LeBron James 2021-22 Regular Season Thread - Part ?

[Fadeaway_J]

What an absurd ending to this game.

[zimpy27]

Vogel got to be fired after that one..

[IG2]

Another very winnable game they (LeBron) blew in the 4th qtr.

[homecourtloss]

Another very winnable game they (LeBron) blew in the 4th qtr.

1 point loss to Clippers
2 point loss to the Blazers
2 point loss to Warriors
3 point loss to the Clippers

Unwatchable team.

[dcstanley]

Other than the Jazz game, Lebron has been unwatchable lately.

[nzahir]

Another very winnable game they (LeBron) blew in the 4th qtr.

So we going to ignore Russ missing 2 layups in the final few min and then Melo taking an F- shot?

Lakers missed too many open 3s

Russ should not even be allowed to shoot one, if he does it should cost him 1M each time

Where the **** is Nunn

I consider going

Nunn, Reaves, Lebron, AD, Dwight
Russ, Monk, Stanley, THT, Melo

or

Nunn, Reaves, Stanley, Lebron, AD
Russ, Monk, THT, Melo, Dwight

[zimpy27]

Need more of this team (order s based on defense position 1 to 5):
Reaves, Monk, Westbrook, THT, LeBron

[dcstanley]

Vogel got to be fired after that one..

Terrible management of timeouts.

[MartinToVaught]

Another very winnable game they (LeBron) blew in the 4th qtr.

LeBron wasn't great, but it was Melo who blew it for the Lakers. Totally bailed us out after Reggie had his own Shaqtin'-level play.

[sp6r=underrated]

Another very winnable game they (LeBron) blew in the 4th qtr.

So we going to ignore Russ missing 2 layups in the final few min and then Melo taking an F- shot?

Lakers missed too many open 3s

Russ should not even be allowed to shoot one, if he does it should cost him 1M each time

Where the **** is Nunn

I consider going

Nunn, Reaves, Lebron, AD, Dwight
Russ, Monk, Stanley, THT, Melo

or

Nunn, Reaves, Stanley, Lebron, AD
Russ, Monk, THT, Melo, Dwight

Russ is an ATG. The revisionism he couldn't contribute to a winning team is false.

But he'd be an awful player this year on the league minimum.

The opportunity cost of his play this year is all-time awful given (i) his salary; (ii) his durability; (iii) awful play.

Lakers would be better off if he tore his ACL on opening day.

[zimpy27]

Vogel just needs to stop going to small ball for long stretches. Small ball is about taking advantage of the slow correction but gets killed once a team figures it out.

[Baski]

Assume Lebron had been forced to retire for some reason. It didn't invite sympathy or scorn. Just a weird thing that happened. We never found out why.

1. What is the earliest he could have retired and gotten enough votes to be elected to the HOF?
2. What is the latest year a voter could vote against his HOF candidacy without being insane?

2011 for both I think

[Baski]

He bought into the hype about 3 shooting being what works best with LeBron and Westbrook. Yes 3 shooting makes it easier for LeBron and Westbrook to drive but these guys can drive well enough without it (even though their finishing sucks now they still get good enough looks). These guys have always been best with defenders and gritty do all the small thing type players. I expected the FO to know this

To be fair, it's not as obvious as you're saying. During the times they did do Ok with gritty defensive types, there was always the sentiment that they would be even better with shooters ("Westbrook averaged 10 assists with garbage around him. Imagine if he had competent shooters" was a very common statement in 2017. And the 2020 season was just full of "Imagine if this team wasn't the worst shooting team in history" type comments in this thread).

[homecourtloss]

Other than the Jazz game, Lebron has been unwatchable lately.

He’s been poor offensively. The stretch in which he was scoring 30+ on 65%+ TS wasn’t going to last and now things are catching up to him. I do think he’s upped his defensive effort but he doesn’t have the motor to do both all game. I do notice that in the Utah game (after trade deadline) and this game, the Lakers were running different sets with LeBron initiating more rather than Westbrook. LeBron always becomes turnover prone when he adjusts like that.

Last 10 games defensive contest #s: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/2544/defense-dash/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=15

Last 7 games defensive contest #s: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/2544/defense-dash/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=12

Last three games: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/2544/defense-dash/?Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=3

As poorly as James played, the game was lost on open three point shooting. Had the Lakers made a lesgue average on wide open and open shots, the game would have been firmly in hand.

Wide open threes:

LAC: 7/13
LAL: 5/17

Open threes:

LAC: 2/7
LAL: 1/9

The Lakers’ defensive effort in chasing the Clippers off of the 3 point line was very good, but maybe this also affected their legs on open shots though the first quarter was the worst (0-10).

[ty 4191]

LeBron's "empty stats" this year are fairly staggering. As is, apparently, his mindset re: winning vs. piling up numbers....

https://lakersdaily.com/kwame-brown-blasts-lebron-james-for-checking-stat-sheet-during-game-kobe-bryant-wouldve-never-done-that/

Kwame Brown blasts LeBron James for checking stat sheet during game: ‘Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that’

Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Kwame Brown had some choice words for superstar LeBron James and the Lakers’ struggles this season.

Brown called out James for checking the stat sheet while the Lakers were losing a game with Russell Westbrook sitting next to him.

Watch on YouTube

“When I saw brother LeBron watching the stat sheet, that told me all I needed to know on why the Lakers are losing,” Brown said. “That told me all I needed to know why that team is not connected on defense.

“Because I played since little league, since high school, and all the high school coaches around the world can attest to this. They would never, high school, college or whatever, they would never allow a player to watch a stat sheet on a bench. Especially while they’re losing.

“What is that stat sheet teaching you? It’s not teaching you anything. I used to make sure – we lost a game, I wouldn’t let nobody on our bus touch a stat sheet. We lost. What the f— are we looking at the stats for?

“So for LeBron to be looking at the stat sheet on the bench, for all you young guys out there, I’m not taking away anything from the way he plays the basketball game. He’s still great. He’s still going to go down in the history as a great player. But that was the wrong message to send. That was horrible, and none of you players should ever emulate that.”

Brown wasn’t done with his harsh criticism of James, as he went on to compare him to the great Kobe Bryant.

“Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that,” Brown said.

While Brown may have disliked James’ actions, he may have gone a little far as to assuming why James was checking the stat sheet.

The Lakers wouldn’t be anywhere without James this season, as he’s put up 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

James has seen a lot of success in his time in the NBA, so Brown may want to dial back some of his criticism of James as the four-time champion tries to get the Lakers back on track.

[falcolombardi]

calling them empty stats is insanity lmao

he has been scoring 28-29 points a gane in elite efficiency, literally better scoring than derozan this season

nothingh about that is statpadding

[homecourtloss]

calling them empty stats is insanity lmao

he has been scoring 28-29 points a gane in elite efficiency, literally better scoring than derozan this season

nothingh about that is statpadding

He’s not making the same impact he’s accustomed to making though RAPTOR, RPM, DARKO, EPM seem to indicate blame elsewhere.

His off ball defensive QBing hasn’t been given the same amount of energy, but then again, in those small ball lineups, there are seemingly always 2 bad defenders blowing every second rotation.

His individual defensive contest numbers are elite (2nd best out of 225 players who have played 30+ games and contest 8+ shots per game): https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defense-dash-overall/?CF=GP*GE*30:D_FGA*GE*8&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=PCT_PLUSMINUS&dir=-1

But his play tracking on play types, i.e., ISO, Spot up, post up, screen-roll ball handler, etc., haven’t been as impactful.

[Statlanta]

Assume Lebron had been forced to retire for some reason. It didn't invite sympathy or scorn. Just a weird thing that happened. We never found out why.

1. What is the earliest he could have retired and gotten enough votes to be elected to the HOF?
2. What is the latest year a voter could vote against his HOF candidacy without being insane?

2009

2011

[trickshot]

LeBron's "empty stats" this year are fairly staggering. As is, apparently, his mindset re: winning vs. piling up numbers....

https://lakersdaily.com/kwame-brown-blasts-lebron-james-for-checking-stat-sheet-during-game-kobe-bryant-wouldve-never-done-that/

Kwame Brown blasts LeBron James for checking stat sheet during game: ‘Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that’

Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Kwame Brown had some choice words for superstar LeBron James and the Lakers’ struggles this season.

Brown called out James for checking the stat sheet while the Lakers were losing a game with Russell Westbrook sitting next to him.

Watch on YouTube

“When I saw brother LeBron watching the stat sheet, that told me all I needed to know on why the Lakers are losing,” Brown said. “That told me all I needed to know why that team is not connected on defense.

“Because I played since little league, since high school, and all the high school coaches around the world can attest to this. They would never, high school, college or whatever, they would never allow a player to watch a stat sheet on a bench. Especially while they’re losing.

“What is that stat sheet teaching you? It’s not teaching you anything. I used to make sure – we lost a game, I wouldn’t let nobody on our bus touch a stat sheet. We lost. What the f— are we looking at the stats for?

“So for LeBron to be looking at the stat sheet on the bench, for all you young guys out there, I’m not taking away anything from the way he plays the basketball game. He’s still great. He’s still going to go down in the history as a great player. But that was the wrong message to send. That was horrible, and none of you players should ever emulate that.”

Brown wasn’t done with his harsh criticism of James, as he went on to compare him to the great Kobe Bryant.

“Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that,” Brown said.

While Brown may have disliked James’ actions, he may have gone a little far as to assuming why James was checking the stat sheet.

The Lakers wouldn’t be anywhere without James this season, as he’s put up 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

James has seen a lot of success in his time in the NBA, so Brown may want to dial back some of his criticism of James as the four-time champion tries to get the Lakers back on track.

Foolish take. Lebron has an analytic approach to the game and is known for making the right plays so this isn't necessarily a situation where you can say 'pfft stats'.

[Baski]

LeBron's "empty stats" this year are fairly staggering. As is, apparently, his mindset re: winning vs. piling up numbers....

https://lakersdaily.com/kwame-brown-blasts-lebron-james-for-checking-stat-sheet-during-game-kobe-bryant-wouldve-never-done-that/

Kwame Brown blasts LeBron James for checking stat sheet during game: ‘Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that’

Former Los Angeles Lakers big man Kwame Brown had some choice words for superstar LeBron James and the Lakers’ struggles this season.

Brown called out James for checking the stat sheet while the Lakers were losing a game with Russell Westbrook sitting next to him.

Watch on YouTube

“When I saw brother LeBron watching the stat sheet, that told me all I needed to know on why the Lakers are losing,” Brown said. “That told me all I needed to know why that team is not connected on defense.

“Because I played since little league, since high school, and all the high school coaches around the world can attest to this. They would never, high school, college or whatever, they would never allow a player to watch a stat sheet on a bench. Especially while they’re losing.

“What is that stat sheet teaching you? It’s not teaching you anything. I used to make sure – we lost a game, I wouldn’t let nobody on our bus touch a stat sheet. We lost. What the f— are we looking at the stats for?

“So for LeBron to be looking at the stat sheet on the bench, for all you young guys out there, I’m not taking away anything from the way he plays the basketball game. He’s still great. He’s still going to go down in the history as a great player. But that was the wrong message to send. That was horrible, and none of you players should ever emulate that.”

Brown wasn’t done with his harsh criticism of James, as he went on to compare him to the great Kobe Bryant.

“Kobe Bryant would’ve never done that,” Brown said.

While Brown may have disliked James’ actions, he may have gone a little far as to assuming why James was checking the stat sheet.

The Lakers wouldn’t be anywhere without James this season, as he’s put up 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

James has seen a lot of success in his time in the NBA, so Brown may want to dial back some of his criticism of James as the four-time champion tries to get the Lakers back on track.

I mean sure you can say it looks bad to be checking the stat sheet at any point in any game, but does Kwame think guys on winning teams didn't check the stat sheet?