Is Lebron a Mid-Range jumper away from being Best Ever?

B-Scott · Post #1 » by **B-Scott** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:02 pm

Right now Lebron relies heavily on his explosiveness which is ridiculous considering he is 260 pounds. Nobody has ever been that explosive at that size in any sport. Maybe Lawrence Taylor who played Linebacker for the New York Giants back in the 1980's. Just look at the potential of this guy

He averaged 30 points, 7 boards, 7 assist on close to 50% shooting and guess what? He doesn't even use his size in the low post like he can at 260 pounds and his Mid-Range jumper is very limited. He either takes you all the way to the bucket or pulls up for a 25 footer. Once he starts to peak as a player, i see Lebron just flat out abusing shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards in the low post. Right now he's a little to nice when it comes to posting up and prefers playing more on the perimiter.

If you remember Magic Johnson was similair. He prefered playing more on the perimiter and his outside shot was suspect in his earlier years with the Lakers, but in 1987 he had developed a much better post up game to use his size more and his outside shooting had improved a lot. Lebron is 40 pounds heavier than Magic who was 6-9 220 at his peak and much more explosive. Just imagine when Lebron starts posting up on a consistent basis. Considering his passing ability, he won't just be a scorer from the low post, but like Magic a passer who sets up his teammates from the post as Magic.

He already has great vocal and leaderhsip sklls to along with a willingness to pass the basketball. If Lebron can develop a in between game which is actually wide open once he blows by his defender and post up game which has a lot of potential because of his size, could Lebron end up being the best ever when it's all said and done.

GuyverX · Post #2 » by **GuyverX** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:19 pm

The only thing lacking from LeBron's game is a consistent outside shot and a high FT%. If he were somehow able to become a great shooter, he would be the greatest of all time, hands down. He already does everything else. I just don't know if he'll ever be a good shooter and that's the biggest knock on him.

ChocolateThundr · Post #3 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:22 pm

LeBron needs championships, skills and stats alone are not enough

thegreatblaze · Post #4 » by **thegreatblaze** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:24 pm

GuyverX wrote:The only thing lacking from LeBron's game is a consistent outside shot and a high FT%. If he were somehow able to become a great shooter, he would be the greatest of all time, hands down. He already does everything else. I just don't know if he'll ever be a good shooter and that's the biggest knock on him.

I think you're underminding Jordan (IMO Best ever). There's no hands down he will be better, even if he gets a consistent jumper going.

Post #5 » by **KF10** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:26 pm

He is still lacking a post game. Other than that, he is very good on all aspects of the game. (Probably, he is a consistent jumper as well i.e long range).

GuyverX · Post #6 » by **GuyverX** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:27 pm

OdenRoyLMA2 wrote:
GuyverX wrote:The only thing lacking from LeBron's game is a consistent outside shot and a high FT%. If he were somehow able to become a great shooter, he would be the greatest of all time, hands down. He already does everything else. I just don't know if he'll ever be a good shooter and that's the biggest knock on him.

I think you're underminding Jordan (IMO Best ever). There's no hands down he will be better, even if he gets a consistent jumper going.

Well, this is with the assumption that LeBron can lead a team to multiple championships. He's still got some time.

TrueRain · Post #7 » by **TrueRain** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:31 pm

If he can win 10 championships, develop a post up game, shoot 85% from the free-throw line, shoot 55% for a season, get 35+ on PPG and then average 10 & 10 on assists & rebounds in a single season, win Defensive Player of the Year at least once, win 8 MVPs in a row....then yeah, I guess there's a case for him.

B-Scott · Post #8 » by **B-Scott** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:39 pm

Elton Brand basically developed a consistent mid range jumper over the summer came back with a better jumper to start the 2005/2006 season.

What helps Lebron is his mid range jumper is always wide open. It's rarely contested because defenders respect his explosivness so much. Developing a mid range jumper only takes reputition. 1000 jumpers a day

GuyverX · Post #9 » by **GuyverX** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:40 pm

B-Scott wrote:Elton Brand basically developed a consistent mid range jumper over the summer came back with a better jumper to start the 2005/2006 season.

What helps Lebron is his mid range jumper is always wide open. It's rarely contested because defenders respect his explosivness so much. Developing a mid range jumper only takes reputition. 1000 jumpers a day

It's easier said than done. Some have more aptitude for it than others. Ben Wallace could practice his free throws all day (and I'm sure at some point he has) and he still probably wouldn't be a good FT shooter.

BiggieSmalls · Post #10 » by **BiggieSmalls** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:40 pm

lebrons mid range jumper is a dunk, he doesnt need a mid range jumper because for him mid range is close range, cuz he can take one leap and hes either throwing it down or laying it up. i would say the only thing holding him back from being the best ever is a fist full of rings. i dont care about mvps or defensive player of the year, if he can match jordans ring total or surpass it than i consider him better just because michael wasnt able to have such a physical effect on a game. lebron is 6'9" 260, thats the size of half the power forwards in the league. basically what im saying is that he has the size of karl malone but he can move like chris paul. i just dont think he will ever get enough titles to warrant a comparison, there are too many good young teams that will always beat the one man team he is on right now, hornets, lakers, blazers and all the young talent in the league, teams are only going to get better, bad timing lebron.

Post #11 » by **Flash3** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:42 pm

ChocolateThundr wrote:LeBron needs championships, skills and stats alone are not enough

Well said.

You aren't nothing unless you have the rings to speak for you.

Benedict_Boozer · Post #12 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:43 pm

Yup - all the skills and personal stats won't mean a thing unless he can get some titles.

Lot's of time but will be a difficult road without some additional support. Cavs are probably a top flight PF away.

ForeveRaptorFan · Post #13 » by **ForeveRaptorFan** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:48 pm

ChocolateThundr wrote:LeBron needs championships, skills and stats alone are not enough

The guy has been to the NBA Finals with the help of arguably one of the weakest supporting cast in a final series, give him some slack.

And you are pretty much spot on, a more consistent shot overall and he is going to be unreal. That along with him committed to play a stronger defensive role like the way he has been playing in the Olympic tourneys.

carrottop12 · Post #14 » by **carrottop12** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:49 pm

He definitely needs to refine his J, and he could use a little work on his defense at the NBA level.

Post #15 » by **suckfish** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:53 pm

he doesnt need a mid range jumper because for him mid range is close range, cuz he can take one leap and hes either throwing it down or laying it up

That's not really true. As strong as he might be, he can't always just barge through 1 or 2 men in the key; that's how you pick up charging fouls. If he can hit it consistently, a midrange J' would probably be a much easier shot for him to take anyway than a tough drive to the cup while absorbing all that contact. Especially when it's playoff time, and all those hard drives start to take a grind on his body.

It's what made Jordan so great.

Icefire10304 · Post #16 » by **Icefire10304** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:14 am

I'm just begging this LeBron guy to get a consistent mid range shot. If he does, then we'll truly witness greatness like never before. The keyword though is "if" but i'm sure he'll achieve it since he's a hard worker

Bucs80 · Post #17 » by **Bucs80** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:23 am

suckfish wrote:
he doesnt need a mid range jumper because for him mid range is close range, cuz he can take one leap and hes either throwing it down or laying it up

That's not really true. As strong as he might be, he can't always just barge through 1 or 2 men in the key; that's how you pick up charging fouls. If he can hit it consistently, a midrange J' would probably be a much easier shot for him to take anyway than a tough drive to the cup while absorbing all that contact. Especially when it's playoff time, and all those hard drives start to take a grind on his body.

It's what made Jordan so great.

Beginning of Jordans career, it wasn't like Jordan was shooting all the mid-range jumpshots. Think he will be able to get one sooner or later.

L&H_05 · Post #18 » by **L&H_05** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:28 am

LeBron is 23 years old, people...

10scott10 · Post #19 » by **10scott10** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:32 am

no, but it would certainly help.

He still has trouble with FTs, but he is improving.

however, as others have said, he still needs the titles. yes, he does have a lot left in his career, but he still doesn't have any at this point.

but in 20 or years, everyone will say he played in an easier and less athletic league, so does it really matter.

Post #20 » by **suckfish** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 12:33 am

Beginning of Jordans career, it wasn't like Jordan was shooting all the mid-range jumpshots. Think he will be able to get one sooner or later.

I wasn't doubting Lebron's abilities to develop a midrange jumpshot, instead, just explaining that he can't simply take a step and lay it up every time as the poster claimed.

No doubt, Jordan's development was huge from where his jumper was a rookie. He developed into the greatest midrange shooter ever IMO.

I don't see any major reasons why Lebron can't develop a consistent and effective shot.