The Mavs might be right, LeBron might be worn out

[zogster]

Because I really see no reason for him to be so passive, and realizing he played huge minutes in both Boston and Chicago series, I decided to do a little investigating.

LeBron has played a total of 625 minutes after the Philly series (Boston, Chicago, Dallas games) or 44.64 per game.

For comparison, Wade has played 559 minutes, or 39.92 per game, while Bosh has played 556 minutes, 39.71 per game.

LeBron has played 66 more minutes that Wade, and 69 more minutes than Bosh. That's basically two games worth for the average player (33-35mpg).

Maybe we have ran him into the ground and he has no legs left? He even looked slow guarding Terry tonight, which he hasn't looked previously.

[Ctownbulls]

There is no way LeBron is worn down. The guy is a monster, freak of nature and has been playing basketball his entire life. Do you really think 66 extra minutes of playing basketball, with days off in between every game will really be the difference between being spry and being worn down? If that is the case Wade and Bosh will be worn down by game 6 because they will have played those additional minutes by that point.

LBJ just had a bad game, unless he is hurt, his stamina will be fine and he will bounce back. He is the best player in the world, tonight was a complete outlier.

[MagnusPinus]

Lebron has not the mentality of a great of the game.. Wade does.. It-s time the fans undestand that.

[Tuff Gong]

Huge difference between being worn out and being afraid.

[Wizard of POOH]

It makes so much sense it must be true.

[Roger Murdock]

I doubt one of the best athletes in the worlds game has gone to hell over an extra hour of exercise.

[GameTime_3]

Huge difference between being worn out and being afraid.

LeBron is a guy who plays with confidence and right now he doesn't have any. Its sad to watch. When Lebron is feeling good his the best player on the planet but games like today prove he doesn't have "It". He doesn't understand the moment. LeBron not only played terrible on offense he was equally as bad on defense. Mario took him to school on almost every play and Terry got exactly what he wanted. Anyone else notice how much the Mav's were talking to LeBron...

Don't get me started on Spo....How about taking out Bibby and putting in Mario after Mario had a great first half. How about Benching Wade for 4 minutes and keeping LeBron in. Our offense is sad but its been the same thing all season. Our coach doesn't know anything except defense. How about that play with game on the line? Your telling me thats the best play you got? Wade going away from the ball? LeBron going away? MM going toward the ball? Really....NBA Finals....How about doubling their best player down the stretch....Oh wait....Were talking about SPO!

[zogster]

I don't see how some of you can say "oh well by game 6 Wade and Bosh will have caught up" or "it's not that much more." Yeah, by game 6 Wade and Bosh will have caught up, if LeBron sits out the next 2 games. The more you exercise your body, the longer it takes to recover. LeBron has played nearly 2 more games in the same number of days, it's not like he gets more time to recover.

It's not like he's just jogging around, playoff basketball is quite physical. He chased Rose around while Bosh and Wade had comparably easy assignments. And like someone said, he is a monster. A 260 pound monster; that is a lot of weight to carry around.

The Mavs even noted he had logged huge minutes and they thought he would wear out.

Remember game 3 when that guy spilled his drink? LeBron used the time to sit down under the basket while the 9 other guys on the court all stood up.

[DefenseWins]

I'm actually annoyed that he keeps bulldozing over people trying to draw fouls. JUST GET TO THE BASKET. In another arena they WILL call an offensive foul.

But his defense and offense were horrible tonight. I know he got a bunch of assists, but even Mario was balling.

However the offense and so many missed shots costed the Heat.

[WD]

Huge difference between being worn out and being afraid.

LeBron is a guy who plays with confidence and right now he doesn't have any. Its sad to watch. When Lebron is feeling good his the best player on the planet but games like today prove he doesn't have "It". He doesn't understand the moment. LeBron not only played terrible on offense he was equally as bad on defense. Mario took him to school on almost every play and Terry got exactly what he wanted. Anyone else notice how much the Mav's were talking to LeBron...

Don't get me started on Spo....How about taking out Bibby and putting in Mario after Mario had a great first half. How about Benching Wade for 4 minutes and keeping LeBron in. Our offense is sad but its been the same thing all season. Our coach doesn't know anything except defense. How about that play with game on the line? Your telling me thats the best play you got? Wade going away from the ball? LeBron going away? MM going toward the ball? Really....NBA Finals....How about doubling their best player down the stretch....Oh wait....Were talking about SPO!

but if you listen to his presser, you think he has everything under control - we're only as good as our leader and I have not seen anything he has done to help us offensively that our talent didn't do

And on Lebron, I have many thouhts, the one that comes to mind, is that he is taking this finals too personal. I know he wants it so bad, but if he's not the focus, the star...he folds...plus I don't think he has recovered from when wade called him out....

[DefenseWins]

If LeBron was afraid the Heat wouldn't be in the Finals lol....

So much noise LeBron is hearing right now.

The comparisons (he started to decline after what Scottie said..), the Finals MVP, the douchebag reporter, his legacy....

he did not look comfortable out there. I keep saying he will bounce back, but now I don't even know. I don't understand why he is getting lit up by Marion and Terry, that shouldn't be at all.

I notice the offense was great when Mario was running it though. That should happen more.

[Lord Hades]

I don't buy the 'won out' nonsense. LeBron has played big minutes in the playoffs before and had to shoulder more of a burden (and expend more energy) than this. He's simply playing passive; too much "letting the game come to him". When you have that much talent, you can force the issue a bit without it being a detriment to the team. That stands even if you have a teammate or two that has it going.

Of course, our offensive scheme isn't worth a damn and it makes it woefully predictable what we're going to do, so that doesn't make the situation any easier. Still, he's capable of doing more; big minutes or not. I believe he will.

[Axel]

Huge difference between being worn out and being afraid.

LeBron is a guy who plays with confidence and right now he doesn't have any. Its sad to watch. When Lebron is feeling good his the best player on the planet but games like today prove he doesn't have "It". He doesn't understand the moment. LeBron not only played terrible on offense he was equally as bad on defense. Mario took him to school on almost every play and Terry got exactly what he wanted. Anyone else notice how much the Mav's were talking to LeBron...

Don't get me started on Spo....How about taking out Bibby and putting in Mario after Mario had a great first half. How about Benching Wade for 4 minutes and keeping LeBron in. Our offense is sad but its been the same thing all season. Our coach doesn't know anything except defense. How about that play with game on the line? Your telling me thats the best play you got? Wade going away from the ball? LeBron going away? MM going toward the ball? Really....NBA Finals....How about doubling their best player down the stretch....Oh wait....Were talking about SPO!

Accurate on all points. LeBron looked like a lost puppy in this game.

[Kerosene]

Doubt it, he could've easily scored 20+ today if he was aggressive but rather than take advantage of his match-ups with Kidd, he winds up kicking it out for a 20ft jumpshot. GTFO Lebron, bring the rim downnn you bum!

[thecrowning]

Huge difference between being worn out and being afraid.

but games like today prove he doesn't have "It". ..

And i got ripped for saying the same thing, nobody knows what's going on within that guy's brain, but judging by the facts, you can only deduce as such.

About being "worn out", everyone is worn out, maybe he more than others, but if he is such a great player that he makes himself to be, afterall he calls himself KING JAMES, he needs to show that he wants it that much more than the others.

[Pimpwerx]

He looked tired tonight, but that's from playing 46 minutes, with a lot of those minutes spent recovering for Bibby's phantom defense in the 3rd quarter. That 5 or 6 minutes stretch with Barea repeatedly burning Bibby was brutal. Bron will be fine. If he needs rest, Spo will give him tomorrow off. PEACE.

[TheAnkh]

I don't know if he's 'worn out' but he definitely does not need to be playing 46 minutes. I know specifically in tonight's game he was taken out in the 2nd quarter and literally like a minute later he was back in and I commented on it like wtf, why is he already back in?

Spo needs to play him around 43-44 minutes and Wade around 42.

[Heat84__]

Maybe he's injured.

[Akshan]

AT26 he is wore out but a 38 year old player like Jason Kidd is running an offense ? If that is the case that is sad for someone to call himself the King if he doesn't have a huge Game 5 than Dan Gilert and his LeBron James curse is gonna destroy the hearts of "TRUE" not bandwagon but TRUE Miami Heat fans.

[zogster]

Doubt it, he could've easily scored 20+ today if he was aggressive but rather than take advantage of his match-ups with Kidd, he winds up kicking it out for a 20ft jumpshot. GTFO Lebron, bring the rim downnn you bum!

I sort of agree, but let me restate what I wrote in the game thread.

There were 5 times LeBron posted Kidd up (which is what should automatically happen, whether a switch happens or it's what Dallas planned on, and they did plan on it). 1 time LeBron couldn't find anyone, so passed it up to the top of the key. to Wade IIRC. 1 time he passed to MIller who was wide open, but Chalmer's defender rotated to him and Miller passed to Chalmers for a wide open three which he missed. 1 time Joel got a wide open dunk. 1 time (the next play after Joel) Wade got a wide open layup. The final time the Heat posted LeBron vs. Kidd, Bosh knocked down a wide open 18 footer

That's all on Spo. Even if LeBron is tired, he can still stand there and pass because he is close enough to the hole to be a legit threat. Kidd guarded him way too often for the Heat to not post him constantly. I was yelling for it all game. The third possession of the game I was pissed because we had not exploited it.

I'm not going to blame Wade because he was great tonight, but when Wade has Marion on him and there is an obvious mismatch with Kidd guarding LeBron, Wade needs to be a leader and tell LeBron to get his ass in the post and dominate, whether it's via a pass out of a double team or just destroying Kidd in the post. I don't care if Spo doesn't call for it. It is obvious and super effective (80% wide open shots, 60% FG& when LeBron was in the post vs. Kidd).

LeBron would much rather have 0 points and 17 assists than 50 points and 0 assists. He played that way, but we didn't utilize the obvious mismatch.