Article: LeBron James vs. Dwight Howard: Who's the better franchise building block?

[JordansBulls]

We had an article about this in the past, but would your opinion sway a little bit seeing they went head to head in the ECF this year?


Lebron is 24 going to be 25 at the beginning of the season. Dwight is 23 going to be 24 at the beginning of the season.


Former PSD Thread on Dwight vs Lebron - Link


Source: OrlandoSentinel

Through a study of NBA history, the debate largely has been decided, the outcome even repeated in recent times.

You'd take a great big man over a great small man any day of the week and twice during the NBA Finals.

There are championship banners in Boston, thanks to Bill Russell. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the grand marshal for parades in Los Angeles. Seven of the last 10 titles have been won by the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers, teams that were anchored by Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal.

Of course, there have been exceptions to the rules — and to the rulers.

Like Michael. Like Isiah.

And like LeBron?

If you had to start a franchise, would you take Magic all-star center Dwight Howard, 23, or the Cavs all-star small forward LeBron James, 24?

"Uh, oh, wow. ... I played with Shaq, but that's a tough one," said former NBA veteran Dennis Scott. "I would, um, go with. ..."

"Traditionally, I'd have to go with the big guy — Dwight. At the end of the day, you need that inside presence ... for defense, rebounding. He opens everything up and makes the game easier. Not to discredit LeBron, but as good as he is, I think it's easier finding another LeBron than a Shaq or a Dwight.

Teams find a way to take away your best player, so you have to have good players around them.

"If you just have Shaq and nothing around them, you have problems. If you just have Jordan and nothing around them, you have problems."

Asked if LeBron should get the edge over Dwight because he led the Cavs to an NBA Finals appearance in 2006-07, Smith cracked, "OK, what do you get for that? A parting gift?"

The Case for Lebron

LeBron James

•Five reasons to build around Cleveland's LeBron James:

1. Michael Jordan effect. 

King James has taken Cavs to Finals without great cast.

2. He IS big.

A matchup nightmare, there's never been a more freakish 6-8, 260-pounder.

3. Late-game magic.

LeBron can get calls, make FTs in clutch.

4. He has believers.

Several teams are creating cap-room for his 2010 free-agent season. 

5. Box office boon.

Why else would you buy a Cavs ticket?

The Case for Dwight

Dwight Howard

• Five reasons to build around Orlando's Dwight Howard:

1. Big men rule.

What Shaq and Tim Duncan have in common the last decade: Rings.

2. He's a rare find.

Especially a great center with Howard's athleticism.

3. Hello, easy baskets.

Howard provides plenty of dunks and lay-ups.

4. Intimidation factor.

He has discovered he can change games defensively, too. 

5. Recruiting magnet.

Free agents love to play with a franchise center on a contender

[abe_froman]

lebron,he's the best player in the game and projected to be top 10 all time.why wouldnt you take that?

yes he lost,but supporting cast had something to do with that,and yes people are glowing over the magic right now(and its good since most dismissed them for most the season+playoffs),but does change who's better.

[Mane]

I would choose Dwight Howard easily. If you get some 3-point shooters on a team with a dominant big man, you can rain down 3's all day. Especially with the amount of attention Dwight Howard forces onto himself.

[fredv]

lol people who say they would just Dwight are out of there minds! Talk about beeing influenced lol.

Who would you rather build around? Best player in the league or Second Best Center in the league?
Because when Dwight plays Yao, he gets dominated. On the other side, no playerd dominates Lebron, teams do.

[PhillyMac]

lol people who say they would just Dwight are out of there minds! Talk about beeing influenced lol.

Who would you rather build around? Best player in the league or Second Best Center in the league?
Because when Dwight plays Yao, he gets dominated. On the other side, no playerd dominates Lebron, teams do.

so untrue. yao is so unathletic and cant keep up with dwight

[theuuord]

so untrue. yao is so unathletic and cant keep up with dwight

wrong.

Dwight in two games against Houston this season: 13 points, 9.5 rebounds, .476 FG%

Yao in two games against Orlando this season: 21 points, 14.5 rebounds, .607 FG%

[JayW_1023]

wrong.

Dwight in two games against Houston this season: 13 points, 9.5 rebounds, .476 FG%

Yao in two games against Orlando this season: 21 points, 14.5 rebounds, .607 FG%

Howard has definately grown since then...we hardly saw him demand the ball in crunchtime until now.

In the postseason, we've seen a different Dwight Howard ever since the Boston series...one that does want the ball in pressure situations.

That said, I still voted for LeBron...if LeBron has Howards supporting cast his team would be unstoppable.

[ragee]

lol people who say they would just Dwight are out of there minds! Talk about beeing influenced lol.

Who would you rather build around? Best player in the league or Second Best Center in the league?
Because when Dwight plays Yao, he gets dominated. On the other side, no playerd dominates Lebron, teams do.

So are you saying D-Will is better than CP3? Coz he dominates him every time they play...

1. And LeBron is a Michael Jordan type of talent. He is that rare breed of player that comes along once in a decade or more. Dwight Howard is not Shaq, not Duncan, and probably never will be.

2. Look at the Lakers this year. Who is their "dominant big guy"? Gasol is nice but he is far from "dominant". Bynum can't even get out of his own way anymore. Odom is a headcase that is in and out of games. If the Lakers win, it is just another example of a team winning without a great big.

3. Wade carried Miami to a recent title as well. And Shaq was on that team, but he was a shell of his former self and far from dominant.

4. The NBA has changed. There are not many dominant bigs. That is why we are seeing guards dominate more and more.

Just because most of the premadonas of the NBA are SGs and Sfs, that does not mean that the game has changed... Bring a a player who plays like Shaq in his prime and he will still dominate this league... Dwight is nowhere near that yet... He may get there... We will see... Who won most of the championships this decade? Shaq and Duncan... Wade only won once... Lebron has not, Melo has not, Kobe has 3 because of Shaq... If you look at the Celtics, sure, Pierce was the finals mvp but if you watch closely, KG was the one who controlled the game... If you look at the Pistons, sure they have Rip and Billups but the Wallaces controlled the paint and I believe that is the main reason why they won that championship... With all that being said, can you now please tell me when exactly did the game changed?

LeBron is the best choice of the two because the whole game of basketball doesn't go on down low, LeBron plays all around the court, similar to a Kobe just a bigger dude. LeBron can get big and dunk over most big men in the NBA and he can shoot the 3. Dwight Howard is a big man and a big man alone, he is a highly developed center but LeBron is just a better overall player.

And despite that, teams with centers who goes down low still won more championships than players who can do everything... I wonder why that is?

lol now lebron dont have a team ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL a sudden. sorry but you dont win 66 games by YOURSELF. what ever happen to "oh big z is gonna pull dwight out the paint" "mo williams is an all star, lebron's pippen" all that crap.

you build around the big guy,"center" is the hardest positon to acquire.

Hahahaha... I remember the regular season when the Cavs fans were saying the only reason we beat them is they don't have Z and there is no way we can beat them in the playoffs...

[MagicBucsSox]

So are you saying D-Will is better than CP3? Coz he dominates him every time they play...



Just because most of the premadonas of the NBA are SGs and Sfs, that does not mean that the game has changed... Bring a a player who plays like Shaq in his prime and he will still dominate this league... Dwight is nowhere near that yet... He may get there... We will see... Who won most of the championships this decade? Shaq and Duncan... Wade only won once... Lebron has not, Melo has not, Kobe has 3 because of Shaq... If you look at the Celtics, sure, Pierce was the finals mvp but if you watch closely, KG was the one who controlled the game... If you look at the Pistons, sure they have Rip and Billups but the Wallaces controlled the paint and I believe that is the main reason why they won that championship... With all that being said, can you now please tell me when exactly did the game changed?



And despite that, teams with centers who goes down low still won more championships than players who can do everything... I wonder why that is?



Hahahaha... I remember the regular season when the Cavs fans were saying the only reason we beat them is they don't have Z and there is no way we can beat them in the playoffs...

dude they had plenty excuses, oh delonte this n that, mo like i hate when people say "oh thats the regular season" but the teams are the same
and now this lakers fans are outta hand having the nevre to mention bynum names lol like i cant wait. skip gon murder fisher n farmar

[ragee]

dude they had plenty excuses, oh delonte this n that, mo like i hate when people say "oh thats the regular season" but the teams are the same
and now this lakers fans are outta hand having the nevre to mention bynum names lol like i cant wait. skip gon murder fisher n farmar

You know what I hated the most? When we were saying we beat them 9 out 13 times in the past two years... They said it does not count because it was the regular season but on that statement, they also mentioned we can't win at home because the are 40-1 at home!!! We proved them wrong though....

[Vinny642]

For me Dwight because Great Centers are hard to find.

[PhillyMac]

when you give dwight howard the ball, he will score. he doesnt have an off night. also on the defensive end of the floor, hes almost fills up the entire lane. you can put pieces around him that can serve a player like lebron's purpose. for example hedu is a great player, and can score from the outside. He is an excellent complement to dwight, and players like him are so easy to find. lebron on the other hand would need a great pg of center, which are much more difficult to find. even with mo williams, lebron still cant achieve greatness. dwight is a true rare find, and while lebron is too, you can find players that can be good enough to do his role

[theuuord]

when you give dwight howard the ball, he will score. he doesnt have an off night. also on the defensive end of the floor, hes almost fills up the entire lane. you can put pieces around him that can serve a player like lebron's purpose. for example hedu is a great player, and can score from the outside. He is an excellent complement to dwight, and players like him are so easy to find. lebron on the other hand would need a great pg of center, which are much more difficult to find. even with mo williams, lebron still cant achieve greatness. dwight is a true rare find, and while lebron is too, you can find players that can be good enough to do his role

this is one of those comments that has taken the ECF far too much into consideration.
Dwight Howard has off nights. Everyone does. He is not exempt from poor play simply because of his size or how well he played last night.

Dwight is a rare find, LeBron is a rarer find. It's like deciding between a diamond and a better diamond. Is anyone really going to complain with either?

[GoatMilk]

it's easier to build around a center than a great wing like lebron

imo

[superkegger]

When Phil Jackson made his comments on this, there was a poll on it here.

I voted for Dwight, and I still do.