Playoffs Jordan vs. Playoffs LeBron

[Texas Longhorns]

Will LeBron ever have better playoff numbers than Michael when his career is over?

[PDXKnight]

I said no. Putting up better playoff numbers than MJ is a very difficult feat and while it's in the realm of possibility and while I think Lebron will have some very nice playoff averages, I highly doubt he's ever up to the level of MJ.

[Jordan23Forever]

Depends on how long Lebron plays, and what percentage of his playoff games come after his prime (age 31+). Jordan's career playoff averages over the course of 111 postseason games upon retirement in 1993 were 34.8 pts/6.7 reb/6.7 ast/2.4 stl/1.1 blk/51% FG. His '95-'98 postseasons at age 32-35 were enough to lower those marks to 33.4 pts/6.4 reb/5.7 ast/2.1 stl/.9 blk/49% FG.

Lebron is the only active perimeter player to even have a chance of bettering MJ's career playoff numbers.

[Cybulski37]

I agree that only LBJ has a chance, and while it's not out of the realm of possibility, it's very very unlikely. MJ was the best perimeter player of all time during the regular season and just stepped it up in the playoffs.

[Cybulski37]

I agree that only LBJ has a chance, and while it's not out of the realm of possibility, it's very very unlikely. MJ was the best perimeter player of all time during the regular season and just stepped it up in the playoffs.

[Heat3]

no

[JordansBulls]

Not overall numbers he won't. He will get more rebounds and perhaps assists, but he won't get the ppg, steals, nor the fg%. Also just look at his finals performance as well.

Edit: http://www.nba.com/statistics/encyc/Player.jsp

MJ is #1 right now in ppg and Iverson is #2 and they are the only ones to average 30 ppg for a career. However I see Iverson's numbers going below that.

Also Lebron has MJ in rebounds and assists but every other category is lower.

[G35]

Not overall numbers he won't. He will get more rebounds and perhaps assists, but he won't get the ppg, steals, nor the fg%. Also just look at his finals performance as well.

Edit: http://www.nba.com/statistics/encyc/Player.jsp

MJ is #1 right now in ppg and Iverson is #2 and they are the only ones to average 30 ppg for a career. However I see Iverson's numbers going below that.

Also Lebron has MJ in rebounds and assists but every other category is lower.

I really don't see how we are going to compare fg% in the current era compared to the 80's and 90's when defense is so much better now and the three point shot is so much more a part of the game. Lebron goes to the basket as much as you can realistically expect and he can't even get to 50%.

If we say that we have to account for differences in eras as far as nutrition and access to progressive fitness techniques then you have to account for differences in how the game is played.......

[Jordan23Forever]

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I really don't see how we are going to compare fg% in the current era compared to the 80's and 90's when defense is so much better now and the three point shot is so much more a part of the game. Lebron goes to the basket as much as you can realistically expect and he can't even get to 50%.

If we say that we have to account for differences in eras as far as nutrition and access to progressive fitness techniques then you have to account for differences in how the game is played.......

I don't think anyone (except you, since you love strawmen) expects Lebron to achieve the same FG% numbers as Jordan, just the same deviation from the league average.

Also, you talk about how Lebron can't crack 50% despite going to the basket a ton, yet ask yourself if he'd be shooting 50% if he had a great midrange J inside 20 feet. That's what Jordan had (even in '88 and'89) that separated him from a guy like Lebron. If Lebron had a great midrange shot, he'd definitely be above 50%. It's incorrect to act like Lebron is as potent an offensive player as Jordan. In terms of getting to the basket, he may be right there with MJ, but the rest of his scoring game has holes, and those holes affect his overall efficiency since it's either a layup/dunk (say, a 75% FG attempt) or a jumper (say, a 35-40% attempt). What if he averaged 45-48% on his jumpers? What would his FG% be?

For instance, using 82games.com data for the percentage of his shots which are jumpers, inside etc., let's say his average breaks down like so:

62% jumpers at 35% FG = .2170
38% inside at 71% FG = .2698

This adds up to .487, which is basically Lebron's season FG% (48.4%). So he's shooting jumpers at around a 35% rate. Let's say he could shoot them at even a 43% rate and here's how his FG% would look assuming no stylistic change in his game:

62% jumpers at 43% FG = .2666
38% inside at 71% FG = .2698

This adds up to 53.6% FG. So you don't even have to assume that Lebron would shoot 43% on jumpers in order to crack 50% -- he could shoot just 39-40% on them and easily break the 50% FG mark. So don't act like no player today could do so just because Lebron currently can't.

[NetsForce]

If we're talking about the Lebron Ames who plays for the Cavs then easily no.

[JordansBulls]

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I really don't see how we are going to compare fg% in the current era compared to the 80's and 90's when defense is so much better now and the three point shot is so much more a part of the game. Lebron goes to the basket as much as you can realistically expect and he can't even get to 50%.

If we say that we have to account for differences in eras as far as nutrition and access to progressive fitness techniques then you have to account for differences in how the game is played.......

http://www.hoopshype.com/articles/defense_lazenby.htm

[tsherkin]

I think J23Fs comments about Lebron's jumper is pretty accurate. An eFG% on jumpers of 40% is generally considered pretty good but not phenomenal. For instance, Amare shoots an eFG% of 46.1% on jumpers, which represent 53% of his attempts. Nash shoots an eFG% of 59.6. Chris Bosh shoots 41.4% (eFG) on 58% of his attempts, Pau Gasol 45.3%.

Looking at some wing players...

Kobe Bryant 45.7
Paul Pierce 49.3
Josh Howard 43.1
Carmelo Anthony 42.6
Tracy McGrady 42.9
Corey Maggette 41.8
Dwyane Wade 39.1 (Wade's been 39-40 for 4 years or so now)

Anyway, all these guys shoot a solid percentage and Lebron is shooting 39.9% eFG on jumpers in the regular season this year as well but you'll notice raw percentages bear out the idea that his mid-range J is weak.

He shot 144/389 (37.01%) on shots from 15 to 22 feet this past season, which isn't getting it done. He needs to keep improving that mid-range J if he wants to be a truly dangerous scorer in the postseason... and he can do it. He's young. Jordan was around the same age, maybe a little older before his mid-range J started to really tighten up and become truly dangerous (around the time he won his first or second scoring title, just like James did this past season).

If he does that, then yes, his career playoff FG% could easily hit and pass 50%.

[kooldude]

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I really don't see how we are going to compare fg% in the current era compared to the 80's and 90's when defense is so much better now and the three point shot is so much more a part of the game. Lebron goes to the basket as much as you can realistically expect and he can't even get to 50%.

If we say that we have to account for differences in eras as far as nutrition and access to progressive fitness techniques then you have to account for differences in how the game is played.......

defense isn't better now, the pace of the game is just lower. Jordan had a harder time against his defenders due to the physical play but had more possessions to score.

[shawngoat23]

LeBron's an excellent talent, but I can't see him matching Jordan's numbers in the regular season, let alone in the playoffs.

[NDaATL]

Simple answer, HELL no.

[eyejayem]

I think once Lebron gets help his Pts go down unless his 3pt % goes up
His asts rise while rebs stay the same and stls will never be Jordans
But Blks seem to be steady rising with his defense improving.

But Jordan numbers are rediculous and the only thing I think he has a chance of matching is rings because of his age and that in itself is a shot in the dark.