The Lebron Thread

[SideshowBob]

Just did a quick study on Lebron in his regular season career vs elite defensive teams, which I classified as teams that put up a DRTG of -5.0 or better relative to league average. 2013 was not included, and 2010 had no -5.0 teams.

Here's what I got:

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GP   MP    PTS    FGA    FTA   TRB    AST    TOV    TS%   eFG%   TOV%   GmSc
61   39.8  27.5   20.7   8.4   6.9    6.2    3.4   .562  .514   .100    21.1

Minus Rookie Season

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GP   MP    PTS    FGA    FTA   TRB    AST    TOV    TS%   eFG%   TOV%   GmSc
51   39.9  28.9   21.2   9.2   7.2    6.4    3.3   .573  .525   .095    22.7

09 Onwards

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GP   MP    PTS    FGA    FTA   TRB    AST    TOV    TS%   eFG%   TOV%   GmSc
28   38.6  29.3   20.3   8.9   7.5    5.8    3.3   .607  .553   .098    23.7

Miami

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GP   MP    PTS    FGA    FTA   TRB    AST    TOV    TS%   eFG%   TOV%   GmSc
21   39.4  29.5   19.9   8.9   7.5    5.6    3.1   .619  .568   .097    24.0

[SunKing]

Thanks for the stats Sideshow always great to know

[SideshowBob]

Lebron's been ridiculous spotting up this season. Synergy has him at 27/45 on spot up plays (60%) and that includes 19/36 from outside (52.8%). That's an overall eFG% of 81.1%. He's ranked #1 in the league in Points per Play by Synergy at 1.57.

[IG2]

Lebron's been ridiculous spotting up this season. Synergy has him at 27/45 on spot up plays (60%) and that includes 19/36 from outside (52.8%). That's an overall eFG% of 81.1%. He's ranked #1 in the league in Points per Play by Synergy at 1.57.

I wonder if Ray Allen has something to do with this. LeBron's release this season, especially on spot-up 3pters, has been very pure and different from prior seasons, with the way he extends that elbow fully. I often read about him getting into 3pt contests with Ray after practice. 30%+ of the season is through and he's shooting a ridiculous 43% from behind the arc and on significant volume(3.2/g) too. You can only learn from the GOAT.

[rjchpd]

Great game tonight; seemed like he was intent on having a big scoring night since Wade was out. Someone else mentioned that he seemed to shoot better from outside when he's focused and it showed again tonight. The guy is pretty much unstoppable.

[IG2]

That was a great game he played last night. Loving the reemergence of his mid-range jumper. Too bad God was smiling down on the Pistons. Talk about a fluky shooting night by a scrub team. Sideshow, since you're good at this, do you know the last time a team shot 58% from the field and over 60% from the 3pt line on at least 10 makes? Something tell me it's been years.

[SideshowBob]

That was a great game he played last night. Loving the reemergence of his mid-range jumper. Too bad God was smiling down on the Pistons. Talk about a fluky shooting night by a scrub team. Sideshow, since you're good at this, do you know the last time a team shot 58% from the field and over 60% from the 3pt line on at least 10 makes? Something tell me it's been years.

http://bkref.com/tiny/2xM2K

[Woodsanity]

That was a great game he played last night. Loving the reemergence of his mid-range jumper. Too bad God was smiling down on the Pistons. Talk about a fluky shooting night by a scrub team. Sideshow, since you're good at this, do you know the last time a team shot 58% from the field and over 60% from the 3pt line on at least 10 makes? Something tell me it's been years.

The Miami defense was downright atrocious. Not so much flukey as it was allowing wide open shots.

[IG2]

http://bkref.com/tiny/2xM2K

Thanks.

Well, it wasn't years, but it is still incredibly rare. Has only happened about 4 times a year over the last decade and if you notice the teams doing it, majority are all great teams or at least elite offensive teams. Making Detroit's night even more of a miracle.

[IG2]

The Miami defense was downright atrocious. Not so much flukey as it was allowing wide open shots.

I didn't think it was that bad, actually. I thought they played awful D the first 15-20 games of the season, but it's been a lot better since. Detroit simply made a ridiculous amount of contested shots last night, and even the ones that were somewhat open were from way behind the 3pt line. It was an unreal shooting display and totally unexpected too.

[SideshowBob]

Since the Houston game (20 G)

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MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
39.4  27.4   8.1    7.1    1.8    0.9    3.0  .615   .585    24.1   121

Usage of 30.3% in that stretch, had he been at his usual FTA level, his usage would've been closer to the norm of 32-33%. Shooting numbers have been on the rise lately, 27.2 on 65% TS in his last 10 and 29.0 on 67.4% TS in his last 5. FT% is back to where it needs to be; he'll finish around 77% again.

Jumpers looked great the last few games, and it has to do with consistency with proper mechanics on his form. 16-23ft shooting is at 42% for the season and on the rise, and that's amazing considering how easily he can get to the rim these days as well. Synergy has him ranked #10 in the league in isolation scoring (1.01 ppp) and 61/125 from the field and 8/21 from three, which is an eFG% of 52%. This might be the best he's ever been as an isolation scorer (or close to it), but I'll wait till the playoffs to make that conclusion.

Thoughts on his defense lately? Personally I think he's been as good as ever, prior to last night, Miami was on a 9 game stretch of playing close to the best defense in the league, and Lebron's activity level was obviously a major catalyst in that.

[OptimusOne6]

What do you guys think of Lebron this season? Do you think he is better than ever this season or what? Or do you guys still think 09-10 Lebron is better, but this is Lebron's best season as a member of the Miami Heat?

I feel like in terms of abilities, he may very well be at the top and better than last season. The only problem I have with him is his activity level seems to be lower than usual. Lebron is known to be one of the most consistent players ever, dominating and playing with high energy, night in and night out, but from games I've seen from him that hasn't been the case. It's like his ability is at his peak at the moment, but his activity level is also at a valley.

I actually haven't watched Lebron recently aside from the Christmas, OKC game, but how is Lebron's rebounding and defense doing? I remember earlier in the season he was doing a fantastic job on the boards, boxing out, etc.

[SideshowBob]

What do you guys think of Lebron this season? Do you think he is better than ever this season or what? Or do you guys still think 09-10 Lebron is better, but this is Lebron's best season as a member of the Miami Heat?

Hard to make definitive conclusions in the regular season. It's certainly clear that his current abilities would translate MUCH better into the playoffs than the 11 and 12 version did, so I've adjusted my expectations accordingly, but it needs to actually happen. Suffice it to say, I do think he's extremely close, if not even offensively with his 09/10 self. Considering he's also a tad bit sharper defensively these days (but not as much as made out to be, he was phenomenal defensively in Cleveland), I think a case can be made that this may end up being his top season. This is BY FAR his best Miami season. Easily, he's well ahead of where he was last year, which was already an improvement upon 2011.

I feel like in terms of abilities, he may very well be at the top and better than last season. The only problem I have with him is his activity level seems to be lower than usual. Lebron is known to be one of the most consistent players ever, dominating and playing with high energy, night in and night out, but from games I've seen from him that hasn't been the case. It's like his ability is at his peak at the moment, but his activity level is also at a valley.

I think he's quite easily better than last season. His activity level hasn't been too much of a concern with me. He came out before the season and stated he'd be taking a bit of a step back this year, which is reasonable considering the heavy and tight minutes he piled up this year. He's been looking to score a bit less and create a bit more, but even that trend has been fading away, he's been a bit more aggressive in terms of looking for his shot lately and he's going to continue to do that a bit more as the season progresses. He is one of the most consistent players we've ever seen, sure, but its not like he wasn't playing below 100% effort level before too. We saw this in Cleveland once Brown finally started limiting his regular season minutes (09). He was never going full tilt night-night-out, and that's why the jump in level of play from regular season to postseason seemed so dramatic then. This is nothing new, the only difference is that he doesn't have a completely inept offense supporting cast anymore.

I actually haven't watched Lebron recently aside from the Christmas, OKC game, but how is Lebron's rebounding and defense doing? I remember earlier in the season he was doing a fantastic job on the boards, boxing out, etc.

See above for defense. Rebounding has been fine, though his tenacity is a bit down from earlier in the season.

[ThatsWhatIShved]

Since the Houston game (20 G)

Code: Select all

MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
39.4  27.4   8.1    7.1    1.8    0.9    3.0  .615   .585    24.1   121

Usage of 30.3% in that stretch, had he been at his usual FTA level, his usage would've been closer to the norm of 32-33%. Shooting numbers have been on the rise lately, 27.2 on 65% TS in his last 10 and 29.0 on 67.4% TS in his last 5. FT% is back to where it needs to be; he'll finish around 77% again.

Jumpers looked great the last few games, and it has to do with consistency with proper mechanics on his form. 16-23ft shooting is at 42% for the season and on the rise, and that's amazing considering how easily he can get to the rim these days as well. Synergy has him ranked #10 in the league in isolation scoring (1.01 ppp) and 61/125 from the field and 8/21 from three, which is an eFG% of 52%. This might be the best he's ever been as an isolation scorer (or close to it), but I'll wait till the playoffs to make that conclusion.

Thoughts on his defense lately? Personally I think he's been as good as ever, prior to last night, Miami was on a 9 game stretch of playing close to the best defense in the league, and Lebron's activity level was obviously a major catalyst in that.

His defense against Marvin Williams and Utah in general was awful, but ya, he's definetely playing average defense, which is a step in the right direction.

[giordunk]

It's possible that 2013 LeBron may be a better version of the insane freak of nature 09 LeBron.

[Ursusamericanus]

Free throw shooting has finally creeped above 70% on the season after the putrid start.

[Greatness]

Jump shot was off today but he got to the rim at will and was outstanding at the free throw line. The best part was he wanted to get fouled because he was confident in his free throw shooting.

[IG2]

Free throw shooting has finally creeped above 70% on the season after the putrid start.

It went over 70% a few games ago. It should keep creeping up to the mid 70's while his 3pt% will most likely slide to the mid to high 30's.

Anyway, today's game was a perfect example of the massive difference between current LeBron and the crap we saw the last 2 seasons. He didn't have his jumper going, there were no fast break bunnies and no easy baskets available off cuts. He just willed himself to a big scoring game through strong off-the-dribble play, because he's actually athletic in the half-court this season. This game last season would've been downright fugly to watch. He would've finished with numbers off 21/8/5 on 7-19 shooting, which is basically what his numbers looked like any time he played in Orlando last season, a place where his jumper always deserts him.

[toodles23]

Finally he has a game where he's getting to the line, refs have been very reluctant to give him calls this season, for whatever reason. Hopefully this is a "breakout" game as far as him getting calls.

[Ursusamericanus]

Free throw shooting has finally creeped above 70% on the season after the putrid start.

It went over 70% a few games ago. It should keep creeping up to the mid 70's while his 3pt% will most likely slide to the mid to high 30's.

I'm aware. 15/16 today, which was outstanding. After today's game:

FT: 72.1%
3PT: 41.7%

I think he'll end up slightly below 40% from beyond the arc by season's end, but would not be surprised to see him set career highs in rebounding and three point shooting this season.

I believe that's 25 games in a row where he's scored at least 20 points. Thought he looked great today, composed and explosive.

25 this season, 30 in a row going back to last season

Make that 28 and 33 now. Unbelievable consistency.