat were a first round exit when LeBron joined. They rebuilt the team around him. The warriors were 2 minutes away from 73-9 and a ring before KD joined. They were the exact same team after, except now with KD (minus Harrison Barnes but cmon). That’s not the same thing at all
bron made a super team with bosh and wade
KD joined an already established superteam with splash bros and dray
they are not the same
You’re playing dumb and only listing the similarities. List their team record.
no it didn’t. it saved his legacy and that’s why he did it
I remember most people thinking at the time how he was the best player on the warriors
he is frequently ranked above kawhi and harden because of those 2 FMVPs that he has on the greatest roster ever assembled
KD does not win shit if he didn’t join the warriors, and so therefore it has saved his legacy and propelled him into that top 15⁄12 conversation
Yep, it’s tainted but still better than if he never won
I don’t think it’s better than if he never won. But it directly affected my team and I view it as the softest move in sports history and really hold it against him. The fact the warriors won titles shortly before he got there and shortly after he left doesn’t help his cause either.
We think that way because we were here for it but in 20-30 years the details will be forgotten
I dont think so but we will see. It’s all documented. People still remember a lot of sports related bitch moves and betrayals
Very doubtful since KD’s move legitimately broke the league. Maybe if he had joined a team that had gone 62-20, it wouldn’t be seen as such a big deal, but he joined a 73-9 team that went on a warpath in the regular season.
it saved KD’s legacy and solidified Steph’s
He really isn’t in the top 15 discussion
I think this is the best argument I’ve heard. Have to agree.
Nah, I didn’t think so
That thunder team was up 3-1 on that 73 win warriors team. In a series clinching game at home, he went 10 for 31. They lost by by 7
If you can’t beat them, join them
How does it taint his legacy? Thoes are the only championships he has, he’d be ringless without the move.
I get its a bad rap, but he clearly needed to do it to win, which helps his legacy. Maybe the Thunder get one if he stays, but I doubt they are ever getting past that GSW team.
It’s taints his legacy because of how astoundingly cowardly it was, something that only becomes more apparent with his continued failures after he left
They were 3-1 up on GSW
Sure he got rings, but I genuinely think it’s one of the few legit ‘asterix’ championships there are in the NBA. Injuries happen, Covid was a generational event, I’m pretty pro union so I still count shortened lockout seasons too. But KD, he joined the greatest regular season team in history after choking against them.
Sure most of the vitriol and circumstances will fade with time, but I have to believe people will never forget how down feather soft that move was. Not that I speak for the streets.
KD’s legacy is he is one of the league’s greatest scorers ever, and one of its worst winners.
But, thats just like, my opinion man.
Tainted his and built Steph’s, pretty crazy lol
Biggest bitch move in basketball history
Sports history
Amen didn’t go 73-9 last year.
The fact that he still looks like a deer in headlights when facing a double team is crazy.
Expected him to turn it over every single time he got doubled, most of the time he did lol
He lookin for Steph to bail him out
He tried passing but his teammates have bricks for hands :(
His passes were shit. He was just chucking the ball around
The worst superstar in nba history at handling double teams. Baffling how bad he still is
Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave?
What’s controversial about it? Year 17 and can’t beat a double team as a 7 footer?
Buddy, he’s making fun of you for stating the obvious
highest iq laker fan
WHO has said otherwise
getoffmydickerson
The people who voted him MVP that one year.
Multiple podcasts at least imply it, hell even Zach Lowe never stops with the “its Kevin Freaking Durant”. Lot’s of people think it
lebron james might be a better player than me
Nobody serious has ever said “Kevin Durant is a better basketball player than LeBron James.” That’s it.
Most empty stats in a career paired with empty rings
he even has never been 2nd best player in the league ever except 2014. he will never be better than lebron nor curry
He was the 2nd best player in the NBA for most of the 2010s, let’s calm down.
no? curry was always better than him
2016, that’s the argument. No other year in the 2010s was Curry a better basketball player.
that’s a blatant lie, curry was better than kd from 2015 and so on. even some years kawhi was better than kd (2016 and 2019).
I’m okay with some years Kawhi being better, that’s why I said “MOST of the 2010s” not all.
But Curry was the 2nd best player in the NBA just once, in 2016. Other than that it was mostly KD.
hell no, curry was always better than KD from 2015 and so on. you’re just blatantly lying
LMFAO, Curry fans are hilarious, just completely denying reality.
I’m not even a Curry fan, but you’re even more hilarious denying reality just for your dear pookie bear KD. the fact is that Curry is solidified as borderline top 10 player all time, while KD is endangered even at top 15
Another sad boy hurt by my goat chef. Wish you speedy Recovery!
Say that shit again gang
No one debates this lol
None of these current superstars neither
And that explains his whole villain arc.
It’s actually pretty deep.
I think 2019 and 2021 when lebron was injured i argue KD was better.
Other seasons no chance though
One time Bron was sedated for surgery. KD was better than him at that exact point (and only that point)
In what world would Kevin Durant have been a better player than the 1st or 2nd greatest player of all time?…..
Is this a reference to something? Did someone say he was?
r/nba just can’t think past the current season.
Bron v KD was absolutely a discussion.
Skip Bayless made a whole 2nd career off it
This shit is actually crazy. He’s the GOAT, I don’t care what no one say
How did we beat them last year? Lol
Alex Len was our back up center 💔💔
I totally forgot about that guy lol
Should be upvoted to the top. At 1 point, Bron/dfs was our centre cause Hayes is also unplayable lmao.
Credit to Hayes this season, he actually improved and is providing good mins for the team right now
Or at least he was when we played any bench minutes whatsoever
Also Luka was still puffy and Austin was playing through an injury
Rest in piss. Always been a bum, I can’t believe /r/lakers was full of so many fucking morons who were excited about that signing.
Absolute dogshit waste of a roster spot. Same with Koloko who always looked like he barely learned what basketball was that morning.
I was at one of the games, Rudy Gobert looked like prime Shaq out there, there was absolutely nothing slender Jaxson Hayes could do.
We were supposed to be the Rockets this year. Lakers are just playing pissed off I guess lol
No, your team is much better than seeding suggests, especially last year.
My wife is a huge lebron fan and a pretty big gobert hater, that series was her 9⁄11
I forgot how strong Gobert was until ytd seeing jokic couldn’t bully him
JJ played a 6 man rotation and ran them into the ground because he had nobody else.
Gobert getting to play against Hayes and DFS in the paint made him look like Shaq
Marcus and Luke are game changers, to say the least.
We’ve got better secondary playmakers and shooting through our roleplayers this time around. I also think JJ has leveled up as a coach with twice as many games under his belt now.
Missing Luka and Austin is obviously huge, but both Kennard and Smart have been solid running offense these first two games and LeBron has been picking and choosing his spots. Center depth via Ayton/Hayes also has been a big plus this postseason.
Luka and Reaves were hurt, and they’re better (when healthy) this year with Ayton, Smart and Kennard
Gabe Vincent was the Laker’s 5th best player then.
Oof
Now it’s Bronny
Julius randle was inhabited by the spirit of prime, idk? Karl Malone?, for a week
Bron delegated to Luka and Luka hadn’t bought into being the face over Bron -similar to the Heatles who lost to DAL in the finals
Real answer is Reddick was horrible. Over played the starters.
Tbf you’re beating this LA too. Rockets just bad rn
For a long time anyone who’s thought otherwise has been wrong. And now anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron. What a privilege to get to watch him play.
Yeah, it’s difficult arguing against Smart
You should be more concerned about your mvp looking like a traffic cone on defense than this.
Buddy’s butt hurt over a joke lol
Don’t let Murray give you more nightmares
Idk what rockets strategy there. They should be pressing and forcing the ball but they are chilling like they are the ones leading
they’re fucking gassed, they have no more time outs, no more challanges, and have been doing their “best” effort on offense while trying to keep their defense as good as possible. too bad KD is the goat of handling double teams with 9 turnovers.
How the fuck are they more gassed than a 41-year old LeBron? Especially given that apart from KD, most of them are in their early to mid 20s.
It looks like they just don’t want to play anymore atp. That locker room must be dead silent
Yeah this. I don’t think they’re more tired than Bron. Bron was seriously gassed by the end of the 4th you could tell. They lack effort and camaraderie and chemistry.
Locker room is all on their cell phones I’ll bet lol
LeBron is just genuinely a once in a century athlete.
You could tell me Lebron is the best athlete to ever live and I’d probably believe you.
LeBron is the best athlete to ever live
I believe you
I believe you.
LeBron is legit the biggest stamina monster the NBA has ever seen. He’s stayed on the floor for whole playoff games before. He’s built different, even at 41
I think Rodman was up there too.
But it’s LeBron though.
https://youtu.be/wyifjnZ8adw?si=majDLiZ02wjSd1QO
they’re gassed just gassed mentally, bus thrower coach, dickerson, knowing deepdown none of them can shoot besides KD
they’re not gonna believe any of the rah rah inspirational shit the coaches or themselves are saying
Yeah that seemed very dumb
I know why are they just standing 😭
They honestly look like they’ve never played as a team before. No chemistry.
Ime is a hell of a drug
Yo Buck, can you clip the crowd chanting MVP for Luke on his last free throw
Sure.
This please
This shit is crazy. Rockets are turbo ass, but what this fucker is doing at his age is insane. A 4-0 or 4-1 favoring the Rockets seemed likely and the Lakers are about to take a 2-0 lead LMAO
First game of the season, Rockets took OKC to double OT without Vanvleet. Then they lost Adams, Sengun got worse after injury, the KDFiles dropped, and teams realized that their offence is entirely dependent on a 37 year old who can’t pass out of a double team.
It’s crazy how good LeBron is, considering how even in 2020 he was way better.
Sengun was on crack in that game, but if memory doesn’t fail me, he was shooting like Steph Curry from deep.
It was very hard to believe that would be sustainable, and it just seems like he’s regressed a lot in pretty much every departament. Could also be a coaching issue too, but I just don’t know with him.
Oh yeah, you can definitely see that Bron is like half of the player he was in 2020, probably even less, but it just doesn’t matter much. His ability to control the game is unreal and that’s not dependant on his age.
I must say though, 2018 Bron was the good old days. I watched all that shit and good lord would I pay to see it again, just for one game. Motherfucker was a one man team.
2018 Bron woulda single handedly swept these Rockets and probably sat the entire 4th quarter like SGA does lol.
His form looked nice, he didn’t hesitate, it felt natural. I think its just mental for him, he is not confident, he takes longer to shoot, hesitates more. If he had the same confidence as some of these other players hvea, I think the 3p shot could have been real because the shot looks very real when he is on fire and not like one of those “the form looked exactly the same but the shots just went in”
Theoretically, they’re a contender if healthy.
Masterclass from getoffmydickerson
Don’t take LeBron motherfuckin James for granted man. We’ll never see anything like this again. The GOAT.
Loving the LeBron/Smart/Kennard big 3.
Dpoy, goat, and white boy of the year. Unstoppable.
They had to sacrifice their two better white boys to activate this one.
During end step if at least 2 white creatures have left the battlefield create a 2⁄1 white token.
Binding vow
What the hell even is Kennard, the guy turned from “good bench shooter who doesnt shoot enough” to starter caliber pg just like that lol, def not sustainable but maximum impressiveness
I bought his jersey when he was on the pistons. Dark times.
You can not give that up down 5 with 1 minute to go. That’s just lazy, undisciplined basketball. Disgusting
Denver coulda played this trash and won in 3
Nah hospital Lakers vs crippled Rockets more fun. Denver vs Wolves more fun. A sweep ain’t fun.
Let’s be honest these two teams deserve each other
Denver would’ve been the favorites against Houston. They’re better. Jokic would’ve feasted
But Houston was the favorites against Lakers. Mostly because of the injuries. Lakers are playing with LeBron and bench players. Rockets are still getting mogged
Would’ve been nice to give OKC a challenge in the second round instead of the easiest road
Lakers winning two Play off games without Luka and Reaves was not on my bingo list
He looks like he has a turbo button.
Legit the fastest player in the league when he was younger
6 foot 9 tank that ran like D-Rose. Even slowed down LeBron is faster than a lot of guys in their 20s.
he’s faster than 99% of the league
The BBIQ difference between these 2 teams is quite staggering and hilarious. Playoffs expose most players for a reason. It’s a different game
I read it as Big Bronny IQ at first
lmaoo you got me rolling
LBJ has defeated Father Time
At the very least he’s off to a 2-0 series lead.
The Rockets play defense like they all just met at a pickup game
KD is so overrated.
*bide
GOAT shit
younger Bron woulda lept from the free throw line. jeezus christ he’s almost 50 years old
GOAT
LeSneaky
OP, it’s “biding time”
It’s hard to lose with these two together smh 🥀🥀🥀
They crafty like the old dudes at the Y
Bro wtf. I just saw the double pump dunk and thought that alone was insane. If he has another highlight as good as these two I’m gonna throw up. Watching greatness.
Lebron doesn’t get enough credit for how good of an off ball player and cutter he has become.
Night and day compared to when he entered the league
Bide time
Pure fuckery.
Basketball IQ
First ever 2-man assisted, Lefuckyou dunk
This is why you play all facets of the game, offense and defense. Marcus saw the weakness, pulled out KD while eye signaling to LeBron.
All: Go A Team: Go B
Boss
Lebron + a beloved former celtic point guard known for their gamesmanship together in the playoffs once more.
Seasoned skeeming
seasoned skeeming
people will look at this and say Kobe was just as good
what a lame useless comment to make on this. hate fans like you