Is Lebron protecting his FG%?

[Styrian]

I don't think his playstyle right not is bad or hurts his team , but he is unlikely to play that way in playoffs. So what's the point of playing that way for 82 games then changing it for the playoffs? He averaged 19.5 FGA in playoffs and never cracked 60 TS% so far with Miami.

[Rapcity_11]

oh my how things can get turned and twisted when the agenda is there..

taking high percentage shots, making smart basketball plays = protecting FG%

Come on man, not everything is about an agenda. I'd say I'm almost always pro-Lebron in arguments anyway. It's just pretty obivous he's protecting his FG%.

[ThirdMan]

This just in: the closer you are to the hoop the better chance you have of it going in.

This just in: a wide open jumpshot is better then running into a clogged lane...

I understand half court basketball and getting the highest percentage shot but how is a WIDE-OPEN jumpshot not high percentage.

You ever seen LeBron drive to the basket? He's kind of good at it.

Please, even scrubs make wide open shots somewhat consistently. For Lebron it would be money. Absolutely no reason to pass it up.

[BBallFreak]

All this does is make sure the offense, as a whole, is more efficient.

That's highly debatable.

Is it? Miami has run one of the most efficient offenses in the league for the last couple of years. Doesn't that tell you that whatever Miami's doing offensively is working? Isn't making sure he takes smart shots part of that efficiency?

[TheBasketHoops]

In a way yes he is protecting it, especially a player like Lebron who understands all of his stats and wants to be the best in every way. Just because it is not a problem in an easy December game doesn't mean it may not become a problem if this continues in the playoffs. We will just have to wait and see how it goes in the playoffs when it really counts.

[BBallFreak]

In a way yes he is protecting it, especially a player like Lebron who understands all of his stats and wants to be the best in every way. Just because it is not a problem in an easy December game doesn't mean it may not become a problem if this continues in the playoffs. We will just have to wait and see how it goes in the playoffs when it really counts.

Again...this little competition between Wade and James has been going on for years. Three straight Finals appearances and back to back championships suggest it's not harming anything...

[Rapcity_11]

All this does is make sure the offense, as a whole, is more efficient.

That's highly debatable.

Is it? Miami has run one of the most efficient offenses in the league for the last couple of years. Doesn't that tell you that whatever Miami's doing offensively is working? Isn't making sure he takes smart shots part of that efficiency?

Yeah, it's elite. It's working. It wins titles, etc. Lebron is so good that he could not be making optimal team decisions and still have the offense look outstanding. That's not the point. Lebron turning down shots does not ensure anything other than making his %'s better. It MIGHT make the offense better, it MIGHT now. It's highly debatable, as I said.

[ndnow]

oh my how things can get turned and twisted when the agenda is there..

taking high percentage shots, making smart basketball plays = protecting FG%

Come on man, not everything is about an agenda. I'd say I'm almost always pro-Lebron in arguments anyway. It's just pretty obivous he's protecting his FG%.

Not everything is. But this definitely is unless the people here are absolutely clueless on how efficiency over time works. This is one of the most ridiculous sports threads of recent memory.

[Rapcity_11]

oh my how things can get turned and twisted when the agenda is there..

taking high percentage shots, making smart basketball plays = protecting FG%

Come on man, not everything is about an agenda. I'd say I'm almost always pro-Lebron in arguments anyway. It's just pretty obivous he's protecting his FG%.

Not everything is. But this definitely is unless the people here are absolutely clueless on how efficiency over time works. This is one of the most ridiculous sports threads of recent memory.

Please explain how efficiency over time works...?

[BBallFreak]

That's highly debatable.

Is it? Miami has run one of the most efficient offenses in the league for the last couple of years. Doesn't that tell you that whatever Miami's doing offensively is working? Isn't making sure he takes smart shots part of that efficiency?

Yeah, it's elite. It's working. It wins titles, etc. Lebron is so good that he could not be making optimal team decisions and still have the offense look outstanding. That's not the point. Lebron turning down shots does not ensure anything other than making his %'s better. It MIGHT make the offense better, it MIGHT now. It's highly debatable, as I said.

Alright, then debate it. To me, it seems as if you're trying to split hairs and put LeBron down. So, stop vaguely alluding to something and come out and say what you're trying to say. Empirical evidence does not, in any way, shape, or form, support the idea that LeBron taking smart shots for him somehow hurts the offense. You seem to think otherwise. Prove it.

[MKG35]

Again...this little competition between Wade and James has been going on for years. Three straight Finals appearances and back to back championships suggest it's not harming anything...

Look how close they were to losing to SA.

If they won only 1 out of 3 finals, would you have said something else? People would probably blame someone for losing. Wade not stepping up, Bosh not stepping up, Lebron not doing ....random somehing.... enough etc.

[BBallFreak]

Again...this little competition between Wade and James has been going on for years. Three straight Finals appearances and back to back championships suggest it's not harming anything...

Look how close they were to losing to SA.

If they won only 1 out of 3 finals, would you have said something else? People would probably blame someone for losing. Wade not stepping up, Bosh not stepping up, Lebron not doing ....random somehing.... enough etc.

WHAT?!?!?!

Seriously, this isn't rocket surgery here, folks!

The playoffs isn't where you screw around with field goal percentages. If you don't think they know that, then I don't think you've been watching. You don't win two consecutive championships by not taking the games seriously. In the regular season? Sure, you can mess around. In the post season...the Finals?!?!?!?!

Gimme a break.

The LeBron Hate has reached epidemic proportions...

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Yeah, it's elite. It's working. It wins titles, etc. Lebron is so good that he could not be making optimal team decisions and still have the offense look outstanding. That's not the point. Lebron turning down shots does not ensure anything other than making his %'s better. It MIGHT make the offense better, it MIGHT now. It's highly debatable, as I said.

I thought the argument against LeBron and the Heat when he arrived in Miami was exactly that they weren't as good as they should be. They've turned that around since that first season together, and since around the halfway point of last season up to now, they've been all-time level good on the offensive side of the ball.

Could they be even better yet? I guess, but they're vastly improved from where they were 2 years ago, so I don't see how one can argue what LeBron is doing now is in anyway less ideal than what he was doing before. I think at this point the nitpicking is reaching comical levels, although I imagine if RealGM were around in 93, people would be asking if Jordan was ballhogging for taking a ton of shots even if he was leading his team in efficiency as well.

[ndnow]

Come on man, not everything is about an agenda. I'd say I'm almost always pro-Lebron in arguments anyway. It's just pretty obivous he's protecting his FG%.

Not everything is. But this definitely is unless the people here are absolutely clueless on how efficiency over time works. This is one of the most ridiculous sports threads of recent memory.

Please explain how efficiency over time works...?

It begins with if Lebron shoots 45% from 20ft and his team mate shoots 100% on dunks, you take the dunk. If Lebron shoots 45% from 3 and his team mate shoots 46% from 3 etc..

Now to expand, Lebron just being in rebounding range increases this efficiency as he has a chance of an offensive rebound. Lets say he has a 10% chance of rebound from 15ft you have to apply that to the possible outcomes.

Also on the current Heat team if Lebron took more 3s it would make 2 of his team mates on the court useless on most of those possessions as there are generally 2 people on the court for the Heat who are 3pt shooters only. The way the team is built is for Lebron not to take 3s as they have shooters around him to space the floor so he can get the higher percentage shots. There is absolutely no reason for Lebron to shoot more from outside, none.

[MisterWestside]

Waiting for the "Is Kevin Durant protecting his FG%?" thread to be made here.

[Rapcity_11]

Alright, then debate it. To me, it seems as if you're trying to split hairs and put LeBron down. So, stop vaguely alluding to something and come out and say what you're trying to say. Empirical evidence does not, in any way, shape, or form, support the idea that LeBron taking smart shots for him somehow hurts the offense. You seem to think otherwise. Prove it.

Dude, you're really not getting my point here. I THINK Lebron is protecting his FG%. I have no idea if that helps or hurts the offense. I can't prove anything other than point out his FGA per possession are down. And when I watch the Heat I feel like he's turning down opportunities to

I'm not putting Lebron down. I'm not hating. No need to get your back up so quick. I get that people hate on Lebron for no reason at all. That's not what I'm doing.

[bledredwine]

Waiting for the "Is Kevin Durant protecting his FG%?" thread to be made here.

Except he's obviously not. Lebron obviously is. It's weird and a bit annoying.

[BBallFreak]

Alright, then debate it. To me, it seems as if you're trying to split hairs and put LeBron down. So, stop vaguely alluding to something and come out and say what you're trying to say. Empirical evidence does not, in any way, shape, or form, support the idea that LeBron taking smart shots for him somehow hurts the offense. You seem to think otherwise. Prove it.

Dude, you're really not getting my point here. I THINK Lebron is protecting his FG%. I have no idea if that helps or hurts the offense. I can't prove anything other than point out his FGA per possession are down. And when I watch the Heat I feel like he's turning down opportunities to

I'm not putting Lebron down. I'm not hating. No need to get your back up so quick. I get that people hate on Lebron for no reason at all. That's not what I'm doing.

Except you keep repeating the same mantra. Saying it once and moving on shows a lack of agenda. Continuing to repeat over and over again to anyone who will listen indicates bias. You either need to take a stand one way or the other, or move on.

[Don Draper]

Come on man, not everything is about an agenda. I'd say I'm almost always pro-Lebron in arguments anyway. It's just pretty obivous he's protecting his FG%.

Not everything is. But this definitely is unless the people here are absolutely clueless on how efficiency over time works. This is one of the most ridiculous sports threads of recent memory.

It's only a ridiculous thread if you didn't see the shots he passed up. Is it really crazy to expect a 43% 3-point shooter to attempt a wide open three in the flow of the ? These aren't transition 3s.

[Rapcity_11]

Yeah, it's elite. It's working. It wins titles, etc. Lebron is so good that he could not be making optimal team decisions and still have the offense look outstanding. That's not the point. Lebron turning down shots does not ensure anything other than making his %'s better. It MIGHT make the offense better, it MIGHT now. It's highly debatable, as I said.

I thought the argument against LeBron and the Heat when he arrived in Miami was exactly that they weren't as good as they should be. They've turned that around since that first season together, and since around the halfway point of last season up to now, they've been all-time level good on the offensive side of the ball.

Could they be even better yet? I guess, but they're vastly improved from where they were 2 years ago, so I don't see how one can argue what LeBron is doing now is in anyway less ideal than what he was doing before. I think at this point the nitpicking is reaching comical levels, although I imagine if RealGM were around in 93, people would be asking if Jordan was ballhogging for taking a ton of shots even if he was leading his team in efficiency as well.

This isn't about saying what Lebron used to do was better, it's that I think he's protecting his FG% which may or may not be good for the team.

Let's also remember this is a guy who doesn't take last second heaves.