[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 The bias on this site is really sickening. For the last few years Lebron James was criticized for not being clutch or not having a post game. This year in my opinion he finally answered the call. He completed his game, as a professional basketball player, you should do that. We always criticize Carmelo Anthony for being a black hole on offense, not playing defense, or giving continous effort, I think he’s improved in all of those areas, but he still needs to do more to be the best he can be. We always speak of potential, but potential isn’t worth anything if you don’t work hard. We can all name probably 10 players at least off of the top of our heads, who hasn’t reached their potential. 

 

The point of this post if me trying to figure out why some players are held to different standards than others. You criticize Lebron and Carmelo, but why won’t any of you criticize Blake Griffin or Kevin Durant. I think it’s a bias against the person and not their games. Kevin Durant needs to improve his defense, he needs to become a better passer, and though he’s skinny, he needs to work on a better post game/half-court offense. Contrary to popular belief, statistically Kevin Durant isn’t as good of a passer as Carmelo, yet like I said earlier, that is something Carmelo is criticized for. Let’s talk of efficiency, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant, shooting percentages are separated by 1 percent. Kevin Durant shoots 47% for his career and Carmelo Anthony shoots 46%. Yet that is something Carmelo is criticized for. Blake Griffin, needs to improve his defense, his mid range jump shooting, and his post moves, yet he isn’t criticized and people have the nerve to call him a top 10 player. 

The point of this is why don’t people hold all players to the same standards? We need analysts to hold them to the same standards and we also need to do it on that on this site. Kevin Durant is one of the top 3 scorers in the NBA, but there are more complete players in my opinion, I think it’s about the complete game and not just scoring. Same thing for Blake, there are mor complete players. 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Lower standards as well, at least as far as leading their team. I understand to an extent, Pistol and I have actually been one of the people defending LeBron James and still feeling Melo is amongst the elite even with a lack of play-off success beyond a single Nuggets squad that had a lead on the eventual NBA Champs in the Western Conference Finals. My thinking is, Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin are straight up seen as more likable characters.

They have met or exceeded expectations of where they would be at this point in their career (at least they have from my perspective). I could go into it further and I agree their is somewhat of a double standard, just feel like the standards for LeBron and Melo were flat out higher than Durant/Griffin. Plus, for the most part, Durant and Griffin have done much less to piss the general public off. In due time, I believe they could catch a lot of flack as well. In the mean time, this does exist and realize that some people definitely see where you are coming from.

I tend to feel it is not really about a complete bias for these players, sometimes it is how you handle dealing with it. Take that as you will, just know that when you talk about favorite players of board members, think a lot are major fans of Durant/Griggin and have in some way been let down by LeBron/Melo. Feel if you make a concerted argument, than you will have people agreeing with you or at least understanding where you come from. Patience and deep breathing can sometimes be suggested as well :). Not saying that I do not get upset with the double standard, just trying to give an understanding of why people have this reaction to these players.

[seniokasParticipant]

 Honestly, I believe that most people in this forum are criticizing Blake Griffin and haven’t bought into hype. You make a very good point with Kevin Durant and Carmelo similiarities, though. But then again, almost everytim anyone posts about Durant they usually end up saying that although he is really good right now, he still has so much potential especially with improving post game, strenght and defense.

But overall, it’s definitely truth that we often get into hype too much. I think having critical view is crucial when evaluating players, you have to not get hyped about strengths but find weaknesses and watch if player really works to fix them.

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 I always think of basketball in the way I was taught. You can’t teach effort, and the easiest way to get on the court, is hustling, defense, and being a good teammate. Not everyone can be blessed with other worldy athleticism, but everyone can take the time to learn the game.

 

Because Blake Griffin is put on sportscenter, people feed into the hype. My generation went from MJ to Penny Hardaway to the late 90s/early 2000s with allen iverson, vince carter, tracy mcgrady, etc. The flashy play is better than the simple play, is what everyone has been learning and will continue to learn, Steve Nash probably knows the game better than any point guard in the league, just imagine if he had Westbrook’s athleticism, but he doesn’t. I just ask for objectivity in any situation. Which is something we rarely get on here. 

 

I don’t think the expectations for Griffin were the same as Lebron and Carmelo’s but I think Kevin Durant’s was. Like Mikey V, said Durant and Griffin are simply more likable characters. The Greg Oden vs. Kevin Durant debate was supposed to be the new force to drive basketball but of course, Oden got injured. I’d take a more complete player over a great scorer any day, that’s why unless Lebron gets injured or something Kevin Durant will never be better than him. 

My top 5 players in order Lebron James, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant. 

I think all of those players I put ahead of Durant are more complete players. Lebron, we don’t have to speak of his skills. Chris Paul, best point guard in the league, he can score but he’s also one of the top 3 point guards for setting up his teammates, tenacious defender, great leader. Dwight Howard, who I think can still also improve,(hopefully Kareem helps him) Led the Magic to a top 5 defense a few straight seasons a couple of years ago. We know how horrible their perimeter defense was, he’ll also get you 20 points, with help he could be around 26 points a game. Also I only put KD over Kobe because of mentality, people seem to forget when Kobe was young with Shaq, he was putting up 26, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals while running the triangle, we all know the story of him wanting to be the man and the rest is history. His mentality is that of simply a scorer now, yet he averages more assists than Durant and still gets you almost 6 rebounds at the 2 spot. Some may see it as a knock on KD but I see it as being objective, he could be so much better, he needs it, the game needs it, and if you follow him on twitter, I think he knows it. 

[rileymcshea3Participant]

We do criticize LeBron and Melo a lot for how great they are but they have been around longer then Durant and Griffin.

To the point of Griffin and Durant we do criticize Griffin a lot to the point where we underrate him ,and for Durant he really isn’t a slouch on defense ,I don’t know where this came from but just because he can’t shut down the best player in the world(LeBron) doesn’t mean he need to be criticized for his D.Plus Durant is young and still improving every aspect of his game I don’t see where the criticism could be thrown at him,he is the best scorer in the nba, he’s averaging 8 boards a game now,his passing has only voting better and his defense is actually really underrated .

[LerinErinParticipant]

 Everytime I have posted that while I think he is a remarkable prospect we should at least have him play a few NBA games before he be anointed asthe second coming…. I get negs like Crazy.

 

I remember when people were also excited as hell about OJ Mayo etc.

 

 

[Pistol Pete. The PelicanParticipant]

 It’s like people hype someone up, and when he busts suddenly they have amnesia, or when the person is criticized for needing minor improvement, they get mad. No player in the NBA is perfect, and Lebron is the closest to it. Any player after that can still improve greatly. People will compare Lebron and Durant. KD only led in points,s omeone will probably see this and say he led in rebounds also, well KD averaged 8 and Lebron averaged 7.9, I call that a tie. Lebron Led him in every statistical category, including shooting percentage, and people have the nerve to say KD is better. smh

 

Remember the hype on Xavier Henry? Wesley Johnson? Jonny Flynn? Beasley? Mayo? Joe Alexander? Anthony Randolph? Nicolas Batum?

Just saying people have really short memories..

[LerinErinParticipant]

 For negs like crazy

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I get what you’re trying to say, but I don’t agree with it.

Blake Griffin is entering his 3rd season in the NBA. It wouldn’t be fair to hold him to the same standards of a LeBron James or a Carmelo Anthony. ESPN overrates Griffin, but real basketball fans know his weaknesses. I actually think the users on this site know the deal with him. Real basketball fans also know he’s more than just an athlete though.

LeBron came into the NBA with a lot of hype (and he met them all… probably surpassed them) and there was a timeframe where he could do no wrong. Everybody loved him. Skip Bayless got so much attention for the sole reason he was criticizing LeBron when nobody else was. The pressure didn’t mount on LeBron until he started coming up short for championships. I also think he brought some of the criticism on himself.

I think Durant is just now beginning to enter that territory… Now, a championship is expected. He’s only 24, but people won’t look at him as just the "young kid" anymore. Expectations are championships. And if he doesn’t deliver, he’ll start to hear A LOT more criticism.

I really like Durant though. He’s a hard worker. He’s easy to coach. He’s easy to play with. He’s an amazing shooter and scorer, who’s rounding out the rest of his game. He’s not *complete* yet, but he’ll get there. He wants it. He’s hungry for it. He has that mentality where he’s always humble despite what he’s achieved. He’s gotten better every season. I’d take him over Carmelo Anthony every day of the week.

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