HeartBreakKid wrote:Pelly24 wrote:LukaTheGOAT wrote:A stat called “rim and FT TSA percentage” combines attempts at the rim and free throw attempts as a shorthand for how much of a player’s offense comes at the basket. It’s a nice quick indicator, especially for perimeter players. It’s also really good at spotting a decline in athleticism and penetration.
Anything above 50 percent is really historic for non-big men, and sometimes big forwards who can slash and play around the basket will cross over that 50 percent line.
Wade peaked at 57%. He had 6 seasons where he was at 50% or higher during his prime (up through 2013).
If you look at Lebron from up until 2013 in this stat, he has 0 seasons that hit the 50% mark.
It isn't until 2014, where he hits the 50% mark, then his 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons are all at the 50%.
Lebron peaked in 2016 at 55%.
It's funny that during the heart of Lebron's athletic peak and general prime in many people's estimations (first stint Cleveland and Heatles days), not as much of Lebron's offense was coming at the rim.
It is generally in the later years, of pace and space basketball, where Lebron's offense at the rim skyrockets.
To me these highlights how special of a slasher Wade was, that in an era that was more packed in a paint, how he still stood out compared to an GOAT-level slasher in Lebron. It also, kind of highlights, how prolific slashers are able to get more of their offense at the rim than ever before, even during their non-athletic primes, as offense has evolved.
Exactly lol. Like I don't see how people don't think Wade would simply run directly by defenders today for finishes low. I saw Dame just carve up teams at the rim last year, and while he's very athletic and skilled, he's basically a neutral at best when compared to Wade. Wade was basically unstoppable even without a three-ball and being kinda mid shooting free throws at times.
I mean Lillard being one of the best 3 point shooters of all time plays a gigantic factor in why he can get to the rim. Steph Curry can get to the rim easily too. Lillard gets past his defenders because they have to play too close to him which doesn't apply to Wade.
Wade is nothing like Lillard, so you can't use A>B>C logic there.
lol It doesn't matter because Wade couldn't — and basically didn't — shoot threes that well or much at all in his own era with a more packed paint and no reliable second or even third options for a lot of that time — and people still couldn't keep him away from the basket and finishing at high efficiency. He is just physically superior to most guards in NBA history, really, probably all but one or two people. people in this thread are underrating his finishing ability, which is truly historically elite for basically anyone, especially high-usage guards.