The Lebron Thread (Pt. 3)

[SideshowBob]

Part 2 left off here

[toodles23]

Lebron's been phenomenal offensively in this first half. Controlling the pace, finding shooters, taking good shots, getting to the line, and making his FTs.

[fatal9]

This verticality rule is getting ridiculous. It's never been called this way before - not since the 80s, at least.

It's been called this way all season. I've been trying to explain that this has been the reason for all the perceived non-calls at the rim this year, and not some league agenda against certain players. I'm glad to see it enforced properly again. For a while, the league was getting really bad with all the jumping into defenders at the rim and automatically getting calls. Principle of verticality is a rule at every level of basketball, it's a legal defensive play, doesn't matter how much contact there is as long as defender is in legal position.

[SideshowBob]

Yeah, offensive focus level's been great. I was expecting this and then increased intensity in the 2nd half, but it might not be necessary at this point (though I wouldn't count Indiana out just yet of course).

[PCProductions]

At first, did anyone think lebron was "thinking" too much? He soon loosened up, but that was my feeling.

[Mutnt]

This verticality rule is getting ridiculous. It's never been called this way before - not since the 80s, at least.

It's been called this way all season. I've been trying to explain that this has been the reason for all the perceived non-calls at the rim this year, and not some league agenda against certain players. I'm glad to see it enforced properly again. For a while, the league was getting really bad with all the jumping into defenders at the rim and automatically getting calls. Principle of verticality is a rule at every level of basketball, it's a legal defensive play, doesn't matter how much contact there is as long as defender is in legal position.

Sure doesn't seem to apply to Durant or Harden.

[SideshowBob]

Miami with a first half ORTG of 113.3, Indy with 80.6.

[fatal9]

This verticality rule is getting ridiculous. It's never been called this way before - not since the 80s, at least.

It's been called this way all season. I've been trying to explain that this has been the reason for all the perceived non-calls at the rim this year, and not some league agenda against certain players. I'm glad to see it enforced properly again. For a while, the league was getting really bad with all the jumping into defenders at the rim and automatically getting calls. Principle of verticality is a rule at every level of basketball, it's a legal defensive play, doesn't matter how much contact there is as long as defender is in legal position.

Sure doesn't seem to apply to Durant or Harden.

Durant relies on different types of fouls. Basically, he has a combination of length and agility that we probably haven't ever seen. Harden fishes for calls any time he is met with a defender, this brings his game both good things (foul calls) and bad things (takes low percentage shots at rim or commits turnover while trying to draw foul). LeBron for all the flopping he's criticized for, generally always tries to actually finish the play around the basket, often by overpowering the defender meeting him. But specifically, KD vs. LeBron, they create different type of contact. This was a post from earlier in the season, and you'll note, the biggest reason to me that LeBron wasn't getting as many calls was the verticality rule being enforced properly again. The rule is now being brought to the national stage with this series (and the one against Knicks), but the refs have been consistent with it most of the season. This isn't something that the league is randomly allowing all of a sudden.

KD gets his share of superstar calls (and it's annoying) but the reason he's so good at drawing fouls is his long arms. What would be strip or a block against most guys ends up being a foul, because his arms help him keep the ball out of reach. He's also very crafty, there is a major skill and intelligence aspect to drawing fouls that seems to be getting completely ignored here. '98 MJ took more FTs than '90-'93 MJ, but according to posts I read here, that wouldn't be possible because it's all about how much you attack the rim. KD's frame definitely helps him get calls though, but he's also tremendously agile for his size with long strides which helps him beat defenders before they can get position on him. LeBron getting less calls this year shouldn't be surprising, IMO there's a clear difference in how the game is being officiated near the rim this year. The "principle of verticality" rule finally seems to be getting respected by refs again (good to see as a fan of the game) and they are letting a lot of (legal) body contact slide around the rim. I'm surprised there is this much whining going on, it's not hard to see why their FTAs are what they are this year.

[SideshowBob]

Miami with a first half ORTG of 113.3, Indy with 80.6.

Up to 114.7 ORTG now. Their ORB% is 37.8%

[Mutnt]

fatal, I remember reading your reasons sometime before and I generally agree with them, but I think a lot of the calls are 'double-standard' when it comes to Durant because the way he absorbs the contact. Of course 'big dude's are usually allowed to play a more physical brand of basketball but a foul should be a foul regardless. If the same amount of force doesn't effect LeBron but sends Durant spazzing in mid-air that shouldn't be called a non-foul on Lebron and a foul on Durant, it should be called a foul or nothing (if contact was legal) in both cases. I've watched every Heat game this season and the amount of times LeBron was hacked going to the rim without a foul called is absurd, Durant gets the benefit of the call more times in the same situation simple because how his body reacts to contact (the same amount of contact that is). That's unfair. Moreover, beside that flailing part, Durant's also exploiting the 'throw yourself into the defender' move which is about as bad as flopping honestly. To sum up, Durant isn't getting fouled more frequently, he's getting more calls because he knows how to exaggerated contact one way or another and because his body doesn't take contact well...

[toodles23]

Of course Lebron misses that last FT.

[SideshowBob]

:lol: Of course Lebron misses that last FT.

We all saw that one coming

[TheChosen618]

Pretty good game from Lebron tonight. It wasn't anything special, but it was still a good performance and good enough to help his team get to the Finals. I'm hoping to see a dominant Finals run though.

[mademan]

What were Lebrons averages for the series? With advanced metrics too?

[therealbig3]

I feel like LeBron is going to destroy the Spurs.

If he was able to play this well against the Pacers, the Spurs should be a much easier defense to go up against.

[NO-KG-AI]

So if he goes for 80 points, on 78% shooting, and the Pacers win? i'm sorry, only using wins and losses to rank someone's greatness might be obvious to you, I like to actually judge how someone plays basketball.

He won't go for 80 points on 78% shooting, not that I care to argue for or against exaggerated hypotheticals. Sparring strawmen is an exercise in futility, and boring to boot. In any case, how LBJ plays basketball; his ball dominance and inability to function in a role other than point forward has contributed to Miami's struggles with Indiana, as well he and his teams struggles against others that have served him early exits.

Well. They won. That makes him top 10!!

I'm not making a strawman, I'm just giggling at your analysis that basically says it doesn't matter how LeBron James plays, all that you are looking at is how his team performs.

[SweetTouch]

Show me the stats of what LBJ did against the "so called" best perimeter defender and best interior defender

[PCProductions]

32-8-4. 2 TOs. 66.6% TS. I don't do the poss counting so I can't give his Ortg or Drtg but he was rock solid tonight. Excited for the finals as they match up better with the Spurs

[therealbig3]

What were Lebrons averages for the series? With advanced metrics too?

29.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.9 TOpg, 60.9% TS in 43.5 mpg

[SideshowBob]

Miami ran a +12.3 offense in this series. Game 6 brought them down, outside of that they were at +15.3. Impressive against the best defensive team in the league considering Wade and Bosh struggled most of the time, Battier wasn't really present at all and Allen was sporadic.