The Lebron Thread (Pt. 2)

SideshowBob · Post #301 » by **SideshowBob** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 12:09 am

Posted this on the GB. Figured I'd put it in here too.

SideshowBob wrote:
SideshowBob wrote:That's fair, he was indeed the focus of the defense in Cleveland. But now let's take a look at his stint in Miami.

FGA at the Rim

2013: 6.4
2012: 6.2
2011: 5.3

FGA from 3-10ft

2013: 2.7
2012: 2.6
2011: 3.3

Let's total those up and call them close to the basket FGA

Close to the basket FGA

2013: 9.1
2012: 8.8
2011: 8.4

Now let's look at free throw attempts

2013: 6.9
2012: 8.1
2011: 8.4

So he's actually taking MORE shots close to the basket this season than last season, when he was ALREADY taking more shots close to the basket last season than 2011. Yet, his FTA per game have trended downwards. Strange, because he's progressively looked more explosive since 2011, he's clearly more of a basket attacker now than he was in 2011. The numbers, as shown above CLEARLY support this, and if you go back and look at his 2011/2012 seasons, it's pretty evident that he looks much better physically than he did both those years (2011 was when he had just ridiculously bulked up, it's hard not to notice it).

So what gives? Forget Durant, he's not even getting as many calls as HE HIMSELF was in the last two years.

For comparison, here's his last 3 seasons in Cleveland

At the Rim FGA

2010: 6.9
2009: 6.6
2008: 8.2

3-10ft FGA

2010: 1.7
2009: 1.8
2008: 2.0

Close to the Basket FGA

2010: 8.6
2009: 8.4
2008: 10.2

FTA

2010: 10.2
2009: 9.4
2008: 10.3

Mutnt · Post #302 » by **Mutnt** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 2:12 am

Solid half, got a lot of freebies courtesy of the Wolves horrible (transition) defense, but I like the activity on both ends of the court, knee looks alright so far.

toodles23 · Post #303 » by **toodles23** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 2:23 am

Lebron's 3 point stroke has been off since the allstar break.

As I type that, he makes a three.

Weird, sloppy game tonight. Lebron's handles have been poor, he's gotta have lost his handle 6-7 times in the first 3 quarters. Acceleration looks pretty good though.

SideshowBob · Post #304 » by **SideshowBob** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:08 am

toodles23 wrote:Lebron's 3 point stroke has been off since the allstar break.

As it always does, aside from 2009.

As I type that, he makes a three.

Weird, sloppy game tonight. Lebron's handles have been poor, he's gotta have lost his handle 6-7 times in the first 3 quarters. Acceleration looks pretty good though.

Yeah, he's been in a mini-slump since the break. Didn't expect much out of him tonight given its the Wolves and that fall yesterday.

toodles23 · Post #305 » by **toodles23** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:12 am

Just a crappy game from Lebron, it might've been worse than the Grizzlies game. Turned it over like a madman.

He couldn't buy a call tonight though, there was a play late in the 4th where he blatantly got hacked with no whistle.

Mutnt · Post #306 » by **Mutnt** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:20 am

And a bad second half... Didn't really matter though cause the Wolves were just god-awful and Wade put his peak mask on and dominated.

LeBron's gotta put some extra time on his handle, 7 TO's today, he was bobbling the ball, getting it tipped and stolen constantly, using the off-hand for pushing the defender as compensation... it was ugly watching.

Needs to attack of rhythm more also, he's making too many plays from a standing position

If he plays like this against Indiana he's gonna be in for a long night.

D.Brasco · Post #307 » by **D.Brasco** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:22 am

I missed tonight's game. Is his knee affecting him?

PCProductions · Post #308 » by **PCProductions** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:25 am

Just looked to me like he didn't give a s***. Empty win for lebron

Tim_Hardawayy · Post #309 » by **Tim_Hardawayy** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:25 am

LeBron's playing cocky and lazy right now.

Perfect example, 45 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, enough time to go for a 2-for-1 situation. Instead LeBron literally dribbles the shot clock down to 10 seconds at halfcourt, moves up to 30 feet from the hoop with 3 seconds on the shot clock, and hoists a 30 footer that wasn't that close.

Refuses to get in the post, sits at the top of the key holding the ball for 5+ seconds constantly... just lazy careless basketball. He's putting in max effort just about defensively still, so its more a lazy offensive mindset than actual laziness, but still something that's gotta change if they want to win that Indiana game.

IG2 · Post #310 » by **IG2** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:34 am

D.Brasco wrote:I missed tonight's game. Is his knee affecting him?

Nah. He looked better than he did against Grizzlies and Knicks. Knee is fine.

He played a very sloppy game though. Couldn't really control his dribble for much of the night.

JLei · Post #311 » by **JLei** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:34 am

Rubio has quick hands and surprised him a few times but generally he was playing careless and just screwing around. That was just about the worst I've seen him play on offense this year though. Defensively he was pretty awesome.

RoundMoundOfReb · Post #312 » by **RoundMoundOfReb** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 4:39 am

Was a below average offensive game, but probably the best defensive game he's played this year IMO.

PCProductions · Post #313 » by **PCProductions** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 6:39 pm

If Lebron keeps playing like this, he won't break the PER record (not that it really matters, though)

Anybody think that this is what we'll see until the playoffs? Is he becoming complacent? Maybe I'm overreacting.

mademan · Post #314 » by **mademan** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 6:49 pm

PCProductions wrote:If Lebron keeps playing like this, he won't break the PER record (not that it really matters, though)

Anybody think that this is what we'll see until the playoffs? Is he becoming complacent? Maybe I'm overreacting.

He seemed motivated during that streak he had in February. He now looks like he did at the beginning of the year.

ronnymac2 · Post #315 » by **ronnymac2** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 7:07 pm

therealbig3 wrote:
ronnymac2 wrote:I thought my Knicks had a shot at winning...

I thought you were a Lakers fan.

I don't think we can be friends anymore...

Became disenchanted when they traded the guy in my avatar.

Don't worry, I root for Brooklyn against everybody else but the Knicks.

Question for Miami fans...Is it a normal occurrence for Bosh/Haslem to box out while Wade/LeBron actually grab the defensive rebounds. Like, how does Miami's defensive rebounding really work, especially with all the switching/trapping?

Mutnt · Post #316 » by **Mutnt** » Tue Mar 5, 2013 8:06 pm

ronnymac2 wrote:Question for Miami fans...Is it a normal occurrence for Bosh/Haslem to box out while Wade/LeBron actually grab the defensive rebounds. Like, how does Miami's defensive rebounding really work, especially with all the switching/trapping?

It doesn't work. Bosh doesn't box out and if he does, he gets pushed aside like a rag doll by 3/4 of the league's big man. That's why he's rebounding at a career low 7 rpg on a small team as a Center. Haslem is an average rebounder at this stage of his career. He's a classic example of a guy who is undersized & overpowered but just focuses 90% of his in-game effort on getting after every shot. He's at 5.5 rpg in 20 min, mostly empty boards he steals from his team.

I don't know how Miami isn't getting out-rebounded more often lately, but I think it has something to do with dropping Battier, who can't rebound to save his life, from the starting lineup in favor of Haslem and the resurging activity by Wade (averaging 6.2 rpg during streak). Birdman also helps with his activity and fighting spirit.

All in all, LeBron is still Heat's best rebounder, by quantity and quality, and that says a lot. It's also funny cause he's not even crashing the boards on most nights. Last game against the Wolves he was literary running away from rebounds in the first 2 and half quarters but still managed to snag 10 of them at the end. No doubt he'd be a peranial 10+ rpg guy on this team if he gave a damn (at least half as much as Haslem) about crashing the glass.

toodles23 · Post #317 » by **toodles23** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 2:24 am

Another subpar game from Lebron. He just doesn't seem into it mentally right now. Good thing Wade is so hot right now, or the Heat would've dropped a game or 2 in this recent stretch.

IG2 · Post #318 » by **IG2** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 2:45 am

I don't think it's a mental thing at all. He has looked as motivated as any game to me today. Problem is, his 3pt shot is a little off and more importantly, teams are going out of their way to send multiple guys at him. Nobody wants to be the next team to get shown up by LeBron.

D.Brasco · Post #319 » by **D.Brasco** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 3:09 am

Yeah teams are definitely swarming him a lot more. Although the heat as a whole almost seem like they want this win streak off their back.

Mutnt · Post #320 » by **Mutnt** » Thu Mar 7, 2013 3:13 am

IG2 wrote:I don't think it's a mental thing at all. He has looked as motivated as any game to me today. Problem is, his 3pt shot is a little off and more importantly, teams are going out of their way to send multiple guys at him. Nobody wants to be the next team to get shown up by LeBron.

It's not mental, but the dude also isn't even trying to adjust much. I always hear LeBron saying he takes what the defense gives him, which is fine, if of course, you can make what the defense give you, which hasn't been the case lately. In this scenario, LeBron needs to get more aggressive & assertive and dictate how the defense plays, not play to the tune of it like he's doing far too often.

The Magic did send a lot of help early on him, but he was still settling for J's and three pointers far too much and he's not hitting them, needs to get dirty in the post or penetrate.

Anyway, a below average game today that will be remembered for his game-winning layup (when was the last time he won a game like that, he looked relieved.