Lebron guarding Rondo?

[j804]

Another match up that might be thrown out there, Powe on Garnett?

It would make it difficult for garnett in the post, but Powe is slow

Wow, j804 - you brought back memories mentioned Powe.

I'm rather glad that he hasn't appeared this series. I still miss the man.

Once Powe got going, he proved to be a load down low, though, and has a knack for getting to the foul line.

IMO, Powe probably has the most polished post game (besides Shaqtus) on the CLE squad.

Very true, well said. Goes to show just how overrated and dumb Mike Brown is he's probably not even gave him any thought at a shot.

[clover]

I just love the question of the game being whether consecutive-year MVP King James would be able to contain Rondo.

[MMacOH]

Powe is inactive so he won't be stepping in tonight.  I like his game as well.


As for Lebron's shooting:  He has been shooting very well all playoffs.  Even with his poor shooting from 3 in Game 2 (0-4) he is still 16 for 34 from 3 in the playoffs.  

[BballTim]

Another match up that might be thrown out there, Powe on Garnett?

It would make it difficult for garnett in the post, but Powe is slow

Wow, j804 - you brought back memories mentioned Powe.

I'm rather glad that he hasn't appeared this series. I still miss the man.

Once Powe got going, he proved to be a load down low, though, and has a knack for getting to the foul line.

IMO, Powe probably has the most polished post game (besides Shaqtus) on the CLE squad.

Very true, well said. Goes to show just how overrated and dumb Mike Brown is he's probably not even gave him any thought at a shot.

 I don't know that a 6'5 player is going to make it hard for KG to post up. I think the opposite would be true.

[mgent]

if lebron starts covering rondo, do you think he'll shut down rondo's penetration and effectiveness? you would think then pierce would take advantage of anthony parker, which he probably would, but i dont think that would be enough to take over the game the way rondo does. thoughts?

I disagree.  When Pierce has it turned on he can take over the game just as effectively as Rondo, if not more so (especially when his shot's falling).

Any Celtic fan will tell you Paul Pierce is unstoppable when he takes a game over.

[thirstyboots18]

LeBron might be able to guard Rondo, but if he does he is going to be so worn out defensively that, hopefully, he will have little left at the offensive end.  We saw what less than stellar offensive effort by LeBron has on his team.  How is the elbow, anyway?  Did everyone see the explanation by Dr. Sanje Gupta of the basic elbow problem on NBAtv this morning?  I think he said the elbow will not get better until it gets a couple weeks rest.

[papa shuttlesworth]

Unlike Lebron - Pierce has a much more varried offensive attack, including his pull up, 3pt, and post game. Additionally I don't think this is Kobe in 2008 (which didn't work anyways) Lebron is going to get leveled by a few Perk screens if he's running full speed to cover Rondo.

Unfortunately, the Celtics could only run this play six times, since every one of these picks would result in a foul on Perkins, even if he was standing completely still.

[pearljammer10]

Pierce or Ray going crazy is fine.  Rondo is scoring 20 pts a game and dishing out double digit assists.  He is accounting for around 40% of Boston's offense.  Shutting him down is the key to the Cav's success.

Pierce can go off all he wants, but I would much rather see Pierce try and go one on one all night and put up 50 points then have Rondo getting the whole team involved.

Unlike Lebron - Pierce has a much more varried offensive attack, including his pull up, 3pt, and post game.

I find this sentence humorous. 

Lebron is monstrously effective and efficient - but he does so by getting to the rim or getting to the rim and kicking it out, or getting to the rim and dumping it off.

Pierce has a more varried offensive game - if he gets Parker on him, he won't be doing ISO 1:1 dribbling. He'll be posting him up on passes from Rondo or KG.

I don't see Lebron as having a developed post game or consistent deep shot yet - but I don't watch him except when he plays the C's so tell me if I'm wrong.

I mean, LeBron didnt score 30 points per game by simply driving to the basket this season... Yes thats a huge part of his game but he is an incredible offensive player. I get what you are trying to preach with weak jump shooting and 3 point shooting, yet, he can still make those shots. He is better with the drive and the strong finishes but he has a pretty darn good all around game.

Getting back to the OP. I wouldnt be surprised to see Lebron guard Rondo at some points during the game. And i think we can find other ways to beat that plan. Pierce can score on Parker...And someone suggested that Delonte would be able to shut down Ray...I dont see that happening AT ALL. I would for Delonte to guard Ray, thats a match up Ray can go to all night.

[GreenFaith1819]

Another match up that might be thrown out there, Powe on Garnett?

It would make it difficult for garnett in the post, but Powe is slow

Wow, j804 - you brought back memories mentioned Powe.

I'm rather glad that he hasn't appeared this series. I still miss the man.

Once Powe got going, he proved to be a load down low, though, and has a knack for getting to the foul line.

IMO, Powe probably has the most polished post game (besides Shaqtus) on the CLE squad.

Very true, well said. Goes to show just how overrated and dumb Mike Brown is he's probably not even gave him any thought at a shot.

 I don't know that a 6'5 player is going to make it hard for KG to post up. I think the opposite would be true.

Powe is 6'5"? You chopped some inches off of the man..I thought he was 6'8"?

[Brendan]

Pierce or Ray going crazy is fine.  Rondo is scoring 20 pts a game and dishing out double digit assists.  He is accounting for around 40% of Boston's offense.  Shutting him down is the key to the Cav's success.

Pierce can go off all he wants, but I would much rather see Pierce try and go one on one all night and put up 50 points then have Rondo getting the whole team involved.

Unlike Lebron - Pierce has a much more varried offensive attack, including his pull up, 3pt, and post game.

I find this sentence humorous.  

Lebron is monstrously effective and efficient - but he does so by getting to the rim or getting to the rim and kicking it out, or getting to the rim and dumping it off.

Pierce has a more varried offensive game - if he gets Parker on him, he won't be doing ISO 1:1 dribbling. He'll be posting him up on passes from Rondo or KG.

I don't see Lebron as having a developed post game or consistent deep shot yet - but I don't watch him except when he plays the C's so tell me if I'm wrong.

I mean, LeBron didnt score 30 points per game by simply driving to the basket this season... Yes thats a huge part of his game but he is an incredible offensive player. I get what you are trying to preach with weak jump shooting and 3 point shooting, yet, he can still make those shots. He is better with the drive and the strong finishes but he has a pretty darn good all around game.

Getting back to the OP. I wouldnt be surprised to see Lebron guard Rondo at some points during the game. And i think we can find other ways to beat that plan. Pierce can score on Parker...And someone suggested that Delonte would be able to shut down Ray...I dont see that happening AT ALL. I would for Delonte to guard Ray, thats a match up Ray can go to all night.

Put it this way - Tony Allen guarding Lebron should result in Lebron backing him down and destroying him in the Post. Physically the matchup is a joke Lebron has 4 inches in him and what - 60 pounds? 70 pounds? With Lebron's passing as soon as they start helping Shaq and V should be getting garbage buckets galore. It's not happening though - because Lebron doesn't have a real post game. As for his scoring off jump shots, he'll have nights when those fall, but generally he gets those points by taking A LOT of jumpers not by being efficient. It's like the anti Ray Allen. His outside shot has improved enough that you can't just give it to him and if he gets hot look out.

I'm not sure how to find a breakdown of where his points come from. Will look.

UPDATE: Checked his shot selection data on 82 games - he's a much better player going to the hoop (efficiency wise) than shooting J's. Can't determine how much of that is posting up and how much is attacking off the dribble.

[Greenbean]

Pierce or Ray going crazy is fine.  Rondo is scoring 20 pts a game and dishing out double digit assists.  He is accounting for around 40% of Boston's offense.  Shutting him down is the key to the Cav's success.

Pierce can go off all he wants, but I would much rather see Pierce try and go one on one all night and put up 50 points then have Rondo getting the whole team involved.

Unlike Lebron - Pierce has a much more varried offensive attack, including his pull up, 3pt, and post game.

I find this sentence humorous.  

Lebron is monstrously effective and efficient - but he does so by getting to the rim or getting to the rim and kicking it out, or getting to the rim and dumping it off.

Pierce has a more varried offensive game - if he gets Parker on him, he won't be doing ISO 1:1 dribbling. He'll be posting him up on passes from Rondo or KG.

I don't see Lebron as having a developed post game or consistent deep shot yet - but I don't watch him except when he plays the C's so tell me if I'm wrong.

I mean, LeBron didnt score 30 points per game by simply driving to the basket this season... Yes thats a huge part of his game but he is an incredible offensive player. I get what you are trying to preach with weak jump shooting and 3 point shooting, yet, he can still make those shots. He is better with the drive and the strong finishes but he has a pretty darn good all around game.

Getting back to the OP. I wouldnt be surprised to see Lebron guard Rondo at some points during the game. And i think we can find other ways to beat that plan. Pierce can score on Parker...And someone suggested that Delonte would be able to shut down Ray...I dont see that happening AT ALL. I would for Delonte to guard Ray, thats a match up Ray can go to all night.

Put it this way - Tony Allen guarding Lebron should result in Lebron backing him down and destroying him in the Post. Physically the matchup is a joke Lebron has 4 inches in him and what - 60 pounds? 70 pounds? With Lebron's passing as soon as they start helping Shaq and V should be getting garbage buckets galore. It's not happening though - because Lebron doesn't have a real post game. As for his scoring off jump shots, he'll have nights when those fall, but generally he gets those points by taking A LOT of jumpers not by being efficient. It's like the anti Ray Allen. His outside shot has improved enough that you can't just give it to him and if he gets hot look out.

I'm not sure how to find a breakdown of where his points come from. Will look.

UPDATE: Checked his shot selection data on 82 games - he's a much better player going to the hoop (efficiency wise) than shooting J's. Can't determine how much of that is posting up and how much is attacking off the dribble.

Lebron has not developed a post game to speak of. He tried to score with his back to the basket a bit in game one and looked very uncomfortable.

This is why Ray on LBJ is working so well. James should be destroying RAY on the post.

Back to the OP, LeBron has publically stated that he wants to guard Rondo now.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?date=20100510#16052

How funny is the inferiority of Mike Brown compared to LeBron.

I am not sure there is a worse coach in the league for a spoiled talent like LeBron.

Brown doesnt think LeBron should play Rondo (he is wrong), but since Lebron just said this, I guarantee he will be on him in game 5.


It's Pierce time.

[Who]

LeBron is unguardable when he turns and faces out of the post from inside of 15 feet. It is one dribble to the middle of the paint and elevation of the defender for a high percentage short shot. Luckily for us, he doesn't use that weapon often enough.

His back to the basket post game is more rudimentary.

[Greenbean]

LeBron is unguardable when he turns and faces out of the post from inside of 15 feet. It is one dribble to the middle of the paint and elevation of the defender for a high percentage short shot. Luckily for us, he doesn't use that weapon often enough.

His back to the basket post game is more rudimentary.

Luckily for us, Mike Brown can't figure out how to get him the ball closer than 40 feet from the basket.

[Kwhit10]

Reminds me of when Kobe was going to guard Rondo.  I'm trying to recall how that series ended 

[Witch-King]

LeBron is unguardable when he turns and faces out of the post from inside of 15 feet. It is one dribble to the middle of the paint and elevation of the defender for a high percentage short shot. Luckily for us, he doesn't use that weapon often enough.

His back to the basket post game is more rudimentary.

Luckily for us, Mike Brown can't figure out how to get him the ball closer than 40 feet from the basket.

TP.

This is too true. LeBron needs to work on his post game, for sure. Guards like Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant can still contain him because of his tendancy to try to score off the dribble or with a perimeter look. if he could invest more in his turn-around jumper, especially against guys who he has a height advantage he would become that much more dangerous with the likes of Shaq, Big Z, JJ Hickson and Varejao clogging up the paint.

To give an example of another young player who has recently improved their post game I'd have to mention Dwight Howard; last year he didn't have many finesse moves in the paint and relied too much on his ability to dunk the ball in order to score a majority of his points (Howard is a notoriously poor free-throw shooter). After appearing in the NBA Finals vs the Lakers last year, this season Howard has added to his game the ability to make short jumpers in the paint, sky hooks with either hand, layups and turn around shots, etc. All of that combined with his dunking prowess that granted him an NBA Dunk contest title has transformed Howard from a guy who just camped in the paint down low and grabbed offensive boards into a serious low post threat. I've even seen him make 3-pointers in games (NBA all-star game for example).

If LeBron supplimented his athletic, slashing playing style with some more front-court moves, i.e. just copped a few pages from Shaq and Kareem he would become that much more efficient at scoring down-low. Even guys like Kobe and Rondo have a whole arsenal of tricks that they like to employ in the post - both players are capable of pulling Hakeem's imfamous dream-shake and Kobe in particular is quite comfortable playing with his back to the basket.