The Lebron Thread (Pt. 2)

ThatsWhatIShved · Post #521 » by **ThatsWhatIShved** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 3:00 pm

People seem to be forgetting that Lebron is a Malone/KG esque playoff choker. Let's try to be unbiased and remember that he averages 23 ppg on .563TS% per 36min in the playoffs. And that is against cupcake Eastern teams his whole career. He will be facing a lockdown defender in Mbah Moute the first round, so expect another poor showing. Bucks will win 2 or 3 games, and could upset the Heat if Ellis explodes like expected

Post #522 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 4:47 pm

LOL, that comment and then tell everyone else to be unbiased. What a clownish comment. LeBron is and has not been a playoff choker. And, after having watched the last game I just don't understand why he has the volume of haters that he does. They clearly have no basis in reality.

SideshowBob · Post #523 » by **SideshowBob** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 4:55 pm

Actually I'm convinced that ThatsWhatIShved is just a very sarcastic Lebron fan.

ronnymac2 · Post #524 » by **ronnymac2** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 7:06 pm

I don't know. As a Knicks fan, I see Miami as the worst possible matchup for us. Like, I don't see why people think we have a shot to even take a game. I mean, I guess we get super hot from 3 for one game. That's about it though. We have nothing that can take as aspect of LeBron's game away, and honestly, with Shump still not at 100 percent, I don't see any way of slowing this off-ball version of Wade either.

I'll be happy with ECF this season though.

The only team in the league capable of challenging Miami in a series is the Clippers. I don't see them making it past OKC though.

toodles23 · Post #525 » by **toodles23** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 8:06 pm

SideshowBob wrote:Actually I'm convinced that ThatsWhatIShved is just a very sarcastic Lebron fan.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure of that too.

Post #526 » by **mopper8** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 8:49 pm

I'm still trying to figure out how KD, who topped out at 8 rpg, is averaging 9.4 rpg vs hand-checking (in his sig). Are those his college stats or something?

SideshowBob · Post #527 » by **SideshowBob** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 8:54 pm

mopper8 wrote:I'm still trying to figure out how KD, who topped out at 8 rpg, is averaging 9.4 rpg vs hand-checking (in his sig). Are those his college stats or something?

College and International, is what I believe he said.

Post #528 » by **mopper8** » Sun Apr 7, 2013 9:29 pm

SideshowBob wrote:
mopper8 wrote:I'm still trying to figure out how KD, who topped out at 8 rpg, is averaging 9.4 rpg vs hand-checking (in his sig). Are those his college stats or something?

College and International, is what I believe he said.

International? OK, now I know he's a troll with a schtick.

therealbig3 · Post #529 » by **therealbig3** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 12:03 am

ronnymac2 wrote:I don't know. As a Knicks fan, I see Miami as the worst possible matchup for us. Like, I don't see why people think we have a shot to even take a game. I mean, I guess we get super hot from 3 for one game. That's about it though. We have nothing that can take as aspect of LeBron's game away, and honestly, with Shump still not at 100 percent, I don't see any way of slowing this off-ball version of Wade either.

I'll be happy with ECF this season though.

The only team in the league capable of challenging Miami in a series is the Clippers. I don't see them making it past OKC though.

You don't think the Spurs have a shot? IMO, their ball movement and outside shooting is exactly what Miami is most susceptible to, even moreso than size inside, which the Spurs still have in Duncan and Splitter.

SideshowBob · Post #530 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 6:11 pm

Lebron vs. Top 5 Defenses (BOS, CHI, IND, MEM, OKC, SAS, WAS). I removed the SAS game because Duncan/Parker were not playing, and removed the most recent Boston game because Garnett was out. There are 7 teams because Chicago, OKC, and Boston are currently even at a DRTG of 102.9.

Code: Select all

2013

GP  MP    PTS    TRB    AST    TOV    STL    BLK    eFG%    TS%
15  39.0  26.0   9.1    6.1    2.9    1.7    1.0    .575    .608

Pretty mediocre production-wise IMO. He was injured in one of the Indiana games, and the blowout at home he wasn't aggressive at all (5/10 from the field) but I recall his defense being stifling. Can't deny the fact that Indiana's slowed his production down though, they're a near -7 defense so that's to be expected. He's been epic against Boston (32/11/7 on 58% TS) and strong against Chicago (29/8/4 on 74% TS) and even better against OKC (34/10/8 on 68% TS), but that just tells you how average he's been against the more defensive minded teams (we all remember that home Memphis game).

Now how has Miami performed in these games? They've put up a 108.7 ORTG. When accounting for the opponent defense, that's a +7.0, marginally above their seasonal +6.6. So they improve, but again, its nothing mind-blowing.

TheChosen618 · Post #531 » by **TheChosen618** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 6:18 pm

I feel like Lebron was better defensively last season than this season, anyone want to weigh in on their thoughts? I feel like the ability is still there, it's the consistency that's not.

SideshowBob · Post #532 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 6:36 pm

I've felt he's been better this season, this is his best defensive season so far. He's been quicker at recovering, his lateral mobility is improved so he's been better at simply covering the floor, his presence on the court is inducing the greatest opp TOV% increase since his 09 season, he's fouling even less than before, his reactions have been better, etc. This is EASILY his best shotblocking season since 09, its also EASILY the best defensive rebounding season of his career (well above any previous season). His man defense (which I'm not even too concerned with to begin with) has looked weaker because of the nature of the lineups Spo's been running all season long. Single coverage shouldn't be his primary priority on the defensive end, so if it looks like he's not shutting guys down as much, that's not all that big of a problem, because that's not all he needs to be doing anyway.

Also, if this wasn't caught earlier:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9068903/the-toronto-raptors-sportvu-cameras-nba-analytical-revolution

Ultra-aggressive help defense is really hard work. Replay that clip and watch how far DeRozan's ghost has to move as the Knicks swing the ball. That's brutal, and it's not a coincidence that the only team that consistently mirrors the help defense of its ghosts is Miami, Rucker says. The Heat have three of the best wing defenders in the league in Shane Battier, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, and the latter two are among the NBA's most gifted pure athletes. James can mimic DeRozan's hyperactive ghost in a way no other player can, Rucker says. "LeBron basically messes up the system and the ghosts," Rucker says. "He does things that are just unsustainable for most players."

IG2 · Post #533 » by **IG2** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 7:26 pm

SideshowBob wrote:Lebron vs. Top 5 Defenses (BOS, CHI, IND, MEM, OKC, SAS, WAS). I removed the SAS game because Duncan/Parker were not playing, and removed the most recent Boston game because Garnett was out. There are 7 teams because Chicago, OKC, and Boston are currently even at a DRTG of 102.9.

Code: Select all
2013 GP MP PTS TRB AST TOV STL BLK eFG% TS% 15 39.0 26.0 9.1 6.1 2.9 1.7 1.0 .575 .608

Pretty mediocre production-wise IMO. He was injured in one of the Indiana games, and the blowout at home he wasn't aggressive at all (5/10 from the field) but I recall his defense being stifling. Can't deny the fact that Indiana's slowed his production down though, they're a near -7 defense so that's to be expected.

Somewhat misleading numbers though. The only game he was truly 'contained' in was the Memphis one. That was the best LeBron's been guarded all season. Against the Pacers, he was injured during their first meeting(played his 2nd worst game of the year) and didn't really need to do much in the 2nd game, since everyone around him was so hot and the game was never really that close.

SideshowBob · Post #534 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:30 pm

Oh yeah, I wouldn't say I'm worried at all. I think he's more equipped to dominate against strong defenses right now than he's ever been before. In a playoff series, I wouldn't really expect him to struggle at all against any of these teams.

Sedale Threatt · Post #535 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:39 pm

That just shows you how good LeBron truly is to be able to look at those numbers and think "pretty mediocre."

Post #536 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:47 pm

I just like that in games where the defense is tougher, and they don't let him exert as much pressure offensively, he hits the glass hard.

Sedale Threatt · Post #537 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:52 pm

And he's still producing 38 points per game on excellent efficiency, along with his defensive presence. What's not to love?

Post #538 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:54 pm

26 Points, I think you're looking at the minutes, haha.

Sedale Threatt · Post #539 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:56 pm

NO-KG-AI wrote:26 Points, I think you're looking at the minutes, haha.

Points plus assists.

Post #540 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Mon Apr 8, 2013 10:58 pm

Sedale Threatt wrote:
NO-KG-AI wrote:26 Points, I think you're looking at the minutes, haha.

Points plus assists.

Gotcha. Either way, it's great production, especially given the efficiency (TS%, low turnover rate).