re: What players would you take over AD?

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So everybody pretty much universally agrees Lebron is the best on the planet. AD is having a better season than Lebron, statistically that isnt up for debate. But somehow AD isnt elite or top 3.

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Just b/c you score 27 ppg doesn't mean you're the best player in the world.
In the NBA, you win and lose on how you close games out. AD is not and has never really been a closer.
-AD scored 4 points in the last 5 minutes of the 43 point game against the Knicks, both easy alley oops from Jrue. He also missed TWO free throws with just over a minute left up 1. We lose that game if not for Jrue taking over the last 3-4 minutes.
-We all saw his shittastic offensive performance against the 76ers down the stretch.
-He sat most of the 4th against the Knicks b/c of his vagina, comes back with 3 minutes left and we are up 3, and we lose, and the only thing he contributed in those 3 minutes was a foul and 2 points in the meaningless closing seconds. Didn't attempt a shot until those final seconds.
-Against Minny, he got owned by KAT. He scored 2 points in the final 7 minutes of that game, he missed an easy alley oop to tie the game with 3 minutes left, he got blocked by KAT a minute later, and missed another driving layup later a minute after that. At that point, we were down 7 with 45 seconds left when he hit 2 free throws for his 2 points in the last 7 minutes.

That's 3 losses to teams we shouldn't lose to, and the blame lies heavily with the guy that scored 29,12, and 33 in those 3 games.


Yes he's a great player. Something i have been saying for quite some time now is that he has never taken the role of the closer on this team, and that's not an easy ask for a post player usually. But if he wants to be considered one of the best, then he needs to become a closer, and I personally have seen enough to know that he is not, and will not become one. making a lucky double clutch 3 pointer doesn't make one a closer.


His quote of "i have to play near perfect for us to win" has really stuck with me. Yes AD, you do have to play great for us to win. You're a great player. We expect you to score 30/10 most nights, and when you don't, we might not win. That's called being one of the best players on the court night in and night out. Do you think the Rockets usually win when Harden scores 15 points? Are the Blazers going to win if Lillard puts up 13 points? Hell he could score 30, but if he took 30 shots to do it, they probably still lose. That's what comes with being one of the best. You're elite. We expect you to play elite most nights. If you don't like that, then go join the Warriors or Celtics or Lakers where someone else can have that burden.