The Lebron Thread

rjchpd · Post #1121 » by **rjchpd** » Sat Dec 8, 2012 3:55 am

PCProductions wrote:Lebron's athleticism is just fine. The problem is the communication on defense. There have been so many moments where rotation just did not happen when it should've.

I'm also not so sure about this small ball thing anymore...

SideshowBob wrote:Lebron in the last ten games

Code: Select all
MP PTS TRB AST STL BLK TOV TS% eFG% GmSc 40.4 27.5 8.6 7.1 1.6 0.9 2.8 .585 .561 23.5

As I said, his scoring was going to be fine. The FT in that stretch were 7.1 FTA, 4.6 FT, 64.8% FT%. Had he hit at his typical ~77% rate, he'd be scoring 28.4 points per game on 60.4% TS. GameSco would be close to 24.5, which is a bit above 2009, a tad below 2010, and above any of his Miami seasons.

Good stuff Sideshow. Given the heat's struggles we can expect to see a sustained high level of activity from him. Shaping up to be one of his best seasons.

SideshowBob · Post #1122 » by **SideshowBob** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 1:39 am

Looks fantastic attacking right now. He's comfortable with his offensive game being centralized around driving to the rim again

toodles23 · Post #1123 » by **toodles23** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:02 am

SideshowBob wrote:Looks fantastic attacking right now. He's comfortable with his offensive game being centralized around driving to the rim again

Which is great to see, he has an extra gear he can go to again that he didn't really have the past two years, It's been obvious at the end of games where he and the Heat have put up ridiculous numbers. Only problem has been his weak midrange shooting, but I'll easily take his improved driving game over his better midrange shooting the prior two seasons.

ThatsWhatIShved · Post #1124 » by **ThatsWhatIShved** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:33 am

Ya when Wade shows up he makes Lebron's life so easy. Really jealous how many easy baskets Lebron can get every game.

IG2 · Post #1125 » by **IG2** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:00 am

LeBron really looks terrific. That 2nd gear totally changes his ability to consistently attack the defense when required and it's been such a welcome change from the last 2 seasons.

Only problem has been his weak midrange shooting

Hoopdata has his mid-range percentages through 15 games, and he's shooting 43% from 16-23 feet, which is very good. Does anyone have updated stats?

toodles23 · Post #1126 » by **toodles23** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:14 am

IG2 wrote:LeBron really looks terrific. That 2nd gear totally changes his ability to consistently attack the defense when required and it's been such a welcome change from the last 2 seasons.

Only problem has been his weak midrange shooting

Hoopdata has his mid-range percentages through 15 games, and he's shooting 43% from 16-23 feet, which is very good. Does anyone have updated stats?

Don't use hoopdata, they miss lots of FGAs (they have Lebron attempting 300 shots through 16 games, but the real number is 318). Here's the real numbers:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ting/2013/

poopdamoop · Post #1127 » by **poopdamoop** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:16 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMQ4mGmYA4[/youtube]

Clips of young LeBron. I never really believed he lost a lot of athleticism, but some of those dunks (especially the 1st one against Chicago) are ridiculous. Can't imagine him doing that now.

SideshowBob · Post #1128 » by **SideshowBob** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 5:22 am

SideshowBob wrote:Lebron in the last ten games

Code: Select all
MP PTS TRB AST STL BLK TOV TS% eFG% GmSc 40.4 27.5 8.6 7.1 1.6 0.9 2.8 .585 .561 23.5

As I said, his scoring was going to be fine. The FT in that stretch were 7.1 FTA, 4.6 FT, 64.8% FT%. Had he hit at his typical ~77% rate, he'd be scoring 28.4 points per game on 60.4% TS. GameSco would be close to 24.5, which is a bit above 2009, a tad below 2010, and above any of his Miami seasons.

Since the Houston game

Code: Select all

MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
40.0  27.2   8.2    7.3    1.7    0.8    2.9  .600   .576    23.4   119

Again, the FT issue (which is improving). Lebron's shot 66.7% from the line in those games on 6.8 FTA. At his normal ~77% rate, he would've made 5.2 FTs a game, which would put his scoring at 27.9 a game on 61.6% TS. He's really got to improve there, because his attempts are down as well (slight effect of the new rules, but the unwillingness to take them due to poor shooting is also an issue).

On the other hand, his overall shooting from the field has been solid. He's at a career high in eFGs made per 36 minutes at an eFG% of 58.0%. It'd be nice to see his mid-range jumper improve, but its not a dramatically hampering issue.

If anyone cares for advanced stats, PER will continue to rise as his Usage/Scoring rate do. He's scoring only 24.1 points per 36 minutes, which is his lowest since 07, and only just above 05. I'd expect that to rise to at least 25/per36, if not higher. WS/48 will also rise as Miami's defense improves and James's usage goes up. I highly doubt anyone's finishing over him in either of those (and still think the potential for a record WS/48 season is there).

As far as ability goes, I want to say that he's clearly playing at SEVERAL gears below peak level. There haven't been any true marquee matchups yet, I haven't seen him really fired up for any game so far, and it looks to stay that way until Christmas (vs. OKC). Other than that, Miami's schedule in the next month or so doesn't look to be too exciting. Without seeing him play with that level of intensity (which we may not see till later in the playoffs), I'm not going to try to make a comparison between this season and his peak 09 and 10 years, but I think its possible that he's at least on that level (but a step below in the scoring department).

JLei · Post #1129 » by **JLei** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:13 am

With the resurgence in his first step (not quite 09-10 levels but still big difference) and all the extra tools in the toolbox (the post game, being a devastating roller on the pick and roll, dramatically improved 3 pt shooting etc.) I think he might be just as good as 09-10 or even better but you are right he's clearly in chilllll mode unless the Heat are about to lose.

If he plays defense like he did last year which is starting to happen I'm pretty comfortable saying this is the best version of Lebron yet, can't wait to see him ramp it up later in the season and in the playoffs.

SideshowBob · Post #1130 » by **SideshowBob** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:40 am

Since the Houston game

Code: Select all

MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
40.2  27.5   7.8    7.2    1.6    0.7    3.0  .600   .575    23.3   119

Minutes need to come down, and I think he can still control the turnovers a bit, but otherwise, looking solid. 28/8/7 on 61-62% TS is where he's going to finish. Statline's going to look almost identical to 2009, just with a higher eFG%.

Ursusamericanus · Post #1131 » by **Ursusamericanus** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:56 am

The scoring has definitely shot up lately, as have the steals. Also really enjoying his rebounding numbers this season; he already has 9 games with 10+ boards. Haven't quite seen him in "possessed" mode as much this season but I suppose he's saving that for the playoffs, which worries me as a Knick fan.

RebelWithACause · Post #1132 » by **RebelWithACause** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:16 pm

Cleveland Lebron was a lot better!
Just so much more athletic and quicker!
Same goes for Carmelo and Wade

PCProductions · Post #1133 » by **PCProductions** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 6:38 pm

ElMaestro90 wrote:Cleveland Lebron was a lot better!
Just so much more athletic and quicker!
Same goes for Carmelo and Wade

I'll take a higher BBIQ and post moves over a bit of athleticism any day. This LeBron is the best one we've ever seen.

toodles23 · Post #1134 » by **toodles23** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:38 am

Lebron continuing to struggle with his shot. It's '07ish at this point inside the 3 point line, I'm cringing just about every time he rises up or shoots a FT.

IG2 · Post #1135 » by **IG2** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:59 am

toodles23 wrote:Lebron continuing to struggle with his shot. It's '07ish at this point inside the 3 point line, I'm cringing just about every time he rises up or shoots a FT.

The FT shooting is showing no signs of improvement. Don't really know what to make of it anymore. This is the worst he's ever been.

I'm still optimistic about his mid-range shooting though. I don't think he's shooting them enough for now to say whether he's bad at it. He needs to take more shots from there. I'm frankly more concerned about the lack of quickness he's demonstrated the last couple of games.

toodles23 · Post #1136 » by **toodles23** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 2:22 am

IG2 wrote:
toodles23 wrote:Lebron continuing to struggle with his shot. It's '07ish at this point inside the 3 point line, I'm cringing just about every time he rises up or shoots a FT.

The FT shooting is showing no signs of improvement. Don't really know what to make of it anymore. This is the worst he's ever been.

I'm still optimistic about his mid-range shooting though. I don't think he's shooting them enough for now to say whether he's bad at it. He needs to take more shots from there. I'm frankly more concerned about the lack of quickness he's demonstrated the last couple of games.

Nice little flurry of midrange jumpers at the end there, you could tell he wanted 20 points.

Ursusamericanus · Post #1137 » by **Ursusamericanus** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 2:22 am

The free throw shooting is garbage. At this point I have no idea what the hell to say about it. Better hope he can at least get it above 70% by season's end.

ardee · Post #1138 » by **ardee** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:22 pm

Also, his volume on FTA is down, which is strange, considering he's more explosive then he has been over the last two years. 6 FTA is the second lowest of his career after his rookie season, and FT/FTA is also the second lowest of his career... 0.324 as compared to 0.428 in 2012 and 0.472 in 2009. This is concerning.... Unless you can put it ALL down to coasting, which means this is his version of Shaq 2001. I won't lie, I'm a bit upset, I was looking forward to that 29/10/7, 34 PER, .350 WS48 thing....

JordansBulls · Post #1139 » by **JordansBulls** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:46 pm

I don't get how he shoots that well from the field and even the 3 point line but that bad from the free throw line.

SunKing · Post #1140 » by **SunKing** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:25 am

Some player are just waaaayyyy better shooter in the rythm/off the dribble than just pure spot up.

Everybody talk about KD crazy 50/40/90 season, but LeBron right now is shooting 54 from the field and 43 from 3 points