40 ppg against better players? I do doubt that. But PPG was never his problem. If anything, he could have simply been a bit more efficient and taken fewer bad shots. Opposite of Lebron. LBJ has been a more efficient scorer, but could take more shots in big situations. He tends to (imo overly) trust his teammates and make passes. Some dock him for that, some think it's a strength.
Imo, if you are the best player in the game, you should take the shots in the big games.
LBJ has deferred too often. So I still take Mike.