8 years Later, Lebron can Really Shoot

[housecall]

He doesn't need to be a good shooter. The NBA as instated rules where defenders are not allowed to make any contact with an offensive player during a game. He just needs to drive into the lane for wide open lay ups or if somebody comes in contact with him it's an automatic foul.

I know this is a bit off topic but isn't kind of ridiculous how much the NBA has handicapped defenders to the point where they aren't even allowed to really play defense anymore?

Defense is starting to become a very irrelevant part of the game.
[/quote)


TP,I think what you're saying is very relevant to what the topic is because Lebron gets a portion of his pts.through  questionable calls.He has figured out that officials will call 99% of his drives to the bucket late n games,like last night.The officials help put them back in the game.There's a lot of acting going on these days too.You'd think someone hit Lebron with a ton of bricks when he hears a whistle.

[LB3533]

LeBron's hitting roughly 35% of his three point shots in the playoffs, versus roughly 33% in the regular season.  His regular season percentage is not a large improvement over the last few seasons.  The post-season percentage is actually 5% worse than last year (when he shot 40%).

LeBron has hit some big shots from outside late in games, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he has improved all that much as an outside shooter.  The difference between his shooting stroke now and at the start of his career is quite large, but it's not as though that it's only just become apparent.

No room for facts here, move it along.

-sw

Against Boston and the Bulls in this postseason, Lebron is shooting 17-41 from 3 point land.

41.2%

...against the top 2 defenses in the league, and the top 2 teams in the conference.

Hot streak?

Yeah when we were losing to the Heat I didn't think we had much of a chance if Lebron and Wade were lighting it up from 3 (and long 2's). That was our game plan against them to basically give them the outside and I think it's the best strategy you can go for. I thought both Boston and Chicago played the way they wanted to defensively and Lebron and Wade (at least in our series) made some tough, tough shots consistently.

Hopefully it really is just a hot streak and it is coming to an end. You can feel good for a while making those shots but they've been relying on those to win games and it just seems impossible for that to continue to last

I agree, you want to let Wade and Lebron take contested jumpers and 3's.

You don't want them to get to the rim.

Just like D-Rose, you want him taking 3's and not getting easy layups or crowd pleasing, team pumping up dunks.

The problem though for the C's is that Wade got to the line almost 12 times per game, and Wade was making tough outside shots.

Lebron against Boston got to the line over 8 times per game and over 8 times per game against the Bulls.

Both the Bulls and C's didn't really stop Lebron from getting to the rim and on top of that, LBJ made tough outside shots.

Those outside shots are the same ones he didn't make in prior post seasons, other than that one series against the Pistons.

[Moranis]

LeBron's hitting roughly 35% of his three point shots in the playoffs, versus roughly 33% in the regular season.  His regular season percentage is not a large improvement over the last few seasons.  The post-season percentage is actually 5% worse than last year (when he shot 40%).

LeBron has hit some big shots from outside late in games, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he has improved all that much as an outside shooter.  The difference between his shooting stroke now and at the start of his career is quite large, but it's not as though that it's only just become apparent.

No room for facts here, move it along.

-sw

Against Boston and the Bulls in this postseason, Lebron is shooting 17-41 from 3 point land.

41.2%

...against the top 2 defenses in the league, and the top 2 teams in the conference.

Hot streak?

Yeah when we were losing to the Heat I didn't think we had much of a chance if Lebron and Wade were lighting it up from 3 (and long 2's). That was our game plan against them to basically give them the outside and I think it's the best strategy you can go for. I thought both Boston and Chicago played the way they wanted to defensively and Lebron and Wade (at least in our series) made some tough, tough shots consistently.

Hopefully it really is just a hot streak and it is coming to an end. You can feel good for a while making those shots but they've been relying on those to win games and it just seems impossible for that to continue to last

I agree, you want to let Wade and Lebron take contested jumpers and 3's.

You don't want them to get to the rim.

Just like D-Rose, you want him taking 3's and not getting easy layups or crowd pleasing, team pumping up dunks.

The problem though for the C's is that Wade got to the line almost 12 times per game, and Wade was making tough outside shots.

Lebron against Boston got to the line over 8 times per game and over 8 times per game against the Bulls.

Both the Bulls and C's didn't really stop Lebron from getting to the rim and on top of that, LBJ made tough outside shots.

Those outside shots are the same ones he didn't make in prior post seasons, other than that one series against the Pistons.

that isn't entirely true.  Lebron shot 40% from three in last years post season.  The year before he shot 33%, which is only slightly worse then this year.  There is this perception of Lebron that just doesn't meet reality.   

[Fafnir]

that isn't entirely true.  Lebron shot 40% from three in last years post season.  The year before he shot 33%, which is only slightly worse then this year.  There is this perception of Lebron that just doesn't meet reality.   

But then again he was 7 of 26 against the C's good for just 27%. His 40% last year was a product of a very good Chicago series.

I wonder what his two point jump shooting was this year, he definitely has improved his mid range game. More than anything the difference is this year he's on a stronger defensive team that also has better secondary scorers.

[LB3533]

LeBron's hitting roughly 35% of his three point shots in the playoffs, versus roughly 33% in the regular season.  His regular season percentage is not a large improvement over the last few seasons.  The post-season percentage is actually 5% worse than last year (when he shot 40%).

LeBron has hit some big shots from outside late in games, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he has improved all that much as an outside shooter.  The difference between his shooting stroke now and at the start of his career is quite large, but it's not as though that it's only just become apparent.

No room for facts here, move it along.

-sw

Against Boston and the Bulls in this postseason, Lebron is shooting 17-41 from 3 point land.

41.2%

...against the top 2 defenses in the league, and the top 2 teams in the conference.

Hot streak?

Yeah when we were losing to the Heat I didn't think we had much of a chance if Lebron and Wade were lighting it up from 3 (and long 2's). That was our game plan against them to basically give them the outside and I think it's the best strategy you can go for. I thought both Boston and Chicago played the way they wanted to defensively and Lebron and Wade (at least in our series) made some tough, tough shots consistently.

Hopefully it really is just a hot streak and it is coming to an end. You can feel good for a while making those shots but they've been relying on those to win games and it just seems impossible for that to continue to last

I agree, you want to let Wade and Lebron take contested jumpers and 3's.

You don't want them to get to the rim.

Just like D-Rose, you want him taking 3's and not getting easy layups or crowd pleasing, team pumping up dunks.

The problem though for the C's is that Wade got to the line almost 12 times per game, and Wade was making tough outside shots.

Lebron against Boston got to the line over 8 times per game and over 8 times per game against the Bulls.

Both the Bulls and C's didn't really stop Lebron from getting to the rim and on top of that, LBJ made tough outside shots.

Those outside shots are the same ones he didn't make in prior post seasons, other than that one series against the Pistons.

that isn't entirely true.  Lebron shot 40% from three in last years post season.  The year before he shot 33%, which is only slightly worse then this year.  There is this perception of Lebron that just doesn't meet reality.  

Last postseason, Lebron played in 2 playoff series.

Against the Bulls, Lebron's Cavs won in 5 games and their 1 loss was by 2 points.

In that Bulls series, Lebron shot 13-24 from 3 point range, @ around 54%.

In the next series against Boston, Lebron shot 7-26 from 3 point line, for a 27% clip.

Lebron's last 3 games of that Boston series were all losses by the way in which Lebron combined to go 2-13 from 3 point range (15%). His overall shooting numbers in those last 3 games were something like 39%, 21%, & 38%.

I really do think that Lebron's one series against the Pistons of magical shooting from range and the hot shooting he had last postseason against the Bulls.....they were aberrations.

This post season is the same deal...Lebron's not supposed to making these shots...on the big stages.

Lebron has a history of flaming out, not shinning in postseason grand stages.

Edit: corrected math, thanks Fafnir!

[Mr October]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

[Mike-Dub]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

He still at times chokes.  He got lucky against us after the turnover had he and then we had the bothced play in game 4.  And he got lucky against the Bulls in game 4 after the charge he had and Rose's botched play.

But yes I've never.... Ever seen LeBron shoot like this.  He really has worked on his shot.

[Fafnir]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

He still at times chokes.  He got lucky against us after the turnover had he and then we had the bothced play in game 4.  And he got lucky against the Bulls in game 4 after the charge he had and Rose's botched play.

But yes I've never.... Ever seen LeBron shoot like this.  He really has worked on his shot.

Just like KG/PP/Ray Allen all combined to choke the last possession before OT in game 4.

If choke = failure every player is a choke artist.

[LB3533]

I don't like the term "choked".

Players aren't perfect.

But I have no problem saying that our guys, particular KG and PP were not their usual selves in this post season.

Both players did not execute plays well for some reason or another.

[Moranis]

LeBron's hitting roughly 35% of his three point shots in the playoffs, versus roughly 33% in the regular season.  His regular season percentage is not a large improvement over the last few seasons.  The post-season percentage is actually 5% worse than last year (when he shot 40%).

LeBron has hit some big shots from outside late in games, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he has improved all that much as an outside shooter.  The difference between his shooting stroke now and at the start of his career is quite large, but it's not as though that it's only just become apparent.

No room for facts here, move it along.

-sw

Against Boston and the Bulls in this postseason, Lebron is shooting 17-41 from 3 point land.

41.2%

...against the top 2 defenses in the league, and the top 2 teams in the conference.

Hot streak?

Yeah when we were losing to the Heat I didn't think we had much of a chance if Lebron and Wade were lighting it up from 3 (and long 2's). That was our game plan against them to basically give them the outside and I think it's the best strategy you can go for. I thought both Boston and Chicago played the way they wanted to defensively and Lebron and Wade (at least in our series) made some tough, tough shots consistently.

Hopefully it really is just a hot streak and it is coming to an end. You can feel good for a while making those shots but they've been relying on those to win games and it just seems impossible for that to continue to last

I agree, you want to let Wade and Lebron take contested jumpers and 3's.

You don't want them to get to the rim.

Just like D-Rose, you want him taking 3's and not getting easy layups or crowd pleasing, team pumping up dunks.

The problem though for the C's is that Wade got to the line almost 12 times per game, and Wade was making tough outside shots.

Lebron against Boston got to the line over 8 times per game and over 8 times per game against the Bulls.

Both the Bulls and C's didn't really stop Lebron from getting to the rim and on top of that, LBJ made tough outside shots.

Those outside shots are the same ones he didn't make in prior post seasons, other than that one series against the Pistons.

that isn't entirely true.  Lebron shot 40% from three in last years post season.  The year before he shot 33%, which is only slightly worse then this year.  There is this perception of Lebron that just doesn't meet reality.  

Last postseason, Lebron played in 2 playoff series.

Against the Bulls, Lebron's Cavs won in 5 games and their 1 loss was by 2 points.

In that Bulls series, Lebron shot 13-24 from 3 point range, @ around 54%.

In the next series against Boston, Lebron shot 7-26 from 3 point line, for a 27% clip.

Lebron's last 3 games of that Boston series were all losses by the way in which Lebron combined to go 2-13 from 3 point range (15%). His overall shooting numbers in those last 3 games were something like 39%, 21%, & 38%.

I really do think that Lebron's one series against the Pistons of magical shooting from range and the hot shooting he had last postseason against the Bulls.....they were aberrations.

This post season is the same deal...Lebron's not supposed to making these shots...on the big stages.

Lebron has a history of flaming out, not shinning in postseason grand stages.

Edit: corrected math, thanks Fafnir!

Actually Lebron doesn't have a history of flaming out and not shining in the postseason in grand stages.  Lebron has had exactly two poor post season series.  Last year against Boston and in the finals against San Antonio.  The rest of the time he has been about as money as someone can be. 

People just have this unrealistic expectation for Lebron because they don't like him.  Jordan didn't succeed every single time, but people only remember the successes and think he succeeded every time, which just isn't true.  Lebron is not a choke artist at all.  He has had a ton of success in the post season and has come up huge time and time again.

[Fafnir]

Actually Lebron doesn't have a history of flaming out and not shining in the postseason in grand stages.  Lebron has had exactly two poor post season series.  Last year against Boston and in the finals against San Antonio.  The rest of the time he has been about as money as someone can be. 

People just have this unrealistic expectation for Lebron because they don't like him.  Jordan didn't succeed every single time, but people only remember the successes and think he succeeded every time, which just isn't true.  Lebron is not a choke artist at all.  He has had a ton of success in the post season and has come up huge time and time again.

Even last year was largely two poor games. (Game 5/Game 6)

His bad game 6 was still a triple double, though he had a ton of bad turnovers and shots as he was pressing. The mental game is a huge part of basketball, the C's got into LeBron's head.

[Mike-Dub]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

He still at times chokes.  He got lucky against us after the turnover had he and then we had the bothced play in game 4.  And he got lucky against the Bulls in game 4 after the charge he had and Rose's botched play.

But yes I've never.... Ever seen LeBron shoot like this.  He really has worked on his shot.

Just like KG/PP/Ray Allen all combined to choke the last possession before OT in game 4.

If choke = failure every player is a choke artist.

He choked against us, but I also think we made him quit and the Magic also. And KG/PP/Ray did choke on that possesion in game 4. 

And yes choke = failure.  It can't = success.  You are right though players do fail and not choke everyone fails.

Choking = failure, but failure doesn't always = choke.  Just depends on peoples opinions.

[Fafnir]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

He still at times chokes.  He got lucky against us after the turnover had he and then we had the bothced play in game 4.  And he got lucky against the Bulls in game 4 after the charge he had and Rose's botched play.

But yes I've never.... Ever seen LeBron shoot like this.  He really has worked on his shot.

Just like KG/PP/Ray Allen all combined to choke the last possession before OT in game 4.

If choke = failure every player is a choke artist.

He choked against us and the Magic also.

Go look at that Magic series, LeBron played absolutely out of his MIND. He even hit a running three point shot to win Game 2 after Rashard Lewis had hit a huge shot on the other end IIRC.

[Mike-Dub]

James has had the ability to get hot for a while now. I am blown away with his clutch shooting in the last 4 minutes of these games.

Scary stuff. If he keeps up this kind of clutch shooting for a few more years, he would have to be thought of as the best player of all time.

He still at times chokes.  He got lucky against us after the turnover had he and then we had the bothced play in game 4.  And he got lucky against the Bulls in game 4 after the charge he had and Rose's botched play.

But yes I've never.... Ever seen LeBron shoot like this.  He really has worked on his shot.

Just like KG/PP/Ray Allen all combined to choke the last possession before OT in game 4.

If choke = failure every player is a choke artist.

He choked against us and the Magic also.

Go look at that Magic series, LeBron played absolutely out of his MIND. He even hit a running three point shot to win Game 2 after Rashard Lewis had hit a huge shot on the other end IIRC.

Yeah you're right about that. 

[Fafnir]

Yeah you're right about that.  

Man its weird to think of how clutch Rashard Lewis was for the Magic that Finals run, Hedo too.

Scares me to think about next year for the C's. You can lose it all real quick.