Sorry Mo but your point just proves the latter. With Wade coming back and making his team so much better, its just a form of chemestry that needed to be added for the team to successfully achieve at their full potential. Did Wade make his team better? Yes he did, in different ways though. He put the pressure on the other teammates to keep up with his pace of game and to make the shots like he made them.

And you know what? They responded.

That's the talent that the Heat had and they threw it all away in a trade for Big Shaq daddy (which was a good trade but some can also argue it being a bad one as well). The Clipper-itis certainly disappeared in Lamar Odom, Caron Butler played to his real potential because the team had good team chemestry and momentum on their side. Yes it was caused by Wade's addition, yes he sparked this, but in the end the team responded not because of just Wade's presense on the court, but because each and every individual player on that team had the composure to step up their game.

Point? Lebron had everyone staring at him in awe. Proof? His highest point game vs the struggling Toronto when they were fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

I hate using one game as an example because you can't justify a whole season around it but it really closely resembled the problems Lebron had all year round. I believe this game was the backbreaker of the season for James. His noticable frustration in his teammates and rage led him to score 56 points in one game and they still lost! His teammates didn't step up their games when he did and they lost that game. Guys like McInnis began arguing with management, Paul Silas was fired, the new owner Danny Ferry had the whole team shaken up.

Put Dwayne Wade around guys of that character and I doubt they would have responded the same way the '03-'04 Heat did. The talent simply wasn't there for Lebron to make his impact and its like what I'm learning right now in university for Sociology. Its about life chances, and Lebron hasn't received them. Wade has and its overshadowing Lebron's skill in some people's eyes. People remember winners and that's a sad fact because so many good players are forgotten because of it.

Why isn't Wade anywhere near as good as Lebron? Throw Wade in an environment like that and I smell underachieving. Its as if Lebron got the complete opposite situation as Darko, he got all the playing time in the world but the players around him just aren't good enough to help. Danny Ferry realized that he's got a potential MJ-esque leader and superstar in Lebron, hence the acquisitions this year to help the support line. That is confidence in skill and ability.

What did Pat Riley do when he saw a superstar and leader in Dwayne Wade? He rebuilt the team and traded for Shaq, another superstar and leader. Not exactly a good vote of confidence in his abilities, in my opinion.

But again, I'm not understating Wade at all. But if I were to rate Lebron and Wade in NBA Live 2006: Lebron would get a 95 overall and Wade would be a 83.

Thats the amount of difference I see in them.

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You mean almost the same supporting cast that failed to take Kobe to the playoffs last year? (Substituting Atkins for Alston)

Yeah but no one here's calling Kobe a leader like Wade or Lebron.

I would probably choose Lebron over Wade if I were building a franchise, but both are tremendous players, and I disagree with you that there is a large gap between them or that anyone would be stupid to believe Wade is better.

I agree. Wade is not better. Shaq makes Wade better. Lebron is the total package. Just look at his stats. The guy averages 25 a game and on top of that averages like 7 or 8 assists a game and 7 boards. Just look how much he has helped the Cavs improve in just 2 years.

I don't think DarthTater was just saying that. He actually said that he doesn't think the gap is as big as rdang describes.

So since his teammates responded, Wade isn't as good?

I disagree.

Here is a better question.

If Wade played for the Cavs and Lebron played with the Heat...

Cavs make the playoffs and Heat don't, do you say that Lebron is better by a mile? I think you would.

Cavs don't make the playoffs and Heat do, do you say that Lebron is better by a mile? I think you would.

I don't think that there is anything Wade could do that would change your mind.

I think the fact that Wade went to the playoffs as a rookie with a supporting cast that a more experienced Kobe Bryant was not able to speaks volumes of his abilities.

Lebron is the better player, but again I don't think the gap is as large as you and the rest of the media would like to say it is. Keep this in mind...Wade's recognition came as a result of his performance during the regular and postseason as a rookie not based on prehype. He earned his praise argueably more than Melo and Lebron because he wasn't even on the radar. Now he is clearly the #2 talent coming out of that draft in my opinion. Only time will tell....

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Got Jokes?

Rdang, how do you rank Lebron's defense today? or what would you give him for defense on NBA Live 06?

The reason why I ask is because most of Lebron's praises have come from an offensive viewpoint. We used to hear the same thing as it pertained to Tracy McGrady. Last year was the first year I actually saw McGrady buckle down and play some D in the playoffs. Lebron is definitely a multi-dimensional player (assists,rebounds and overall basketball intelligence) He has a natural feel for the game and a maturity beyond his years.

One of the things that suprised me the most about Wade was his defensive ability. I couldn't believe the shots this guy was blocking during the playoffs. He has deceptive leaping ability and pretty good postiton defense.

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Got Jokes?

http://tinyurl.com/9pn3q

Keep in mind, Wade is his team's second option many nights. James has no one with star power to demand the ball on his team.

And if you use 48 minute stats to equalize the #s,

http://tinyurl.com/9rh9o

LBJ is really not outputting that much more PPG.

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To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!

Man, Lebron has some sick stats! But you make a valid point, he doesn't have to defer to Shaq. I think what is really impressive though is Lebron's field goal pct. given the league pretty much knows that he needs to be stopped to stop the Cavs.

Both are truely amazing players...stat wise and on the court.

Really, only time will be the telling factor.

I tried to do a playoff stat comparison, but Wade blew away LBJ.

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To all of my friends, comrades and companions at PF.com

Thank you for another great season!