The Lebron '20 Thread (Pt. 5)

[Dupp]

Lakers one game in the loss column behind the Bucks, not that it matters anymore.

Before the break LeBron had a lot of momentum in the mvp race and media hype. Had Lakers caught them he had a decent chance of winning .


However he’s not winning it now and Giannis almost certainly deserved it regardless. His production is only rivalled by hardens. Missed opportunity for LeBron but it’s not so bad because Giannis might have been pretty stiff to lose it.

[Dupp]

Wait have the media already submitted their mvp votes? If not that’s silly as current games could skew opinion.

[Run DLC]

LeBron could’ve made a push for it in those 8 games, but as usual, he took his foot off the gas pedal. Giannis is going to win back-to-back.

[Run DLC]

LeBron is his own worst enemy. He had the right storyline to win his 5th regular season MVP, but he dropped the ball on those remaining games. Sport fans are fickle and live in the present. LeBron did outplayed Giannis in their last meeting, but Giannis outplayed LeBron in their first meeting. It’s all about “What have you done for me lately?” Giannis is the clear winner. He’s been dominant throughout the whole season.

[RCM88x]

They've already voted for all awards.

[GSP]

Am i the only one that thought Lebron Mvp was a pipe dream? He was gonna split votes with Ad too. No one on Milwaukee is taking Giannis votes and hes having one of the Goat regular seasons

[dcstanley]

Am i the only one that thought Lebron Mvp was a pipe dream? He was gonna split votes with Ad too. No one on Milwaukee is taking Giannis votes and hes having one of the Goat regular seasons

Yeah, it was a nonstarter for me. Bron didn't have much of a chance.

[dcstanley]

Watch on YouTube

It's interesting how LeBron basically just lives with forcing Kawhi left. I just wanna preface this by saying I really ain't **** at basketball, but my whole life on most teams I've played whether it be in HS, rec leagues, or pickup I've tried to guard the main ballhandler for the other team.

And I've had this theory for the longest time that I live by, which is that there's two archetypes of scorers. Pull up jumper scorers and stepback scorers (provided that you're playing back to take the drive away). What I've always found is that guys who invest in the pullup skill tree (to use a video game analogy) are most comfortable driving to their shooting hand and pulling up a la Kawhi, while the stepbackers like to get to their "weak" hand and stepback for a 3 like say a LeBron; and when you send them the way they haven't invested as much time into you basically can always dictate that they take the lowest percentage shot in their arsenal.

Of course these are NBA players so there's only so much of a drop-off in either direction for these guys, and some guys are like James Harden or Michael Jordan who are literal walking basketball Gods that dominate with their shot type in either direction, but it's interesting to me that the archetypes continue to persist even into the highest levels. Cuz if I have to guard a scorer that I identify as a right hand dominant pull up archetype the only strategy I'm likely gonna employ all game is to bait a stepback going left which is what Bron basically seemed to do in every matchup

If you force a player that primarily scores via stepbacks to their dominant hand they can't get the necessary footwork to get to their stepback, right?

[MyUniBroDavis]

Watch on YouTube

It's interesting how LeBron basically just lives with forcing Kawhi left. I just wanna preface this by saying I really ain't **** at basketball, but my whole life on most teams I've played whether it be in HS, rec leagues, or pickup I've tried to guard the main ballhandler for the other team.

And I've had this theory for the longest time that I live by, which is that there's two archetypes of scorers. Pull up jumper scorers and stepback scorers (provided that you're playing back to take the drive away). What I've always found is that guys who invest in the pullup skill tree (to use a video game analogy) are most comfortable driving to their shooting hand and pulling up a la Kawhi, while the stepbackers like to get to their "weak" hand and stepback for a 3 like say a LeBron; and when you send them the way they haven't invested as much time into you basically can always dictate that they take the lowest percentage shot in their arsenal.

Of course these are NBA players so there's only so much of a drop-off in either direction for these guys, and some guys are like James Harden or Michael Jordan who are literal walking basketball Gods that dominate with their shot type in either direction, but it's interesting to me that the archetypes continue to persist even into the highest levels. Cuz if I have to guard a scorer that I identify as a right hand dominant pull up archetype the only strategy I'm likely gonna employ all game is to bait a stepback going left which is what Bron basically seemed to do in every matchup

I agree in the stepback side, because trying to do a stepback going to your strong side is just weirdee than they other way around. Idk about pullups tho, technically you should be more aligned going to your weak side since you dont have to spin midair to align urself to the basket

But like thinking about it pilling up driving to ur good hand does just "feel" better

[Dupp]

LeBron could’ve made a push for it in those 8 games, but as usual, he took his foot off the gas pedal. Giannis is going to win back-to-back.

Mvp is based on the season pre lockdown only....

[Dupp]

Am i the only one that thought Lebron Mvp was a pipe dream? He was gonna split votes with Ad too. No one on Milwaukee is taking Giannis votes and hes having one of the Goat regular seasons

I thought if everything went right like they caught the bucks and LeBron outplayed the other candidates in the remaining big games he’s have a chance. Maybe like 30% or something but still a slight chance.

[Greyhound]

LeBron could’ve made a push for it in those 8 games, but as usual, he took his foot off the gas pedal. Giannis is going to win back-to-back.

Voting closed at the point of the shutdown.
These 8 games have no influence on the regular season awards.

The votes are probably already in.

[Greyhound]

Am i the only one that thought Lebron Mvp was a pipe dream? He was gonna split votes with Ad too. No one on Milwaukee is taking Giannis votes and hes having one of the Goat regular seasons

His MVP chance was momentum with a dash of good (if you want to call it that) fortune.

The Lakers were surging before the shutdown and LeBron was gaining momentum. The Bucks we’re going through a low and Giannis was injured. Information is a bit sketchy on the injury but he was going to miss time. One week, two weeks, who knows. The Lakers were in position to take the overall record and LeBron was in position to take the narrative lead in Giannis’ absence. Depending on how long Giannis was down and what type of lingering effects could have developed, LeBron’s window was then.

The shutdown killed his only shot at that MVP.

[Greyhound]

Am i the only one that thought Lebron Mvp was a pipe dream? He was gonna split votes with Ad too. No one on Milwaukee is taking Giannis votes and hes having one of the Goat regular seasons

Yeah, it was a nonstarter for me. Bron didn't have much of a chance.

With the Lakers on the rise and Giannis set to miss time (two weeks, perhaps more).

The Lakers had a good opportunity to secure the overall best record in the league and LeBron clearly had a shot, due to the circumstances.

[Heej]

Watch on YouTube

It's interesting how LeBron basically just lives with forcing Kawhi left. I just wanna preface this by saying I really ain't **** at basketball, but my whole life on most teams I've played whether it be in HS, rec leagues, or pickup I've tried to guard the main ballhandler for the other team.

And I've had this theory for the longest time that I live by, which is that there's two archetypes of scorers. Pull up jumper scorers and stepback scorers (provided that you're playing back to take the drive away). What I've always found is that guys who invest in the pullup skill tree (to use a video game analogy) are most comfortable driving to their shooting hand and pulling up a la Kawhi, while the stepbackers like to get to their "weak" hand and stepback for a 3 like say a LeBron; and when you send them the way they haven't invested as much time into you basically can always dictate that they take the lowest percentage shot in their arsenal.

Of course these are NBA players so there's only so much of a drop-off in either direction for these guys, and some guys are like James Harden or Michael Jordan who are literal walking basketball Gods that dominate with their shot type in either direction, but it's interesting to me that the archetypes continue to persist even into the highest levels. Cuz if I have to guard a scorer that I identify as a right hand dominant pull up archetype the only strategy I'm likely gonna employ all game is to bait a stepback going left which is what Bron basically seemed to do in every matchup

If you force a player that primarily scores via stepbacks to their dominant hand they can't get the necessary footwork to get to their stepback, right?

Yeaa that's what I've found. Because they have to align themselves to the basket again when they try to sidestep to their strong hand.

And @unibro thats true about the pull up being something that comes easier in both directions, that's why to me having a good hesi pull up is the ultimate tool a player can have. But you can contest easier when they pull up to their weak hand since their shooting hand is the one facing you

[ardee]

Man I forgot how easy this thread could get doom and gloom over Bron's play at the drop of a hat lol. Obviously it's going to take a few games to round into shape, I have zero doubts we'll see March LeBron again by the Playoffs.

[Jurassic_Park]

Wait have the media already submitted their mvp votes? If not that’s silly as current games could skew opinion.

The votes have already been submitted. A lot of them are already public. Its being tracked online by folks in google spreadsheets.

I believe 32 MVP votes in so far:

29 Giannis
3 Lebron
Harden 0

I believe Giannis for DPOY in a landslide as well for current voting

[Dupp]

Wait have the media already submitted their mvp votes? If not that’s silly as current games could skew opinion.

The votes have already been submitted. A lot of them are already public. Its being tracked online by folks in google spreadsheets.

I believe 32 MVP votes in so far:

29 Giannis
3 Lebron
Harden 0

I believe Giannis for DPOY in a landslide as well for current voting

Interesting that DPOY is looking like a blowout. He deserves it but didn’t think it would be as one sided as mvp

[PistolPeteJR]

Wait have the media already submitted their mvp votes? If not that’s silly as current games could skew opinion.

The votes have already been submitted. A lot of them are already public. Its being tracked online by folks in google spreadsheets.

I believe 32 MVP votes in so far:

29 Giannis
3 Lebron
Harden 0

I believe Giannis for DPOY in a landslide as well for current voting

Interesting that DPOY is looking like a blowout. He deserves it but didn’t think it would be as one sided as mvp

The same people calling for Giannis to win DPOY are the same people that are contesting that LeBron has no chance at the MVP because he has AD that will steal votes away. What they're choosing to avoid is that Giannis has Brook Lopez that will steal votes away for DPOY, and rightfully so.

[Dupp]

Man I forgot how easy this thread could get doom and gloom over Bron's play at the drop of a hat lol. Obviously it's going to take a few games to round into shape, I have zero doubts we'll see March LeBron again by the Playoffs.

I’m worried that he won’t get back to where he was physically before the break. He’d kind of finally started looking like his best (current) self. Not sure there’s enough time to work up to that.