2012 Lebron vs. 2013 Lebron

[Buju]

IMO the team's chemistry is a lot stronger then 2012.

Besides Indiana where James had to carry for the most part.

But nonetheless the team's impact would hinder LBJ's Numbers but that should be the last thing on peoples mind. Long as the team is winning, no complaints here.

I do see James playing smarter though.

[Slot Machine]

Am I honestly the first one to point this out?

2012
Carmelo/Chandler
Granger/Hibbert
Pierce/Garnett
Durant, Sefolosha, Harden/Perkins and Ibaka

2013
Mbah a Moute/Sanders
Butler/Noah
George/Hibbert
Leonard/Duncan

The defenses we've faced have been much better geared to stop LeBron. Every team we've faced this year(yes, even Milwaukee) has had a good to great perimeter defender and an elite defensive anchor. That's why LeBron isn't playing as well, not because of some issue like "hunger" or "desire" or other narrative driven BS.

Keeping this in mind, I still think LeBron's been great in every series thus far, even if his stats aren't quite as gaudy due to more difficult matchups this year.

[TheChosen618]

Am I honestly the first one to point this out?

2012
Carmelo/Chandler
Granger/Hibbert
Pierce/Garnett
Durant, Sefolosha, Harden/Perkins and Ibaka

2013
Mbah a Moute/Sanders
Butler/Noah
George/Hibbert
Leonard/Duncan

The defenses we've faced have been much better geared to stop LeBron. Every team we've faced this year(yes, even Milwaukee) has had a good to great perimeter defender and an elite defensive anchor. That's why LeBron isn't playing as well, not because of some issue like "hunger" or "desire" or other narrative driven BS.

Keeping this in mind, I still think LeBron's been great in every series thus far, even if his stats aren't quite as gaudy due to more difficult matchups this year.

While we are still applying context, we also need to factor in how this 2013 Heat team is much better offensively and overall than the 2012 Heat was.

We can start by factoring in how Bosh was out for the Pacers series and most of the Celtics series. Bosh may not always put up great box-score numbers but his presence is usually pretty large with his ability to knock down mid-range jumpers and stretch the floor.

The next thing we can factor is that their are better shooters this season specifically with Ray on this team and he is obviously a huge threat from downtown since he is arguably the greatest 3 pt shooter ever.

All in all, it actually kind of makes sense why Lebron has played the way he has so far this 2013 post-season. He has better teammates now, so he doesn't have to be as aggressive and score as much since his teammates can do more of the lifting now.

I still feel like 2012 Lebron's energy intensity and everything else was better and more consistent though. I don't even recall a single bad game from Lebron in the 2012 playoffs, while Lebron has been playing pretty sub-par in the Finals so far.