OMG... LeBron only 8 pts in an NBA Finals game

[orangeparka]

his performance tonight was eeriely similar to that Game 5 last year

Agreed, I wonder how much the media will chatter about this. It seems like Lebron occasionally has really weird games like this that don't jive with what you'd think logically should happen. Kobe in game 7, that was a fantastic defensive struggle with Kobe trying to put it on his shoulder and just missing while chucking too much (don't get me wrong, big Kobe fan). That's an understandable stat line. Lebron's statline, you'd think at some point he'd be able to make something happen. It's not just the numbers, it's the way he played.

Sometimes I feel like Lebron is trying to prove exactly the opposite that people think he should be trying to prove. Like "Yeah, I am THAT unselfish, I'm ok with 8 points". As much as being an unselfish player is admirable, sometimes you have to grab the ball and barrel down the lane, make something happen. Lebron didn't do that at all. I can think of six of his points off the top of my heads- a putback, free throws (not creating contact, while in the penalty), and a fastbreak. Don't remember his other bucket, but that's nothing from driving the ball or half-court offense.

Great post. Sums up what he showed throughout the game.

People who just look at the 8 points and not the game shouldn't comment. smh

[el loco]

He got punked by a 6'2" 170 lb. 6th man

[Free Rider]

This is one of those games where you actually had to watch the entire game to fully appreciate how poorly a superstar played. The stats alone don't paint the full picture. This game can't be encapsulated in a box score or a stat line. LeBron didn't just shoot the ball poorly, he played with a lack of aggressiveness and a level of timidity that almost turned him to a role player. His inability or unwillingness to attack the basket throughout these playoffs has been a troubling sign but it really came to a head in tonight's game where they really needed him to force the issue. Instead he constantly passed the ball out and settled for jumpers and stood around while Wade became the primary scorer.

I used to think that if LeBron ever developed a consistent jumper he would be unstoppable force because you'd now have to honor his outside shot. But now I think he's somewhat regressed as a player because he relies much more on his jumpshot which takes away from his best ability which is to drive to the basket and either score or get a foul. He's now starting to settle for the lower percentage shot when he at the very least used to get to the line.

[primecougar]

He got punked by a 6'2" 170 lb. 6th man

tought lebron was gunna have a goat game tonight after what the maverick players said

[Feed Your Head]

His elbow must be bothering him.

[Kobe 24 Revis]

sportsguy33 Bill Simmons
Highlights of LeBron's performance tonight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBWQCHb95rg

Simmons tweet

[JF5]

So I guess you missed watching game 3 where he was attacking the rim rather easily. Now all of a sudden after ONE DAY he's lost a step? get out of here...

He's playing scared out there.....

No, he isn't. Lebron's been the most productive crunch time player of his generation (both playoffs and regular season) and has never had any problem like that in the ECF before, hell even in the '07 Finals and the first 3 games this year he did nothing "scared". He didn't look afraid at all, just passive as hell. His drives were practically in slow motion in game 3, there was just no help rotating over - once they started playing adequate defense, he couldn't get to the rim anymore. This has been a problem ALL season long, it's just finally being exposed. Now that's not the only problem, something else was going on there, but it's definitely a factor.

Lebron's had like three successful drives in the entire series, even in the Bulls and Celtics series it was almost all jumpshots. His game has been about jumpers the whole year.

Are you kidding me

You see game one, that dunk at the end where he got fired...

Then Game 2 where he had a monster dunk at the beginning of the 4th blowing past the defender?

Then game 3 Where had gotten to the rim for 2 dunks and acouple of lay-ups in the 1st quarter?

You're talking about of your ass buddy

It's obvious LeBron was particularly playing scared this game.

He was too passive to say he wasn't... He didn't want anything to do with the basketball this game.

[triplet1984]

For a minute, I seriously thought Lebron was tanking this game. His body language and energy was just not there at all from the opening tip. I know he is saying he doesn't care about Finals MVP BUT game 1 he played like Lebron, ever since Wade took over in game 2 and started taking over the offense he has totally blanked out. Coincidence? Ehhh.

Watch the tape folks, he stood in the corner countless times this game not even touching the ball and was playing hot potato with the ball down the stretch.

It's like you can have a bad game....but at least go down firing with some heart. Lebron is embarassing himself out there in this Finals, it's sad to watch.

Yup. I've been saying, I think Dallas' mega comeback in Game 2 scarred Lebron somehow.

[Dr Positivity]

For me it's two games in a row. The difference between G3 and G4 for Lebron from my perspective, is that Dallas didn't play defense in the first quarter of Game 3 and gave him some gimme dunks. Otherwise he's been just as soft. Last 7 quarters, 17 points - and he's played virtually every minute

[primecougar]

I wonder how LeBron's gonna feel playing Game 5...he's never played that many games in the Finals before

[Tuff Gong]

I'm done defending LeBron. The guy is an absolute joke. Horrible defense tonight as well. No one is mentioning how Terry continuously blew by him and Marion abused him as well. Can't even classify this as an off night. He didn't show up at all.

[toodles23]

This is one of those games where you actually had to watch the entire game to fully appreciate how poorly a superstar played. The stats alone don't paint the full picture. This game can't be encapsulated in a box score or a stat line. LeBron didn't just shoot the ball poorly, he played with a lack of aggressiveness and a level of timidity that almost turned him to a role player. His inability or unwillingness to attack the basket throughout these playoffs has been a troubling sign but it really came to a head in tonight's game where they really needed him to force the issue. Instead he constantly passed the ball out and settled for jumpers and stood around while Wade became the primary scorer.

I used to think that if LeBron ever developed a consistent jumper he would be unstoppable force because you'd now have to honor his outside shot. But now I think he's somewhat regressed as a player because he relies much more on his jumpshot which takes away from his best ability which is to drive to the basket and either score or get a foul. He's now starting to settle for the lower percentage shot when he at the very least used to get to the line.

His jumpshot has nothing to do with it, it's because he's not anything like the player he was in Cleveland. Just watch a game from his Cavs days to see the enormous difference in athleticism. He looks like a shell out there.

[RolloTommasi]

[Dr Positivity]

I have a feeling Woj's article about this game won't be as kind to Lebron as the last one.

[osamu]

Until Lebron is given the green light again, he'll play the same way every night.

[picc]

Its not so much that Lebron is playing bad, but that he almost (almost) seems content with it. Thats what would alarm me if I was a Heat fan.

[No Offense]

Maybe he didn't quit last year...

[LuckedO]

Are you kidding me

You see game one, that dunk at the end where he got fired...

Then Game 2 where he had a monster dunk at the beginning of the 4th blowing past the defender?

Then game 3 Where had gotten to the rim for 2 dunks and acouple of lay-ups in the 1st quarter?

You're talking about of your ass buddy

It's obvious LeBron was particularly playing scared this game.

He was too passive to say he wasn't... He didn't want anything to do with the basketball this game.

This post really displays your limited understanding of things like quickness, agility & explosiveness. Alley-oops or open court dunks by themselves say very little. Even old men can show off in those situations. The fact that LeBron can have a couple of HIGHLIGHT dunks in this series yet still completely fail to penetrate should tell you something. Now think, why has this player continued to take jumpers all year? If he was scared today, then what was scaring him the previous 90-odd games? Think.

[Jimmy Recard]

8, 9, 7 isn't that horrible.

For his standards, it definitely is. Go back and watch some Cavs games over the last few postseasons. Watch how dominant and assertive he was throughout a full game. It was watching a different player out there tonight.

Go watch Lebron's previous Finals games, this was up to his standards for the NBA Finals

Except he had no help and was swarmed by a 2nd/3rd help defender every time he attacked. At least he went down fighting against the Spurs and actually tried to make things happen. He didn't look engaged in the play tonight AT ALL. Same with last game. Looks awfully familiar to the Boston series last year.

[TeeheeDumDum]

Until Lebron is given the green light again, he'll play the same way every night.

Wait, who could possibly be stopping Lebron from being aggressive? Spoelstra?