SGA on LeBron: “He was the top of the scouting report all series. His size gave us issues at times. He was impressive out there. I’m not sure we’ll see anything like it again. His longevity and his greatness for this long” (via @NBA)
Pro tip, in NBA LIVE 2010 Andrea Bargnani does not miss baseline 3 pointers.
NBA Courtside 2002 Derek Fisher does not miss any 3 pointers.
Jerami Grant 2K17 also doesn’t miss corner 3’s
Boobie Gibson top of the key 2k8
Jordan Farmar is the same in 2k9 lol
Isn’t that the one on GameCube where you can dunk from the 3pt line?
It was on GameCube, and if you could do this, I had no idea!
Lmao im pretty sure i played this game with my own player
It was one of the biggest reasons 2k overtook NBA Live games, the 3 pt mechanics were awful, NBA Live 2005 Jason Terry was the same way.
And now look—they’ve made it a million times worse. I miss the early 2000s games bc it was more arcade in the sense that you just held and released the shoot button with the specific players timing window correlating to skill. Now they have to justify a yearly release so they keep adding insane mechanics to shooting.
I love the early 2000’s games, but they definitely have not made it worse. Phoned it in, absolutely, but it’s not worse.
Ryan Anderson was the greatest shooter ever in NBA 2K13
Joffrey Lauvergne bangin 3s in 2K17
Rodrique Beaubois in 2k11, couldn’t miss and would always develop into a star
Wrong sub, but Pro tip in NFL Street 2 Randy Moss catches everything anywhere close to him
Sounds accurate to real life. He was so much fun to watch
Pro tip in NFL Blitz on N64 just run Da Bomb and Subzero every play and you can’t lose. Doesn’t matter what team.
Now I’m getting PTSD from NBA 2K14 Gerald Green
NBA 2k14 Rudy Gay still gives me nightmares
This makes me think of that family guy clip.
Aaaanndd coooooorner 3!
“We have a pick from Italy. He’s like Dirk, only better!” The dark days of the Raptors franchise.
“His size gave us issues at times”
Caruso was noticeably unable to deal with Lebron. Lebron could back down Caruso whenever he wanted to but also quick enough to separate himself from Caruso when he wanted to.
yeah, jdub is probably their best Bron defender but sadly is injured
“perpetually injured”
He’s played enough games in every season before this one to qualify for season awards. Please stop
Most injured player award maybe.
There’s no way you let one good season get to your head already.
I know a Thunder fan ain’t saying this type of shit.
OKC is 4th in wins since relocating. It goes without saying we’ve had more than one good season. Unless you believe a team only has a good season if they win it all.
In the 20 years since your franchise was last relevant, the Thunder have the 4th* best win % (and at one point held the best win % but the tanking brought it down), won a chip, had 3 MVPs crowned here and Shai is 99% going back to back, and have a very good chance at repeating the chip. Is it the best? No, but it does give us some bragging rights.
Edit: actually 4th in win %
3 seasons in a row as 1 seed
Oh so you just a troll I see. Have fun with that my guy
Teams that make finals runs seem to be more prone to these types of wear and tear hamstring injuries. His wrist is/was just a freak thing.
lol idk why you’re getting downvoted I’m a relative nba junkie and I can’t even ever remember seeing him play
then you aren’t a junkie. He’s had lingering hamstring issues for one year. He averages 62 games a year and before this year it was at 72
He dropped 40 points in the finals last year. Do you not remember seeing Halliburton play either?
Hali was a freak injury away from finals mvp. Im pretty sure you’re thinking of the other J Williams
That’s why IMO Dort vs Cason isn’t as clear cut as some people make it out to be, they have other guys who can guard small players and create turnovers, but Dort and Jdub are basically the only guys in their rotation who are able to guard bigger wings on the perimeter and in the post
They’re going to have to gamble on JDub’s health then. He’s paid a max and is still young. They need iHart more than they need Dort right now
Right now I think they WILL let go of Dort (+ Joe, Wiggins and Kenrich), but with the emergence of Ajay and the extension of Caruso I really wonder if Cason isn’t a luxury they can’t afford to keep either
OKC simply cannot lose both Dort and Cason. They have to keep one at all costs
I agree, and I think Dort will be cheaper and that the two things he does well are harder to replace for OKC then Cason.
I think Cason would be more valuable for A LOT, if not every, other teams tho
The fanbase would choose Cason over Dort in a landslide but I think Dort has the edge. He’s come up huge in some pivotal games in the post season. One example being his 4th quarter in game 5 against Denver last season.
It would suck to lose Cason but I’d like to see what he can do with more touches on another team.
Wallace theoretically will provide more value in a return on a trade than Dort. So its smarter to move him. Especially if his market rate contract exceeds Dorts.
Absolutely agree. Maybe a hot take but sometimes I think iHart is their second most important player (emphasis on important, not best). Easily the non max player they need to work the hardest to keep.
I’d personally trade whoever over Dort or Caruso got a better off but if I had to choose strictly between those 2 I think they need Dort more.
Yup. Especially with Wemby. They’re gonna need Hartenstein more for next year at the very least until they can see what Sorber does and maybe they draft another strong PF/C.
They can’t afford to lose I Hart. They can Dort.
And just the fact Ihart ensures they have 48min of solid contribution. And he’s a fantastic screener for all their athletic wings, and a passing big. The value he brings in offense is much harder to replace than Dort’s defense. They have overlap in defensive strengths
Dort isn’t really the best at defending the premier wings; his best matchups are burly guards like Ant, Mitchell, etc. Cason is slightly worse at that, but he’s still one of the league’s best.
I think Dort is better then Cason on the ball by a pretty decent margin for most match ups minus the super quick guards honestly, Cason is a better overall defender because he provides more as a help defender
It’s pretty wild how AC was more effective at guarding Jokic than a 41 year old LeBron. It seems almost impossible to predict what LeBron’s going to do when his back’s to the basket
Yeah LeBron is faster and stronger (I don’t know pure strength) in terms of his base and center of gravity which lets him stay more planted which is insane.
Anyone could guard Jokic if the refs allowed them to foul at will like Caruso.
Why is this downvoted it’s literally true.
They let Caruso cheat when guarding Jokic in the post.
My friend and I were at the game yesterday. Every time Lebron got the ball and had Caruso on him, everybody around us started yelling “TOO SMALL” lmao.
This has always been LeBron’s strength. He is a mismatch for everyone on the floor. He can bully the PG, SG and the SF’s and he’s quicker than the PFs and C’s. He is unguardable and always has been just from his size and athleticism alone. Taking zero into account for his actual basketball abilities.
Caruso is 6-5, 186lb (196cm, 84kg), LeBron is 6-9, 250lb (206cm, 113kg). Does this need to be said? It’s a mis-match, of course LeBron can back him down whenever he wants, get separation and just shoot over him.
I mean it’s not a given that Caruso can’t guard someone just because the other guy is bigger (see Jokic in game 7 last year).
It’s to be expected though, it needs no explanation. People don’t need to be told a middleweight can’t match up against a heavyweight. If 1 game sample size was the metric, Brandon Jennings would be the goat. With that said, LeBron is of course incredible, and it’s surreal what he’s doing.
Dort was really the only one who could hold a bit of ground against LeBron and even that wasn’t bulletproof. Anyone else pretty much got backed down and it was make or miss
idk why lebron didn’t bully caruso more. he could have bumped him right under the basket every time if he wanted to, but he was taking fade-aways and passing out of it with barely any pressure
likely energy- bullying is energy intensive
If that’s so true, why no 30+ game from LeBron all series ? If that’s so easy and lebrons size was such a problem ? Exactly, cause this bull shit is not true.
I feel like we watched different games — I was waiting for him to take Caruso and he just couldn’t score on him. Just not enough in the tank.
I feel like this might be one of LeBron’s “that’s when I knew I should retire” moments.
Yeah with a help defender coming to help I swear people watch the game with their eyes closed.
Huh? Didn’t LeBron back him down and make like 3-4 jumpers/floaters over him yesterday in the post? Also pretty sure he got past him multiple times on drives which led to kick outs to wide open 3 point shooters.
Maybe that was first half? I remember OKC trying to put Caruso on Lebron in the third quarter, Lebron backing him down for an easy floater from a couple feet away, then they put Dort on him for the rest of the game.
First of all everyone thinks I’m hating — I wanted LeBron to win lol. It was specifically in the fourth - a few possessions in a row, he would back down in the post and just keep kicking out down low.
And the last one was at the top of the key - reaves cleared out left and gave him an iso starting at the 3pt line, any other year LeBron would’ve taken it for 2 and atleast a foul. No stopping him
No way dude. Only time Caruso “stopped” him was when we sent a double. And LeBron made the right pass every time. Unfortunately for the Lakers Ayton was useless. He made us pay through Rui and Hayes when our rotation wasn’t perfect.
And miss the shot badly. He was 8-18
I don’t have the stat breakdown but I watched OKC try to put Caruso on Lebron in the third quarter, then OKC promptly assigned Dort instead when it became apparent Caruso couldn’t deal with him.
Nobody can deal with him. He’s a 6’ 9” monster. But his shots were not really falling.
Lol
NBA players always give flowers because they understand what it actually takes to be one of ten guys in front of 20,000++++ people that have to compete to put the ball in the basket. Shai is now an MVP with a chip and he still doesn’t know what it takes to achieve what LeBron has done, the respect is right there in front of us.
If you go through one 82 game season you start to understand the absurdity of 10+ or in LeBron’s case 20+
and if you go through a finals run like Shai did last year, you start to understand the absurdity of making the finals and playing till mid June 8 years in a row.
Bro I can’t even do 82 games of my player.
I mean that shit is boring as hell
I’m sure it gets boring as hell too when you’re playing a meaningless game 58 against the jazz when you’re in your 20th season.
It becomes repetitive at some point.
Is it that NBA players give flowers to their contemporaries? Because a lot of former players are completely dismissive of current players.
They’re jealous of the money and also the desire to be able to compete.
I say this as someone who is almost 40 and have had to had some conversations with myself on how I view myself. Thankfully I’m in a career space where my leadership can be outside of my physical abilities. But basketball guys are usually guys who have played for their entire lives and don’t know a life outside of that so when they can’t compete they get really defensive.
Also, the less self aware old guys notice that a lot of their former greatness is being forgotten, and they take it out on the current generation of players, even though those are not the guys who are underselling the retired players!
The frustration about their accomplishments is understandable, but they take it out on guys who have nothing to do with that problem.
90s guys have a real chip on their shoulder for some reason. Guys from the 80’s and prior show lots of love to current players
Its because they are right before the really big money started flowing.
This you?
Naz Reid is a bitch bc he reacted to getting elbowed in the windpipe 😭
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Genuinely, honest-to-god delusional. Are you drunk at 11am on a Tuesday?
Times like this who isn’t?
Tell that to Dillon Brooks
Dillon is a huge lebron fan iirc, he just plays he heel and does it very well
Brooks loves LeBron. He’s just a WWE-style heel and a tough competitor.
I don’t think this is true across the board or even generally. SGA has a nonchalant attitude and comes off smug abt himself/his team at times so some people find this surprising but he’s never had a reputation for trash talking other players. Even the times he comes off smug he’s still reasonable. Plenty of players didn’t give flowers this postseason
You give flowers when the competition is done. When the game is on that other dude isn’t shit.
I’m talking abt guys in other series
Well he’s talking about LeBron.
But I’d also like to hear about those other instances
So top of my mind I’m thinking of the Suns starters but also Jaylen Brown
I mean…can you compare them to LeBron?
Nah but I’m saying it’s not super common for them to give flowers in general but it’s expected for most players to give flowers to LeBron
Maybe you’re just following the wrong players.
Jaylen giving shai some flowers.
https://youtube.com/shorts/cqdjszS3m0Y?si=kA1Zu73jNsBIQVBj
Booker giving shai flowers.
https://youtube.com/shorts/1NULFG0vRjE?si=3RI9qFGSs89zAcRE
He’s the literal definition of grown man strength, dad strength, and old man strength all rolled into one.
LeGrandpa strength
Lehachi Mishima
It’s technically feasible that some time next season LeBron could share the court with his son with his grandson in the crowd. Huh
He’s almost got my dad’s whole bag when I started to get better than him as a teen. Only thing LeBron could add now is to go skins and do the sweaty back down to keep defenders hands off him.
Felt bad for Ajay every time he got switched to LeBron. Had to feel every bit of that grown man strength.
He got the best of him defensively a number of times. Multiple steals and as solid defensively as you can ask from someone that has that much of a size disadvantage.
You forgot elite athlete strength too lol
He’s the GOAT for a reason. It was really fun getting to see us play LeBron at least one more time in the playoffs
He’s the GOAT for a reason.
Except he’s NOT.
EDIT - Bring on the downvotes children.
Hes the GOAT for no reason? I respect it
Probably more accurate.
He’s not the goat.
He absolutely is, brother
He’s not.
Ah yes. 4 championships over 6. 🤡
Ah yes. 11 championships over 6.
Much different era and competition level.
You’re literally so close to using multiple braincells, try reading what you wrote again… very slowly.
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brother, you’re either a bot or just plain stupid judging by this mini thread, don’t also be a dick
Bye girl 💅
if that’s the level of discourse for this argument you’re wasting my time and yours.
Ah yes let’s overlook the obvious. I’m embarrassed a Celtics fan would be this absurd.
ah, my bad thought you’d at least be interesting to talk to. have a good one.
Yes I’m super uninteresting to talk to because you think LeBron deserves it will two less titles. Girl bye. 👋
Bill Russell is the GOAT then
Jordan was a much different era and competition level
Please don’t tell me you think Jordan had it easier. Like please don’t fucking even waste my time with that bullshit.
If u don’t think players are more skilled today ur insane
Holy shit you are a moron. Bye Felicia 🤡
Oh yes he is
“Us”
That’s how sports fans have talked, likely for thousands of years. Stop being obtuse
The whole point of sports as a viewer is it being a fun outlet for tribalistic urges, of course we say “we”, “our guys”, “us”, etc. that’s Reddit for you
A 15 second search showed you using “we” multiple times when discussing your own team
“Glad I got to sweep his ass”
“The King is dead. Long live the King.”
Dillion Brooks sends his regards
You come at the king you best not miss.
“I want him to know it was me.” -Alex Caruso
Payback for the LeBlock in SGAs first all star game. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HXQqPT9GDQ0
SGA also beat the lakers in the game where LeBron passed Kareem in all time scoring.
That’s hilarious lmao
It’s not a very good parallel, but this is really the closest we’ll get to that Lakers bulls series that started the dynasty.
Yeah definitely sounds like he is gaslighting Lebron lol
I dunno, Ant would’ve said “he’s good, but I’m better”
+Fans comment on 2k
Aint no way this goes over well, but at some point I feel like SGA has to make this turn.
I get it. Coach speak is the safe play and the discipline to remain dedicated to it is admirable in some ways. But at some point we all know there’s no way coach speak is how you actually think.
It’s also more fun for us fans if you aren’t always complimenting your opponents. We want to see a maniacally motivated killer like Kobe IMO.
The future is now old man
I was trying to explain to someone what Lebron is like right now, and words just fail me. Lebron James is older than me, and sometimes I wake up and I slept in the wrong position and my body is ruined for the day. Sometimes I carry too many grocery bags at once and have to cancel plans. Lebron James in a singular moment – not for a season, or series, or maybe even a whole game, but just one gotta-have-it play – is still maybe the greatest athlete on the planet. Watching him fight through Dort and bully AC was BONKERS. He was feasting on Ajay and Cason. Dub would easily be our best Lebron stopper but I wouldn’t have guessed Dort and AC would have that much trouble with him, he’s just unbelievable.
I think you just need to go for a walk and maybe lift a weight or two. Yes LeBron is an absolute fucking freak of athletic nature. But cancelling plans cuz you carried too many grocery bags is not normal at all. We gotta stop trying to normalize being out of shape.
Bro I think he’s maybe being slightly hyperbolic/facetious for the sake of humor. Now go back to the gym and stop interacting with well adjusted humans
Yeah, it’s on me, I made that comment like I would to a human in the real world. I forgot I’m on reddit and anytime certain subjects like personal fitness come up, you get to drink from a firehose of people who are “just trying to change your life bro”.
It’s still normalizing being out of shape. Being in your 30s/young 40s isn’t a death sentence like half of Reddit would have you believe. Now go eat your 3000 calorie lunch and wonder why your knees hurt
Lmao I’m in better shape than you bro. I just don’t make it my personality
Whatever you say little guy
Being hyperbolic is normalizing being out of shape?
I think hitting 40 and feeling your age is pretty normal. Calm down.
That’s not feeling your age lol my coworker is 46 and runs ultra marathons. My other coworker is 44 and plays hockey every week. I hunt with a guy that’s 38 and 41 and they beat me up the mountain half the time.
Gold star, nice job.
Sounds like you should get in better shape bro. Stop normalizing being out of shape they should not beat you. Go for a walk and lift some weights
You’re right dude I am on Reddit. I need to get in Reddit shape. Gain a cool 300lbs and not walk another day in my life.
Invest a million dollar into your body a year and you will see the results.
Seriously though, stretch everyday, eat the rainbow and just move around and hopefully that will help you in life.
Lebron James is older than me, and sometimes I wake up and I slept in the wrong position and my body is ruined for the day.
And that’s you. I’m 57 and I play competitive sports 4 or more times a week. Sometimes for 4 hours at a time. Of course, I’m NOT at his level but I would kill to still be 41. He’s a child!!!!lol
I love that I made a little joke about being 40 to give Lebron credit for his incredible longevity, and I’m getting heckled. We get it, you’re very good boys, everyone’s proud of you.
Bro thank you for drawing these guys out of the woodworks. I’m crying laughing thinking about these guys typing their replies out, being all smug and shit. It’s killing me 😂 Then I imagine how they actually move vs how they think they do, it’s funnier than it should be lmao. Bunch of Lavar Balls in some weird athlete delusion, you can almost taste the insecurity. It’s delicious, god bless.
I think every NBA player looks at Bron and thinks the same thing. “How the hell is he still doing this shit after 23 years?”
You think NBA players know what they’re going to feel like at 41?
HGH ?
NBA Live ‘06 Chris “Birdman” Anderson is a lock for rim protector with 99 block. You could pick him up for like $800,000k and have a god like dpoy
SGA got on the “Tyrone Biggums” fit.
“I’mma tell you something you don’t know ‘bout me Joe Rogan, I smoke rocks!”
SGA is sad that he has no legitimate peer
That was the biggest shame with Luka being injured this series. I think the size of Luka/Bron on the perimeter with them down JDub, who has the size and switchabilty for both of them, would have given us a shot at really making them work for the series win. JJ’s gameplan got better with each game and we just ran out of gas unable to match that depth by G4.
Hopefully with some roster moves for depth and plugging in some holes we can make it an actual series if we get to run it back next year.
LeBron’s trajectory is becoming the new Kareem.
Bron 12 inch rocket confirmed. Long and girthy
Respect
The ending….
“Yeah it was super fun….and we whipped dat azz” 🤷🏾♂️
I’m not sure we’ll see anything like it again.
The Bronny disrespect.
Lol, he doesn’t even believe what he’s saying…
Why are there so many posts about the loser and none about the winners?
You’re free to post OKC vids
Why bother?
ok then youve answered your own question ahaha
But I haven’t. If I posted 1000 OKC clips, none of them would make the front page.
Idk why post the parent comment lol
In case he just played his last game (unlikely tho)
Nobody thinks that.
This is both.
That’s crazy.
Lol he doesn’t mean it look at his face, this is media training
The media training came in when he made sure to be specific about Bron’s age “in the NBA not in the grand scheme of life” avoiding a headline where “SGA calls Bron old” or something. Not on the opinion itself.
The opinion that “Bron’s longevity is impressive” is likely genuine, players just won’t usually be excited to glazing other players like us redditors
That is, until they retire and describe them on a podcast later, when putting up your opponents usually raises your standings too