Are the 07' Pistons the only time Lebron overcame a talent deficit?

[Mr Feeny]

2018 vs. Pacers 1st round - could easily be argued yes, (that CLE overcame a talent deficit)
2018 vs. Raptors 2nd round - definite yes
2018 vs. Celtics 3rd round - yes, even with their Kyrie/Hayward injuries

So no, far from the only time.

That '18 team was atrocious. Lebron may have dogged it like no other in the regular season, but you gotta give him some credit for the postseason. Not too much, they weren't the greatest East challengers, but definitely a little for going through 3 in a row as what I would call the underdog.

The Cavs were more talented than any of those teams. By quite a bit, as well.

[Mr Feeny]

I know you weren't necessarily comparing, but


06' LEBRON - 4 seed.. lost in 6 to non-champs.. had 2x all-star center & all-D sidekick
89' JORDAN - 6 seed.. lost in 6 to the champs.. zero teammates having any accolades

Lost in 7 in 2006. They took Detroit to 7 games.

Lebron struggled in game 7 and had 1 point in the 2nd half but that isn't the point. They played them close.

[brooks_thompson]

The Cavs were more talented than any of those teams. By quite a bit, as well.

Agree to disagree. The Celts are probably arguable as well as the Pacers, but I think the Raptors were for sure a more talented team (minus their psychological block). Personally, after reviewing the rosters, I'm stickin to my guns.

[chains5000]

One could argue that 05' Hughes > Rip Hamilton

C'mon, not even you believe that

[Bronbron23]

Of course you would because the Warriors move the ball, which is more effective in the playoffs and conducive for good teammate contribution than Lebron/CP3-style ball-domination

ball movement has always gotten better looks for teammates than 1 guy dominating the ball in the half court... accordingly, skillsets that allow ball movement (Curry, MJ, Bird) will yield the best teams given equal casts, coaching smarts, and #1 option statistical output..

Any playground fool can get stats by dominating the ball, but it takes far superior skillset to get stats without dominating the ball (shooting, off-ball footwork/skill, instinct for quicker decisions), so the ball moves and teammates have the best opportunities to be real threats
.

In general this is true but not always. Chris Paul and harden took one of the best teams ever to 7 games in there prime. If cp3 was healthy and in his prime Houston wins that series in 6 or less.

And I wouldn't just take Klay and dray because they play smarter offensively I'd take them because they are a million times better defensively.

[Wally450]

Another one...

[ImKobe]

C'mon, not even you believe that

05 Hughes averaged 22/6/5 with 2.9 steals per game to Hamilton's 19/4/5 with 1 stl per game. You could definitely argue that Hughes was better that year. Hughes could have had the kind of success Rip did if he played in Detroit to be honest. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely had the talent to be a perennial all-star.

2007 Pistons are overrated. They weren't anywhere near as good as they were with Larry Brown and Ben Wallace. 2006 Pistons were more talented than the Cavs but it was pretty damn even in 2007, maybe even in Cavs' favor because Webber was essentially a role player. You replace Ben Wallace, who put up about the same amount of points with DPOY-level defense with Chris Webber, a has-been who struggled staying on the court due to injuries. He retired the next season.

[scuzzy]

05 Hughes averaged 22/6/5 with 2.9 steals per game to Hamilton's 19/4/5 with 1 stl per game. You could definitely argue that Hughes was better that year. Hughes could have had the kind of success Rip did if he played in Detroit to be honest. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely had the talent to be a perennial all-star.

Dwight averaged 22/14 in 2011, you can argue that Dwight could of had that success if he didn't play as a Laker. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely was a perennial all-star

[ImKobe]

Dwight averaged 22/14 in 2011, you can argue that Dwight could of had that success if he didn't play as a Laker. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely was a perennial all-star

Well, who are you comparing Howard to? Bynum was as good as Howard in 2012 but both were damaged goods by the end of the season. Lakers traded one injured player for another.

All 3Ball said was that you could argue that Hughes was better than Hamilton in 2005. I just gave you the argument.

Even with joining the Cavs and getting less touches, Hughes averaged 15/4/4 with 1.3 stls as a 2nd option to Hamilton's 20/4/4 stl as a 1st option in 2007. Cavs had a much better defense in 2007.

Hughes was a better defensive player and they were about equal on offense in 2005, all the numbers point in Larry's favor for 2005.

[scuzzy]

05 Hughes averaged 22/6/5 with 2.9 steals per game to Hamilton's 19/4/5 with 1 stl per game. You could definitely argue that Hughes was better that year. Hughes could have had the kind of success Rip did if he played in Detroit to be honest. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely had the talent to be a perennial all-star.

Odom averaged 18/10/4 in 2004, you can argue that Odom could of had that success if he didn't play as a Laker. Kobe derailed his career to the bench but he definitely had perennial all-star potential

[ImKobe]

Odom averaged 18/10/4 in 2004, you can argue that Odom could of had that success if he didn't play as a Laker. Kobe derailed his career to the bench but he definitely had perennial all-star potential

Kobe derailed his career? He went from 6MOY with arguably his best individual career season in 2011 to out of the league by 2013 without the Lakers. Kobe made Odom's career and looked out for him, when he got traded from LA he had no one to keep him in check and his life spiraled out of control.

[scuzzy]

05 Hughes averaged 22/6/5 with 2.9 steals per game to Hamilton's 19/4/5 with 1 stl per game. You could definitely argue that Hughes was better that year. Hughes could have had the kind of success Rip did if he played in Detroit to be honest. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely had the talent to be a perennial all-star.

Steve Nash averaged 17/11/4 in 2010, you can argue that Nash could of had more success if he didn't play as a Laker. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely was a perennial all-star

[ImKobe]

Steve Nash averaged 17/11/4 in 2010, you can argue that Nash could of had more success if he didn't play as a Laker. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely was a perennial all-star

Steve Nash was 38 at the start of the 2013 season, try again buddy.

[scuzzy]

05 Hughes averaged 22/6/5 with 2.9 steals per game to Hamilton's 19/4/5 with 1 stl per game. You could definitely argue that Hughes was better that year. Hughes could have had the kind of success Rip did if he played in Detroit to be honest. Injuries derailed his career but he definitely had the talent to be a perennial all-star.

D'angelo averaged 21/7/4 in 2018, you can argue that Russell could of had that success as a Laker if Kobe didn't stunt his career. Flourishing almost immediatly on the nets, he is definitely a perennial all-star.

[chains5000]

Hughes' stats made him look better than he was, specially when playing for the Wizards. He wasn't as bad as Lebron lovers pretend him to be though.

Hamilton was an All Star and a key offensive player for a winning team, Hughes was a tier below him IMO.