The Lebron Thread (Pt. 3)

[GSP]

Since the 2-3-2 format in the Finals, when a series is tied 1-1, the winner of game 3 has won the Finals the last 12 of the 13 times

Still believe Lebron will come thru he had too good a year.

[JordansBulls]

Since the 2-3-2 format in the Finals, when a series is tied 1-1, the winner of game 3 has won the Finals the last 12 of the 13 times

Still believe Lebron will come thru he had too good a year.

The one time the team won game 3 when the series was tied and lost was Miami in 2011 against Dallas.

[IG2]

I called this right after the Pacers series ended, that SA is far, far superior team when it comes to game planning against him and that he would he have a much more difficult time against them. Now, I wasn't expecting things to be this bad, but then again, I wasn't expecting LeBron's jumper to be this off. He has to get it back, that's the bottom line. Being "aggressive", the garbage that clueless fans and media keep spouting off won't accomplish anything, because of how SA overloads the strong side and crowds the paint. LeBron simply cannot dribble drive his way inside against this team.

One thing specifically that LeBron does need to change is starting off games with a scoring-mentality. Enough with this getting Wade going garbage. Even if you do get him "going", he still won't score 20 points. LeBron needs to start off games SHOOTING the damn ball himself. He's waiting too long to get involved in the game.

[PCProductions]

I called this right after the Pacers series ended, that SA is far, far superior team when it comes to game planning against him and that he would he have a much more difficult time against them. Now, I wasn't expecting things to be this bad, but then again, I wasn't expecting LeBron's jumper to be this off. He has to get it back, that's the bottom line. Being "aggressive", the garbage that clueless fans and media keep spouting off won't accomplish anything, because of how SA overloads the strong side and crowds the paint. LeBron simply cannot dribble drive his way inside against this team.

One thing specifically that LeBron does need to change is starting off games with a scoring-mentality. Enough with this getting Wade going garbage. Even if you do get him "going", he still won't score 20 points. LeBron needs to start off games SHOOTING the damn ball himself. He's waiting too long to get involved in the game.

Agreed. He took like 2 shots for the whole first quarter. I don't get it. Game 4 will be defining for him.

[MaliBrah]

has to come out aggressive right from the tip in game 4 , tired of lebron passing , has to take it to leonard , duncan and splitter and draw fouls , lebron averaging 2 FTA per game so far in the finals is terrible.

[OnlyOneWay2Play]

Danny Green: "LeBron is stopping himself"

"We've done a great job helping each other on team defense," Green said. "But obviously we know what kind of player LeBron is. We know he's not at his best right now. He mised a lot of shots he normally makes. We're sure in Game 4 he's going to come out a lot different.

"With LeBron, it's not just us stopping him. He's kind of stopping himself out there."

Green was asked on follow-up how James is stopping himself.

"Obviously we're making it tough for him. But you guys have seen him all year at his best, and how he can perform. Obviously he's not doing that right now. I don't know what it is."

Pretty much sums it up. When your old teammate (would say "scrub teammate" but that is disrespectful to a guy like Danny Green who always had UNC-level talent, just was un-developed by the Cavs, bug surprise) starts pitying your play...man, LeBron's ability to disappoint knows no bounds.

My quick take: LeBron still doesn't have a go-to, rock-solid, consistent part of his game that he always trusts - jumper, post, drive game - and when it is exposed as Pop has done, it then starts to snowball mentally. He needs to (1) take the open jumpers (2) POST UP more (3) give 110% effort and not give a DAMN what happens after that.

[E-Balla]

I called this right after the Pacers series ended, that SA is far, far superior team when it comes to game planning against him and that he would he have a much more difficult time against them. Now, I wasn't expecting things to be this bad, but then again, I wasn't expecting LeBron's jumper to be this off. He has to get it back, that's the bottom line. Being "aggressive", the garbage that clueless fans and media keep spouting off won't accomplish anything, because of how SA overloads the strong side and crowds the paint. LeBron simply cannot dribble drive his way inside against this team.

One thing specifically that LeBron does need to change is starting off games with a scoring-mentality. Enough with this getting Wade going garbage. Even if you do get him "going", he still won't score 20 points. LeBron needs to start off games SHOOTING the damn ball himself. He's waiting too long to get involved in the game.

Mainly his hesitating to take wide open shots and taking them anyway is what I'd like him to stop when it comes to aggressiveness. He also kept taking one step inside and shooting threes instead of pulling from deep. It was making me go crazy watching that. When your open and no one else is producting as Lebron James you need to take the open shot. His first quarter was ok because Wade and Bosh we're good but from then on there was a lot of hesitation on his part.

[Mutnt]

I'm not seeing the same quickness LeBron exhibited in the early portion of the season, I know people are sagging off of him as much as possible, but he still can't get pass my grandma right now (fatigue is an issue as well). He needs to slim down next year or make a consistent effort to develop a strong post game and go down low frequently... You can't bulk up and then play on the perimeter and high block 95% of the time if you have a Karl Malone-like body. Now the only thing he's got is his jump shot (can't drive, 0 FT's for LeBron is humiliating to say the least and he doesn't trust his post game) and it's deserting him at the biggest stage.

[Chalky White]

I'm not seeing the same quickness LeBron exhibited in the early portion of the season, I know people are sagging off of him as much as possible, but he still can't get pass my grandma right now (fatigue is an issue as well). He needs to slim down next year or make a consistent effort to develop a strong post game and go down low frequently... You can't bulk up and then play on the perimeter and high block 95% of the time if you have a Karl Malone-like body. Now the only thing he's got is his jump shot (can't drive, 0 FT's for LeBron is humiliating to say the least and he doesn't trust his post game) and it's deserting him at the biggest stage.

Not amount of sliming down is going to give him back his youth. The first step isn't there anymore, and it isn't coming back. At some point he should have developed a crossover dribble, a pull up jumper, and the necessary footwork to consistently operate as a competent post threat, but for whatever reason he never has. Perhaps charging him up with hype he never earned has something to do with it?


He'll be 29 next season, I doubt things get any easier from here on.

[Basileus777]

He's shot 6 FT's in 3 games. His FT drawing ability has been on a clear decline for some time now. That's the clearest statistical sign of athletic decline that you can find.

There was a time when you'd have to worry about LeBron potentially getting to the line 15 times in a playoff game, now it's a complete non-factor.

[Mutnt]

Not amount of sliming down is going to give him back his youth. The first step isn't there anymore, and it isn't coming back. At some point he should have developed a crossover dribble, a pull up jumper, and the necessary footwork to consistently operate as a competent post threat, but for whatever reason he never has. Perhaps charging him up with hype he never earned has something to do with it?


He'll be 29 next season, I doubt things get any easier from here on.

No one is expecting him to play like a 23 year-old but dropping a few pounds does wonders to your agility and quickness. If he's gonna play on the perimeter, he needs speed, it's simple as that otherwise he'll look like the 2011 LeBron - can't get to the paint against great defenses and is forced to chuck jumpers. The thing that made LeBron a great player in Cleveland was his speed, the way he could get inside easily against any type of defense. Now, he's slow as **** and resorts to strength more than anything when it comes to going places on the court. In other words, look, if old-ass Pierce and Bryant can get into the lane with ease there's no reason LeBron should be able to.

The other alternative is keeping this body but committing to post play (ala transforming more into a inside/big player). LeBron's post game has improved but it's still nowhere close to being good (let alone a reliable option for him). He has the 'turn around left bank shot' and 'the middle drop step hook shot', neither of which is really consistent. He also takes too much time to make a move and is too predictable.

All in all, he can't play like this, too far away from the basket and too much jump-shooting. That's not what great players do and the Heat have plenty of players who shoot from the perimeter/mid-range already.

[Bodhi]

Kobe slimmed down last off-season and had a more efficient season and was able to get to the line more frequently so it can work
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics- ... --oly.html

[CJ_18]

I called this right after the Pacers series ended, that SA is far, far superior team when it comes to game planning against him and that he would he have a much more difficult time against them. Now, I wasn't expecting things to be this bad, but then again, I wasn't expecting LeBron's jumper to be this off. He has to get it back, that's the bottom line. Being "aggressive", the garbage that clueless fans and media keep spouting off won't accomplish anything, because of how SA overloads the strong side and crowds the paint. LeBron simply cannot dribble drive his way inside against this team.

One thing specifically that LeBron does need to change is starting off games with a scoring-mentality. Enough with this getting Wade going garbage. Even if you do get him "going", he still won't score 20 points. LeBron needs to start off games SHOOTING the damn ball himself. He's waiting too long to get involved in the game.

I think this is the main thing. Miami is at their best when LeBron comes out firing and Wade 'gets in on the fun' later in the game at his discretion. Wade understands that LeBron is THE guy and he's a 'compliment' to him, and we don't need his complimentary play in the first half, especially if he's only going to be visible for that half only. I'd much prefer LeBron to come out firing early and then later in the game (2nd half) if LeBron needs help, that is when Wade can try to get going, ala game 4 of the Pacers series last year.

[Jordan23Forever]

@SherwoodStrauss RT: "LeBron is shooting 52/211 (24.6%) outside the restricted area through 18 career NBA Finals games"

Jesus. That's sad.

[E-Balla]

@SherwoodStrauss RT: "LeBron is shooting 52/211 (24.6%) outside the restricted area through 18 career NBA Finals games"

Jesus. That's sad.

... No words. Just. Wow.

[Brenice]

I think this is the main thing. Miami is at their best when LeBron comes out firing and Wade 'gets in on the fun' later in the game at his discretion. Wade understands that LeBron is THE guy and he's a 'compliment' to him, and we don't need his complimentary play in the first half, especially if he's only going to be visible for that half only. I'd much prefer LeBron to come out firing early and then later in the game (2nd half) if LeBron needs help, that is when Wade can try to get going, ala game 4 of the Pacers series last year.

Not comparing LeBron to Jordan, but using the example....Jordan would try to get his 'role' players going early in the game by not being dominant, and then take over the 4th or when needed. To me, LeBron, as great as he is, wants to be a glorified 'role' player. I understand him trying to get Chalmers and Haslem and the others involved, but the star has to know, HE HAS TO KNOW when it is necessary for him to 'take over' the game because he does not want his team to lose. LeBron doesn't appear to sense when to take over. He wants others to take over the scoring dominance and play his 'role' facilitation.

Jordan KNEW when his team was in trouble if he didn't dominate with his scoring.

[GetItDone]

As a LeBron fan, that was one of the most pathetic efforts i've ever seen him play. 3 games now in a row. It's like 2011, but he's also just playing horribly. 2011 he was mostly just passive. Not he's just playing awful.

I had no problem with his effort honestly. It was just his passivenes and his bad play. He was actually alright in every other aspect of the game. It was his lack of aggression, scoring, and shooting that was pathetic.

I think LeBron will bounce back in Game 4, but if he doesn't then this series won't even go back to Miami.

You can't say you had no problem with his effort, but then claim he was passive. That doesn't make sense.

LeBron main skill is getting to the rim. He didn't do any of that until that little spurt at the end of the 3rd.He couldn't finish, either, and had ZERO FTs. He was awful including horrible passes and a broke jumper. They were sagging off on him and still couldn't hit 10-15 footers. Extremely disappointed with his play.

[RebelWithACause]

Do you guys think LeBron is too reliant on transition play?

He was 1st in the league in transition ppg 6.2 .
Without transition points he only scores 20 ppg.
The Spurs mostly took his transition play away, making him a bad scorer.

Without transition:

Durant 24.7 ppg
Kobe 24.3 ppg
Melo 26.3 ppg

, even Harden scores more without transition plays 21 ppg

[An Unbiased Fan]

Do you guys think LeBron is too reliant on transition play?

He was 1st in the league in transition ppg 6.2 .
Without transition points he only scores 20 ppg.
The Spurs mostly took his transition play away, making him a bad scorer.

Without transition:

Durant 24.7 ppg
Kobe 24.3 ppg
Melo 26.3 ppg

, even Harden scores more without transition plays 21 ppg

Absolutely. It's why many don't consider him a great overall scorer, and why he's going to have problems as his athleticism declines.

In theory, he should move more to the post, but he's seems hesitant to do this consistently for some reason.

[Bucksfans1and2]

Do you guys think LeBron is too reliant on transition play?

He was 1st in the league in transition ppg 6.2 .
Without transition points he only scores 20 ppg.
The Spurs mostly took his transition play away, making him a bad scorer.

Without transition:

Durant 24.7 ppg
Kobe 24.3 ppg
Melo 26.3 ppg

, even Harden scores more without transition plays 21 ppg

Absolutely. It's why many don't consider him a great overall scorer, and why he's going to have problems as his athleticism declines.

In theory, he should move more to the post, but he's seems hesitant to do this consistently for some reason.

Simply subtracting the points that a player scores in transition to figure out how good of half court player someone is moronic.

Lebron is one of the best 3 point shooters in the league, he is one of the better mid ranged shooters in the game. He is one of the most effective post players in the game.