Comments on: LeBron lacks the killer instinct, or Kidd’s last laugh http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/ Where sports, entertainment and geek culture collide Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:38:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: bradallis http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-12 bradallis Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:20:08 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-12 In my mind Kidd has always been a feast or famine defender. He was amazing getting steals but could also get torched. “Wiley” is a great description for his game. Kidd was usually the smartest player on the floor and anticipated passes very well. To me he was never a lockdown guy and not a guy who defended bigger players particularly well.

Whatever your opinions of Kidd are to me there is no way he should stymie James. There is no reason for James to settle for jumpers and not exploit the size difference.

]]> By: wildcat dad http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-11 wildcat dad Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:12:58 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-11 If you’re going to make commentsabout defensive abilities, at least get it right! Jason Kidd is not who he used to be defensively, but he’s still a wilely, clever defender. Your statement about him not having been a much of a defender even in his younger days discredits you as an evaluater. No your player history before downgrading the old-timer. Here is a quick look at the game’s top defensive guards, both shooting and point. Here is my call:
1.Sidney Moncrief
2.Michael Jordan
3.Joe Dumars
4.Gary Payton
5.Dennis Johnson
Honorable Mention: Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Alvin Robertson and Michael Cooper

]]> By: HH http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-10 HH Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:41:26 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-10 Where are you getting this Kobe vs. Kidd thing? Please read carefully. It’s Kobe vs. Nash. Therefore, your entire argument is void. He compared Kobe with Nash to Lebron with Kidd because Lebron is a better athlete, especially now, compared to Kobe. Shaky analogy aside, his point was that Lebron should be able to dominate Kidd as Kobe definitely would with Nash.
On a side note, I definitely do agree with the notion that Lebron does not work as hard as the greats, partly due to his mentality (lack of killer instinct) and his immaturity. He believes himself to already be the best and unfortunately, so far he has been in the regular season without needing to hone his skills as the greats did. However, this lack of commitment is showing up in the playoffs. I really don’t know where the idea that Lebron works hard came from.
If Lebron ever decides to start acting like an adult and a committed basketball player instead of blowing massive amounts of money and time to spend with his entourage, he will truly be a force to reckoned with. Unfortunately, I don’t ever see that day coming for him until it’s too late. Unlike Kobe, I don’t think he will learn to or even try to shape his game around his inevitable physical decline. As a result, there should be no association between Lebron and MJ for now (from what we’ve seen so far).

]]> By: Kidd http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-7 Kidd Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:17:57 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-7 I think the writer is forgetting that Kidd, as old as he is, did cover Kobe this year and Kobe had a lot of problems scoring on him. The only issue is Kobe is aging as well. Lebron is much younger and should not have the same problems as Kobe.

]]> By: latoya http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-4 latoya Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:45:33 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-4 I’m not a Lebron fan, but I gotta say that I’m getting tired of people saying he is not a great player. The players you mentioned above did not win it all right away. There was a growth process they had to go through before it finally happened from them. Lebron has all of the tools but he needs to eat a huge slice of humble pie, I think, before he can move to the next level of winning a championship. One last note- you should probably delete that whole section about how Kobe would take Kidd in a match up. I don’t know if you just started watching the playoffs, but these 2 have already went head to head this year and as the primary defender Kidd kept Kobe to his lowest production totals in 10 yrs.  Kidd’s defense also disrupted Westbrook and Durant last series. You really should review those type of things before you try to diss someone (Lebron) or discredit someone’s game (Kidd).

]]> By: John http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-3 John Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:39:46 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-3 I’ve been saying that this whole time. 

Everyone keeps saying Lebron is a best all around player. I don’t know how someone could be possibly “all around” or “complete” when they’re offensive repertoire is so limited. Lebron’s offense is always, within 5 feet away from the hoop and facing foward only.  He must know that he cannot keep doing the only thing he’s good at.  Yet he keeps squandering his summers partying his ass off, jerking off team owners, and antagonizing an entire nation or a planet. 

If there is a basketball skillset from A through E, never settle for just A and B. Work on the other things too. Lebron keeps ignoring that. Do some film study to analyze everyone else’s move. Bryant obsessively absorbed West, Magic, and Baylor just to name a few. 

Only 2 players in history to be “complete.” Jordan perfected the skills of a basketball player and Bryant followed. 

Lebron is more of an Allen Iverson with his stubborn will to stick to HIS way only. Turning 27 by the beginning of 2012, he’ll have a few more years of athletic peak. 

All and all, I’m amazed how he gets to be called the best player with

bad mid range Js
bad long Js
bad foot work
lack of post
non-existent clutch 
absence of killer instinct 

]]> By: James http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/2011/06/09/lebron-lacks-the-killer-instinct-or-kidds-last-laugh/#comment-2 James Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:20:04 +0000 http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-crossroads/?p=10#comment-2 I don’t know why people are under the impression that Lebron James is a hard worker. It doesn’t really show up in his game. To me he relies heavily on his over the top athletic gifts but no one, not even King James can depend entirely on that. At some point you have to get in the gym and work and I don’t mean sit out and lob three pointers at the basket lazily rather work on your handle or pull up at game speed.  Lebron James has displayed really no ability to get to the whole effectively other than when the refs bail him out for barreling head first into defenders. It has actually become more and more apparent in the last three years but none more so than this year as he has been unable or elected to forego attempting to get the basket altogether this series. He doesn’t have a killer instinct not because it isn’t ingrained within him but because he  lacks the willingness and motivation to work which instills that killer instinct in a player.

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