OMG... LeBron only 8 pts in an NBA Finals game

[Dr Positivity]

The Heat have less 3 point shooting than the Cavs, and thus worse spacing.

This isn't true at all. For much of the regular season Miami started a lineup of Big Z, Bosh, James, Wade and Arroyo/Bibby/Chalmers. At least 3 knockdown shooters on the court AT ALL TIMES. Compare this to Cleveland last season who started a front-court of Shaq/Hickson, yet it didn't stop LeBron from having the best season of his career. Besides, what do your teammates have to do with how you look athletically on the court? The fact that LeBron is VISIBLY slower and less explosive on the court this season has nothing to do with playing with new faces.

Miami was 11th in 3 pointers made this year and 7th in percentage. The Cavs were 8th and 2nd in those categories last year and 3rd and 2nd the year before.

LeBron didn't even play with a good shooting cast in his career until 08-09. The previous 5 years of his career he hardly had floor spacers around him.
07-08 Cavaliers were 14th in 3pters made, 16th in 3pt%.
06-07 Cavaliers were 15th in 3pters made, 18th in 3pt%
05-06 Cavaliers were 12th in 3pters made, 25th in 3pt%
04-05 Cavaliers were 28th in 3pters made, 27th in 3pt%
03-04 Cavaliers ranked dead last in both 3pters made and 3pt%

^None of this prevented LeBron from attacking the basket like a mad man and being the game's best athlete. So enough with the "new teammates" or "different offense" excuses. LeBron can't be what he was in Cleveland because his body has given up on him(or he's gained too much weight, whatever's legit).

Lebron is still one of the best in the league at getting to the rim. See Rerisan's previous post showing the stats. He has slightly less this year due to being on the ball less.

Yes, Lebron is a less athletic than he once was. Virtually every player peaks athletically the first half of their career, but continue to have just as much impact due to getting better and smarter. Kobe was less athletic in 06-08 than 01-03. Jordan was most athletic in the late 80s. etc. Lebron is still the best athlete in the league easily.

[Rerisen]

LeBron can't be what he was in Cleveland because his body has given up on him(or he's gained too much weight, whatever's legit).

Again you are cherry picking and the total numbers show you are wrong on the examples I gave. The Cavs did have more and better 3 point shooting the last 2 years. Earlier than that, they did not, but then they also did not have Bosh and Wade, so LeBron had not choice but to attack more. And even then, the numbers show it wasn't much more.

LeBron can't play like he did in Cleveland, because if he did, then why the heck would he have joined Wade and Bosh, whose primary strengths are scoring? LeBron isn't going to play iso-ball and dominate the heck out of the Usage stat all game like in Cleveland while Wade stands in the corner twiddling his thumbs.

It's shared responsibility on offense in Miami and whenever they lose a game, people are going to say that whoever did less between Wade and LeBron, should have done more, because both guys can always do more, because both had to sacrifice some of their offense and ball domination to be on this team.

As for tonight, LeBron can be legitimately criticized for being too passive, playing poorly when he did look to be aggressive and playing bad defense too. But I just don't see it has having much to do with his body. Not when he's dominated on a very similar level all season long to what he's been doing for years.

[Kaner]

Wait for tomorrows press conference...I have a feeling he will claim his elbow is mysteriously flaring up. In fact I'm somewhat surprised he didn't shoot a left handed free throw just to make everyone say "OMGZ something must be wrong again!!" ...us Cleveland fans never did find out what that injury was because truthfully I don't even think HE knew. Looks like he needs not 2, not 3, but 4 other super stars that won't let him down in the clutch.

[The MVPlaya]

You know what's funny? Seeing all the people that will be eating there words after Game 5. One thing you have to admit about LeBron is, he always comes back strong after a bad game. I think some people simply look too deep into things, trying to come up with a reason to fit your agenda. He had a bad game, that's it. G5 LeBron will have a 30-8-8 type game, book it. I'm not even a LeBron fan, but you'd be crazy to doubt LeBron James. He's still the best in the league.

[Dr Positivity]

I think Lebron, Wade, Bosh and Carmelo have all seen better days athletically. These guys have played 8 years, 11-14 is when primes end. They are not youngings. But they're still as good as ever in my opinion.

[Rerisen]

Yes, Lebron is a less athletic than he once was. Virtually every player peaks athletically the first half of their career, but continue to have just as much impact due to getting better and smarter. Kobe was less athletic in 06-08 than 01-03. Jordan was most athletic in the late 80s. etc. Lebron is still the best athlete in the league easily.

I don't know if he's the best athlete (maybe Howard or one of the young PG's) but he's definitely top 5. Otherwise, totally agree with your points.

As you said by 26, Jordan as well was already adjusting and expanding his game and relying less on just attacking all the time and posterizing people. In fact 26 was the year he first developed and had success with his 3 point shot and more than doubled his attempts per game there. Players like that, if they are smart, quickly realize you don't want to be taking that beating inside by playing that way for 10 straight years, and your career will probably last a lot longer if you save those athletic burst moves for critical times, and can score in a more multitude of ways.

[Storm Surge]

LeBron with not 5 not 6 not 7...but 8 points in the finals proves that he is not a mentally tough player and indeed shrinks in big games.

[toodles23]

Outside of this series, I think he's getting to the rim just fine this year. As I showed via the numbers. That Boston and Chicago could hold that down some should surprise no one, as they were the top 2 defenses in the league.

Why he isn't this series... obviously he's been out of rhythm and deferring too much. But Wade has been playing like a mad man closing these games down, so that seemed like it was a pretty logical way for them to keep going at least until it failed, which it did tonight. So you'll probably see a much different mindset for Game 5.

Before this game, everyone had just about handed the series to Miami and suggested Dallas didn't belong in the same gym. So I don't get a state of panic right now, the Heat just need to add some balance back in, and I'm sure they will try to do that now.

1 less attempt at the rim is a pretty significant difference to me. He's attempting .3 more 2 pointers this year than last year, and despite that, he's attempting about 1 less per game. 45.3% of his 2s last year were at the rim, compared to 38.6% this year. That's not insignificant, I don't think. Wade's also attempting the same amount of shots at the rim this year as he did the last 2.

Another interesting stat is that Lebron turns the ball over 15% of the time on the break this year compared to 11% last year. I'd like to see more numbers on that, because his and1s and dunks on the break are certainly down and his charges and missed layups are certainly up.

I also feel like Miami is easily the superior team. If Lebron was giving his usual 25/7/7, this probably would have been a sweep. As it is, the Heat have outplayed the Mavs for 90% of the series but it happens to be tied 2-2.

Here's a thought, develop a post game in your first 8 years in the league like all the other greats did instead of clowning around making movies and turning your free agency into a circus.

Its amazing people are still making excuses for LeBron. And anyone who puts him in the same sentence as guys like Kobe and Jordan need to be banned.

Lebron should have a post game, but this stuff always annoys me. Jordan's post game didn't really become a staple of his game until 1990 (age 27), before that he rarely went in the post, and when he did it was just a quick turnaround or spin move right off the catch. Magic didn't really become the deadly post player we remember either until '87 (age 27). Lebron also goes into the post a lot more often than anybody seems to realize, he had 160 post ups this year (Kobe had about 300 for comparison) and has had plenty in the playoffs as well.

http://www.nba.com/heat/news/evolution_ ... 10412.html

http://www.nba.com/heat/news/a_post_gam ... 10530.html

[halfHAVOC]

no disrespect to anyone defending him but lebron should not allow jason kidd or jason terry to defend him on a given play.

[LApwnd]

how can the "best player in the NBA" have zero post game?

he can drive as well as anyone in history, but he cant post

his post game looked fine against Jason Terry

[LuckedO]

Up until this game, LeBron in the playoffs was averaging numbers neck and neck with Wade, the guy everyone has been heaping so much praise on these last few days – at least up until his struggles finishing the game tonight.

LeBron's numbers were neck-n-neck with Wade because he's improved leaps and bounds as a shooter. Come on, you watched LeBron more closely in the Chicago series than anyone, how was ALLL his offensive damage done? Through jumpers. In fact, it was almost entirely jumpers.

I really don’t get what the angle is with some of you guys. Mad Cavs fans?

I'm just a LeBron fan, nothing more.

Does LeBron have less agility in going at the rim than 2 or 3 years ago? Perhaps.

Not "perhaps", the answer should be a vigorous YES! He has significantly more trouble attacking the rim this season than ever before. Yes, when he does get there, he can use his strength to finish well, but the real challenge is to get there - something he has serious issues with against all non-crappy defenses. I don't put much stock in his regular season numbers in terms of % of points scored inside. You get to play so many bad defensive teams in the regular season. Not hard to get inside against them. What's been telling is LeBron's inability to get inside against the top-level defensive teams he's faced in these playoffs. His FTA are down compared to the regular season, the first such time it's happened in his playoff career besides 05-06. LeBron averaged 11.3 FTA per game in the playoffs prior to this postseason. This postseason? He averages 7.8. That's a very significant decline and says plenty of about his physical decline.

He’s still one of the most dangerous players in the league getting to the rim.

Except he almost never does this. When do you ever see LeBron just blowing past his man and finishing at the rim anymore? Or even drawing a foul? Majority of his slashing attempts are labored and there's almost no chance of the shot going in, the hope is to just draw a foul. His AND1's were way down this season.

LeBron's stats are down all across the board this postseason compared to the last 2 for a reason, and it's not just because he plays with superior talent. The eye-test is just so overwhelming here. If you have ever even remotely followed LeBron's career closely, his severe athletic decline should jump at you within seconds. He simply struggles to do the things now that were 2nd nature to him prior to this season.

[Rerisen]

1 less attempt at the rim is a pretty significant difference to me. He's attempting .3 more 2 pointers this year than last year, and despite that, he's attempting about 1 less per game. 45.3% of his 2s last year were at the rim, compared to 38.6% this year. That's not insignificant, I don't think. Wade's also attempting the same amount of shots at the rim this year as he did the last 2.

But what a lot of us are saying, is that he is still dominant there. Just like MJ was still dominant in this way at 26 or even 28, but wasn't as relentlessly attacking inside as he did his first few years.

So just because LeBron has lot a little athleticism it doesn't mean the sky is falling. His jumper is better to make up for it. And when it's not going he can still get inside. We shouldn't forget LeBron is still being trapped and doubled pretty consistently when he has the ball. If anyone tried to play him straight up 1v1 all game, he would torch them.

I also feel like Miami is easily the superior team. If Lebron was giving his usual 25/7/7, this probably would have been a sweep. As it is, the Heat have outplayed the Mavs for 90% of the series but it happens to be tied 2-2.

Heat have much superior talent but they are not a great fitting team right now. Their half court offense is really ugly. That they can still win a title that way is a testament to their talent, but won't negate a lot of the basketball analysis predicted or discussed about the pairing.

[dockingsched]

Elias: Dirk Nowitzki has outscored LeBron James 44-9 in the fourth quarter in the Finals.

9 pts in 4 games in the 4th quarter. wow.

[thecrowning]

I think the Heat should look to pick up the phone and have a little talk with Orlando after this series.

[Rerisen]

I don't put much stock in his regular season numbers in terms of % of points scored inside. You get to play so many bad defensive teams in the regular season.

Well you should put stock there. I think you are over analyzing a small sample size in the playoffs. Even in the playoffs, most years teams don't play the #1 and #2 defense back to back.

LeBron averaged 11.3 FTA per game in the playoffs prior to this postseason. This postseason? He averages 7.8. That's a very significant decline and says plenty of about his physical decline.

But he's also taking less shots. If you looked at his FT Draw% I think you see the gap is smaller than it appears. Then you also have the ref factor with three superstars. Everyone knew, or should have, that those 3 guys would not get the same FTA per game that they did as solo stars, because the attempts wouldn't be there, and also their games would be ugly boring jokes if they were parading to the line 30+ times a night between the three of them.

Except he almost never does this. When do you ever see LeBron just blowing past his man and finishing at the rim anymore? Or even drawing a foul? Majority of his slashing attempts are labored and there's almost no chance of the shot going in, the hope is to just draw a foul. His AND1's were way down this season.

Then how the heck did his finishing % stay the same as the last two years and he's only averaged just under 1 less attempt at the rim, which still puts him right at the top of the league (behind Wade and Howard, probably not many more) at scoring at the rim.

Yes, his inside scoring is down about 5% as a percentage of his total shots. Maybe he's not the best in the league at it anymore, but he's still close. Doesn't make him a shell of what he once was.

I guess if you are a LeBron fan then its fair to bemoan that his absolute peak is over with. Heck, I said that Wade's peak was probably also past and look how he has been dominating. Both guys are still in their 'prime' even if not 'peak' and there is plenty to appreciate still there.

Just think some of these posts are going overboard with some of the hyperbole. Saying he can't drive at all anymore, is a shell, and is just a jumpshooter is ridiculous. You have to get a hold of yourself, its not that bad.

[LuckedO]

Earlier than that, they did not, but then they also did not have Bosh and Wade, so LeBron had not choice but to attack more.

Why would lesser teammates propel him to attack the rim more? LeBron attacked the rim more before because it was his biggest strength. On Miami, it clearly isn't, so he shoots jumpers.

LeBron can't play like he did in Cleveland, because if he did, then why the heck would he have joined Wade and Bosh, whose primary strengths are scoring? LeBron isn't going to play iso-ball and dominate the heck out of the Usage stat all game like in Cleveland while Wade stands in the corner twiddling his thumbs.

Miami's offense is hardly any different than what Cleveland used to run. 75% of their plays isolate Wade or LeBron at the top of the key and set a pick for them. While Wade slithers through the defense to get to the rack in these situations, LeBron generally comes off the pick and either shoots a jumper, struggles to turn the corner(or gets trapped) and passes the ball to a teammate. We are currently seeing this a lot in the Finals when LeBron runs a pick n roll. He has no ability to get to the rim in these situations unless he splits the trap - something that's never been his strength anyway.

The only significant difference in terms of ROLE between Cavs-LeBron and Heat-LeBron is volume. He just gets less opportunities now. Stylistically, he's really not asked to play a different role at all. In fact, for 75% of the season he played the exact same role he did in Cleveland. He was the primary facilitator and play-maker from the top of the key. He averaged 7+ apg for a reason while Wade's apg went wayyy down. Wade's the one who went off-ball, not LeBron.

[City of Trees]

Guys, stop being so hard (II) on Lebron. He has a skillset that Jordan could only dream about. It's not always about stats. He's still on pace to win 6 maybe 7 rings and go down as the GOAT .. just ask the guy who played with Jordan.

Wade is clearly to blame for this. He shouldn't of emasculated bron like he did at the end of game 3. What an awful team mate. smh

SO.....MUCH.....FAIL.....

[HootieRules]

Here's a thought, develop a post game in your first 8 years in the league like all the other greats did instead of clowning around making movies and turning your free agency into a circus.

Its amazing people are still making excuses for LeBron. And anyone who puts him in the same sentence as guys like Kobe and Jordan need to be banned.

Lebron should have a post game, but this stuff always annoys me. Jordan's post game didn't really become a staple of his game until 1990 (age 27), before that he rarely went in the post, and when he did it was just a quick turnaround or spin move right off the catch. Magic didn't really become the deadly post player we remember either until '87 (age 27). Lebron also goes into the post a lot more often than anybody seems to realize, he had 160 post ups this year (Kobe had about 300 for comparison) and has had plenty in the playoffs as well.

http://www.nba.com/heat/news/evolution_ ... 10412.html

http://www.nba.com/heat/news/a_post_gam ... 10530.html

You really don't find it disturbing that a 6'6" 200 pound shooting guard on the last legs of his career on a team with size almost doubled the post ups of a 6'8" 260 pound freak in his prime on a team with little to no post threat? What exactly does he do in the offseason?

[AMG]

if you listen quietly, you can hear his status deflating a little from this series' performaance

[City of Trees]

This is reminiscent of his performance in the Finals with the Cavs. At the time we all thought his disappearance was because he has a bad team and the opposition took him out of the game. But know...... hmmm