The Lebron Thread (Pt. 2)

[toodles23]

Lebron's faceup jumper has been completely broken lately, his set-up on those shots seems like it's regressed to what it was last season.

[SideshowBob]

Boston put up a 119 ORTG prior to Lebron entering the game in the fourth quarter, and Miami 106.1.

About 18 possessions played in the 9 fourth quarter minutes that Lebron played. Miami went on a 22-10 run in that stretch. That's a ~120 ORTG for Miami and a 55 ORTG for Boston.

[datstockton]

Once again, LeBron couldn't hit a jumper to save his life but shows why he is a vastly improved player. He was dominant in that last 9 minutes with his physicality, passing, and clutch play. He took the game over

[Greatness]

First game winning jumpshot since the Orlando one

[D.Brasco]

Man this was just a preview to playoffs lebron this season. Despite the win streak he's been pretty lackadaisical in a number of the games but you saw it in his eyes tonight.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

I loved his determination to get the ball down low. He had mixed success. There was one play where he made a nice jump stop to the middle of the paint, and had an easy look but was off balance and rushed it. His footwork still isn't quite where it needs to be, but he's making an effort to always go towards the hoop now and only use the fadeaway as a last resort.

Overall he was way more engaged offensively than he's been lately, either trying to get into the offense quickly, moving off the ball, setting screens or making quick passes. If anything, it was guys like Chalmers, Cole and Allen looking flustered by the pressure of Bradley and Lee that slowed things down.

[PCProductions]

Lebron gambled on several defensive plays that resulted in open looks for Boston. Other than that, this was among Lebron's top 3 games of the season. The dunk on terry, the go-ahead jumper, it was filled with magical moments for him. He, Wade and Battier were the key threesome this game on both ends.

Other than Lebron and the Heat, that was a GREAT game. Best I've seen in weeks. Full of playoff level energy and entertaining moments.

[MaliBrah]

loved seeing them go to him isolated in the post for like 5 straight possessions , resulted in something positive for the heat almost every time

[SideshowBob]

In the clutch, Miami is outscoring opponents by approximately 34.6 points per 100 possessions this season by NBA.com's estimations. That's only the 2nd best figure in the last 5 seasons.

Here's the top 10 since 1996-97. See if you notice a trend.

2009 Cavaliers: +39.9
2013 Heat: +34.6
2011 Mavericks: +29.5
2007 Mavericks: +29.0
2006 Clippers: +27.1
2010 Cavaliers: +26.4
1998 Lakers: +26.2
1999 Magic: +25.7
2008 Cavaliers: +24.2
2004 Pacers: +23.4

http://stats.nba.com/leagueTeamClutch.html?sortField=NET_RATING&sortOrder=DES&PerMode=Totals&MeasureType=Advanced

[IG2]

^ But but but....LeBron was a choker until he won the championshiip last season and learned to be clutch!!

Like I endlessly used to talk about the last 2 seasons, his late-game shortcomings the last 2 seasons were ALL about his horrible mobility. He was so pathetically limited as a creator. Thus the passiveness.

But once preseason rolled around this season and we saw that his Olympics athleticism was no fluke, the first thing I predicted about LeBron was that he would be a FAR superior late-game player this season. And that's what happened, and it is essentially the biggest difference between Miami this season and the last 2. This will be the 4th time in the last 6 seasons now that LeBron has led the league's best 4th qtr team. LeChoke alright

[orangeparka]

Man, when LeBron can't get calls, he REALLY can't get calls. It wasn't a great game for him but still managed 37/12 and came through in the clutch despite the lack of calls.

In the clutch, Miami is outscoring opponents by approximately 34.6 points per 100 possessions this season by NBA.com's estimations. That's only the 2nd best figure in the last 5 seasons.

Here's the top 10 since 1996-97. See if you notice a trend.

2009 Cavaliers: +39.9
2013 Heat: +34.6
2011 Mavericks: +29.5
2007 Mavericks: +29.0
2006 Clippers: +27.1
2010 Cavaliers: +26.4
1998 Lakers: +26.2
1999 Magic: +25.7
2008 Cavaliers: +24.2
2004 Pacers: +23.4

http://stats.nba.com/leagueTeamClutch.html?sortField=NET_RATING&sortOrder=DES&PerMode=Totals&MeasureType=Advanced

Dayum, four of the last six are LeBron-led teams. That's pretty **** crazy

[SideshowBob]

Lebron's (and Miami's) route to the Finals continues to look easier and easier as the season progresses.

With the current standings, the toughest possible defensive matchups would be Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Indiana. That's an average defense of -3.0 (102.7 DRTG).

For comparison, average EC defense faced in:

2012: -4.0 (101.6)
2011: -5.4 (102.2)
2010: -3.1 (104.5)
2009: -3.0 (105.3)
2008: -3.7 (103.8)

In terms of SRS, the toughest possible route based on current standings is Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Indiana, for an average SRS of 0.96.

For comparison

2012: 2.42
2011: 4.12
2010: 0.87 (misleading, Boston was a 3.37 SRS team, but played WELL above that in the playoffs)
2009: 2.61
2008: 4.35

This is a joke. It's very likely that they'll face OKC in the finals, and they're the strongest team by SRS since the 97 Bulls at 9.41, but at the same time, this is a pathetic level of competition. It's going to look like Cleveland in the first two rounds of the 09 postseason on steroids. We're almost guaranteed to see some MOV records fall, and there is a legit chance they enter the Finals 12-0.

[colts18]

Here is how the LeBron/Wade and Big 3 combos did in the first two regular seasons together (11+12):

Wade/LeBron: 114.8 O rating, 101.7 D, +13.1
Big 3: 114.7 O rating, 100.3 D, +14.4

Here is what they are doing this year:

LeBron/Wade: 117.8 O rating, 102.3 D rating, +15.5 per 100
Big 3: 116 O, 102.5 D, +13.5 per 100

LeBron/Wade is better but the big 3 combo is not as good.

Did you know that among the 17 3 man lineup combos the Heat have fielded for 500+ minutes, the Big 3 lineup is 13th out of 17th in net pts per 100? #1 is Wade/LeBron/Battier at an absurd +23.3 (123 O rating).

[colts18]

LeBron just passed Kevin Durant in on court +/- recently. LeBron is now +580 and Durant +573. Not too long ago, Durant was leading by around 100 points.

[Mutnt]

Who's wearing number 6 today?

Never mind, LeBron came back... still shot shittly though

[toodles23]

Holy ****, what a comeback. Strangely though, I had a feeling the whole time that the Heat would manage to come back, and that the Cavs would choke.

[SideshowBob]

Lebron's a professional troll

[SideshowBob]

18/10/5 in the last 18 minutes of the game. 6 offensive rebounds.

[Mutnt]

Holy ****, what a comeback. Strangely though, I had a feeling the whole time that the Heat would manage to come back, and that the Cavs would choke.

The Cavs led by 27 at the 7:40 mark in the 3rd quarter, the Heat pretty much erased that in 10 minutes or so.

LeBron's been missing a lot of around the basket shots he'd usually make though.

[SideshowBob]

Miami scored 55 points in the last 17:50 of the game in 31 possessions. Cleveland scored 28.