Rumor or excuse: Lebron's elbow is worse than first reported (merged)

[misha]

Doc, in order to motivate the players even more, should say to the players that after tomorrow, we won't have to hear the word elbow for a long time.

[BudweiserCeltic]

We complain about ESPN giving LeBron so much attention, but do we really need about 50 threads in CelticsBlog about LeBron, his elbow, and fans/media giving excuses?

[Rondo_is_better]

We complain about ESPN giving LeBron so much attention, but do we really need about 50 threads in CelticsBlog about LeBron, his elbow, and fans/media giving excuses?

you're not really being any fun.

[neyvit]

What people forget is that Lebron has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him.

In 08, he was atrocious in 6 out of 7 games. Was it the elbow back then, too? Lebron played great against the magic last year, so people forget that he has sucked in the playoffs for most of his career (that series against the pistons being the exception).

What you seem to be forgetting is that the statement he has "sucked in the playoffs for most of his career" is unquestionably false.  He has the highest playoff PER of any player ever (including MJ), so I'm not sure where you get your logic.  Sure, he has struggled against great defensive team - but doesn't everyone?  Isn't that what makes them a great defense?

Regarding the elbow; I still don't understand how everyone is getting peeved off over Lebron somehow making excuses for the Cavs performance.  There is a clear difference between what the media is saying about it and what the Cavs are saying about it.  No one on the Cavs have used it as an excuse, and Lebron himself continuously downplays the effect it has on its game.

Another poster said that if there truly was a problem with the elbow, Lebron should be upfront about it.  And not being upfront about it is somehow hurting his image.  But wouldn't he be doing exactly what so many Boston fans are currently incorrectly accusing him of - by trying to excuse his poor performance.

While I'm disappointed with his lack of effort and overall play, I believe he has handled "elbowgate" 100% the right way.  If you want to blame someone for the ridiculous coverage, blame the media.  

[RJ87]

james said this after practice today:


UPDATE -- When asked earlier today about his elbow, LeBron, for the first time, admitted that it was an issue that will need addressed after the season -

"The elbow is an issue I'll deal with in the offseason."

Again, make your own judgments....

Mabey he should slow down on the pregame 360 dunks and Half court shots in warm ups then.

Exactly.

[moiso]

What people forget is that Lebron has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him.

In 08, he was atrocious in 6 out of 7 games. Was it the elbow back then, too? Lebron played great against the magic last year, so people forget that he has sucked in the playoffs for most of his career (that series against the pistons being the exception).

What you seem to be forgetting is that the statement he has "sucked in the playoffs for most of his career" is unquestionably false.  He has the highest playoff PER of any player ever (including MJ), so I'm not sure where you get your logic.  Sure, he has struggled against great defensive team - but doesn't everyone?  Isn't that what makes them a great defense?

Regarding the elbow; I still don't understand how everyone is getting peeved off over Lebron somehow making excuses for the Cavs performance.  There is a clear difference between what the media is saying about it and what the Cavs are saying about it.  No one on the Cavs have used it as an excuse, and Lebron himself continuously downplays the effect it has on its game.

Another poster said that if there truly was a problem with the elbow, Lebron should be upfront about it.  And not being upfront about it is somehow hurting his image.  But wouldn't he be doing exactly what so many Boston fans are currently incorrectly accusing him of - by trying to excuse his poor performance.

While I'm disappointed with his lack of effort and overall play, I believe he has handled "elbowgate" 100% the right way.  If you want to blame someone for the ridiculous coverage, blame the media.  

Nice post.  TP.  You are right, Cleveland hasn't made any excuses.  It's mostly the media and Boston fans.  We did the same thing two years ago when Bynum was hurt.  Last year we got a dose of it with KG's knee.

[BudweiserCeltic]

We complain about ESPN giving LeBron so much attention, but do we really need about 50 threads in CelticsBlog about LeBron, his elbow, and fans/media giving excuses?

you're not really being any fun.

Well, I've been LeBron'ed out throughout the day. Plus, this has already been discussed elsewhere.

[vinnie]

A double post kind of happened when they merged the threads 

[vinnie]

Someone needs to explain to me how someone with a torn elbow ligament can shoot free throws and make them at an 80 percent clip. It just does not make any sense to me. That said, he likely is hurt, but if is hurt that badly, he actually is hurting his team by playing and having the ball in his hands so much.

[dlpin]

What people forget is that Lebron has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him.

In 08, he was atrocious in 6 out of 7 games. Was it the elbow back then, too? Lebron played great against the magic last year, so people forget that he has sucked in the playoffs for most of his career (that series against the pistons being the exception).

What you seem to be forgetting is that the statement he has "sucked in the playoffs for most of his career" is unquestionably false.  He has the highest playoff PER of any player ever (including MJ), so I'm not sure where you get your logic.  Sure, he has struggled against great defensive team - but doesn't everyone?  Isn't that what makes them a great defense?

Regarding the elbow; I still don't understand how everyone is getting peeved off over Lebron somehow making excuses for the Cavs performance.  There is a clear difference between what the media is saying about it and what the Cavs are saying about it.  No one on the Cavs have used it as an excuse, and Lebron himself continuously downplays the effect it has on its game.

Another poster said that if there truly was a problem with the elbow, Lebron should be upfront about it.  And not being upfront about it is somehow hurting his image.  But wouldn't he be doing exactly what so many Boston fans are currently incorrectly accusing him of - by trying to excuse his poor performance.

While I'm disappointed with his lack of effort and overall play, I believe he has handled "elbowgate" 100% the right way.  If you want to blame someone for the ridiculous coverage, blame the media.  

You are about 3 pages too late. I've already dealt with it. I think that if I said in the opening paragraph that "has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him" I don't need to keep qualifying every other sentence.


And highest playoff PER of any player ever? His career playoff PER is 27.2. MJ's is 28.6. If you meant single season, that was last year when he played 2 atrocious teams and another who based their defensive scheme on shutting down the rest of his team. And in any case I've already talked about the Magic series as an exception.

As for elbowgate, he is the one who made it an issue when he shot a free throw left handed (right after making one right handed).

[Moranis]

What people forget is that Lebron has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him.

In 08, he was atrocious in 6 out of 7 games. Was it the elbow back then, too? Lebron played great against the magic last year, so people forget that he has sucked in the playoffs for most of his career (that series against the pistons being the exception).

What you seem to be forgetting is that the statement he has "sucked in the playoffs for most of his career" is unquestionably false.  He has the highest playoff PER of any player ever (including MJ), so I'm not sure where you get your logic.  Sure, he has struggled against great defensive team - but doesn't everyone?  Isn't that what makes them a great defense?

Regarding the elbow; I still don't understand how everyone is getting peeved off over Lebron somehow making excuses for the Cavs performance.  There is a clear difference between what the media is saying about it and what the Cavs are saying about it.  No one on the Cavs have used it as an excuse, and Lebron himself continuously downplays the effect it has on its game.

Another poster said that if there truly was a problem with the elbow, Lebron should be upfront about it.  And not being upfront about it is somehow hurting his image.  But wouldn't he be doing exactly what so many Boston fans are currently incorrectly accusing him of - by trying to excuse his poor performance.

While I'm disappointed with his lack of effort and overall play, I believe he has handled "elbowgate" 100% the right way.  If you want to blame someone for the ridiculous coverage, blame the media.  

You are about 3 pages too late. I've already dealt with it. I think that if I said in the opening paragraph that "has sucked in the playoffs whenever a good defensive team gets determined to stop him" I don't need to keep qualifying every other sentence.


And highest playoff PER of any player ever? His career playoff PER is 27.2. MJ's is 28.6. If you meant single season, that was last year when he played 2 atrocious teams and another who based their defensive scheme on shutting down the rest of his team. And in any case I've already talked about the Magic series as an exception.

As for elbowgate, he is the one who made it an issue when he shot a free throw left handed (right after making one right handed).

Lebron's actually third in career playoff PER.  Jordan is 1 at 28.59, Mikan is 2 at 28.51, and then Lebron at 27.18.  What's truly astonishing is Tracy McGrady is 7th all time and the man has never won a playoff series.  Technically the Dream has the highest single season playoff PER, but his team lost 3-1 int he first round, so I'm not sure you can count it.  Lebron last year is second.

[housecall]

Im sure Shaq gave him a case of Icy Hot,so stop your whinning...KG is one yr.removed from surgery,and probably still in pain after each game,but he's not complaining or making a big deal about it.

[radiohead]

There is clearly something wrong with Lebron's play in this series. What was noticeable in games 2 and 5 was his lack of aggressiveness to drive hard to the hoop. Heck, his arrogance level was even down a couple of notches if you ask me. It seemed as though he was content with just shooting jumpers. If this "torn elbow ligament" rumor is true (that it's that bad that he needs to have shots to make it numb), then how do we explain his dunks during breakaways, and as someone previously stated, his high FT percentage? Maybe his elbow is indeed bothering him, but it's not an injury that is as serious as it's being portrayed (needing 6-8 weeks in the off season to heal, needing shots to make it feel better, that said shots can only be had every 10 days etc). If his injury is indeed serious, he should be smart enough to pack it in. It's better to be smart than sorry. What's really sickening is if he scores a ton and the Cavs win, then Lebron is great. If they lose, it's because Lebron played lousy and that his elbow is bothering him. There's just no respect for the Celtics' D.  

[ToppersBsktball10]

Excuse times 3y438957497u5740370. yes that number is so big, it includes a y and an u

[MMacOH]

No one is going to know the extent of Lebron's injury until the offseason.  He didn't say that he needed surgery in the offseason, he said he will address it in the offseason.  Could mean that it just needs rest.

None of this matters.  The fact is that there is a game 6 tomorrow and the Cavs are against the wall.  No excuses.  The Celtics have been playing great and deserve to be up 3-2.