Scoring 81 points against a 27-55 team in the middle of January is more career defining than 45-15-5 on 73% shooting in an elimination game on the road against a top team?
Regardless of who it was against, that's one of the greatest scoring performances of all-time, the 2nd greatest in history in fact. The Lakers were down by 18 in that game as well before he turned it on. And I hate to tell you, but it is more career defining. You ask someone about 81 points, they'll say Kobe; 45-15-5 in a playoff game; I doubt most'll know who to affiliate it with. It is what it is.
Kobe did have a great year in 06 but there still isn't a chance in hell he deserved that MVP. I have watched Kobe play and well, shot selection is part of what makes an elite player. Lots of players have had bad teams where they were the best option to score. Kobe is on pace for the highest usage rate of all time. He's doing it because he wants to pass Jordan in career points. The Lakers don't care because they want a good pick. Win/win.
The moments argument is pretty weak. Just because you don't remember them doesn't mean they didn't happen. What about the game winner against Orlando in 09? What about the countless tomahawks? What about a triple double in his first playoff series? What about taking an awful team to the finals? What about 50-10-8 at MSG?
And you can't bring up Kobe in 04 without talking about how he bricked them out of the finals.
Baseball has lots of players far worse than Gasol in the hall of fame. Rabbit Maranville anyone?
I'll agree to disagree on the MVP, but I agree with your second point. However, when you watch Kobe facilitate, the team throws bricks since no one can shoot. No one else is capable of creating their own shot except Lin and Young (who's been injured). At the moment Lin should be the second option but he is so passive that he only took 2 shots against GS even with Kobe constantly telling him to man up and be aggressive. It's apparent you like your numbers and advanced stats but that's only a part of the equation for me. Whether Kobe throws up shots or tries to facilitate, the team is going to lose so it's a moot point anyways.
So you don't think defining moments elevate a player's career? Reggie Miller made it to the Hall on defining moments. It may not mean it didn't happen but perception is a huge part of how you are rated. Yes, Lebron has some great performances and moments but not as many career defining, in which you directly associate with a player, like MJ, Bird, Magic, Kobe et al. The NBA is a star-driven league unlike any other, the opportunities are there for big players to take the shine. You can disagree, but I'm firm in my belief that, for a player of his caliber who is a once in a generation talent, he should have done more, especially in big games.
I can nitpick at your examples as well: they lost that Orlando series, the East was garbage; he wouldn't have sniffed the Finals in the West, etc.
I'd rather someone shoot his way out of the finals than shy away from the spotlight but I suppose that's my preference. At this point in his career, Lebron is akin to Peyton Manning and I don't consider that a good thing.
You can't bring up a player who was inducted more than half a century ago. Someone with his resume would be tossed out after the first ballot in today's voting. Funny that you mention the MLB when it's widely regarded as the toughest HOF to get into. Nevertheless, I'm sure you damn well know the NBA HOF is very welcoming, for a lack of a better word.
I don't want my posts to sound like I'm a Lebron hater, because I'm not. He's easily the best player in the world and will go down as one of the greatest, but he needs to do a lot more than having a high PER and a couple rings to even be considered GOAT imo.
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@ArseHat writes about basketball, you sit and read.
I'll take that as a compliment. I don't consider myself an expert or anything of the sort, just a fan who likes to have a good discussion about the game.
