Doctor MJ wrote:<snip>
I appreciate your analysis Blackmill.
What I was referring to was:
1. Jimmy always being the guy who made the heady play. Steals, drawing fouls, rebounds that were going out of bound, making a great quick decision when the Lakers had him at a disadvantage.
2. Jimmy looking fresher down the stretch on both ends of the court despite playing more than LeBron.
I'd acknowledge that these observations don't tell the whole story and are far from any kind of proof. But it's how it felt to me. If felt to me like LeBron was absolutely having to will himself every time he went for a bucket (which most often he was successful at), and Butler looked springy out there.
And of course as I say all of this, the context here is of course that LeBron is in his 17th season and he's been expended MORE energy this season than he probably has in a half decade (though you can point out that there was a gap before the Bubble that should in theory mitigate for this).
LeBron & AD look tired (with AD it's hopefully just because he's banged up) out there, and looked like they desperately wanted this all to be over last night.
Butler was certainly tired out there too, but it felt like he could still burst and he was as emotive as ever.
Ah, I might have misunderstood you. Yes, I think LeBron was expending more effort to score, and I believe I understand what you were seeing. Could LeBron hit another tough shot when he's exhausted, the Heat aren't switching, and he's getting swarmed in the paint? Or could the Lakers shooters hit an open three? Maybe not. Could Butler get to the line again if the Lakers switch Morris onto him to ISO with space? Most likely. Watching live there was a sense that the Heat had more control over the outcome of possessions. I agree with you on this if that's what you're saying. I just don't think this is incongruent with the Lakers giving themselves the better chance to win in the 4th.
