would be great if no cavs and warriors in the finals this year.

The guy is a freak of nature, but at some point all those basketball miles have to catch up to Lebron don't they?

Yep. I don't think simply having him gets them out anymore.

I thought that last year too, though.

As did I.

And here's another crazy statement for all of you young posters out there, Lebron James is the most physically impressive athlete I've seen. A guy that big should not be that quick, that coordinated and that injury free.

Is he a disappointment with "just" three rings? I know I said making it to six finals in a row is impressive, but on the other hand maybe it's like Shaq said one time about wanting to be "mentioned in the same breath" as other greats based on rings. As of now LBJ can't even be mentioned in the same breath as Shaq when it comes to rings.

I want to see some new blood particularly in the East. LeBron in the finals every year is getting old. I think Washington will be the team to knock them off.

I think he should have gone 3-1 during the Miami years. Ray Allen may have had more to do with saving LeBron perception wise than LeBron himself. He misses that shot and they go 1-3 during Miami years. He definitely would be viewed differently.

I also don't think that LeBron has carried a team to a championship either. He has never won it without a teammate playing a prominent role. Wade and Irving were 1A guys at the least and that may also affect the perception of him.

Which championship did MJ win without a Hall of Famer on the roster?

Ltg, would you consider doing an avatar wager on the eastern champ? I sure one either vegan or I will take you up on the offer

I'm not that certain of the outcome. I don't do sucker bets

Let's revisit at the end of the regular season in about two weeks..

The Cavs could lose every game from now and then and I won't change my mind. I'll be picking against them again in the Finals but I'm pretty sure they'll be there. Different story if the Celtics flip a a Nets pick and Crowder for Butler.

Yep. I don't think simply having him gets them out anymore.

wait, the messiah Kyrie Irving can't pick up the slack ?

He did it last year didn't he? They don't win without him destroying your guy.

so what's changed

James is slowing down. The great ones are the last one to know it though.

his numbers this year are comparable to if not better than last year's

I can crosscheck it but you really don't want to fight the Irving battle again do you? It has already been decided and his numbers are better across the board than last season. Maybe I need JBills to chime in and respectfully ask that you concede the point since I'm the only one that doesn't around here.