Lebron actually played one season under the old rules

[3ball]

Lebron actually played one season under the old rules that allowed hand-checking and physical play - it was his rookie season in 2004 when he shot 41.7% FG, 48% TS, and 99 ORtg - this is embarrassing by any standard, and would be embarrassing for any player.

But fortunately for Lebron, since the new rules were implemented in 2005, dribble-penetration has occurred more than any time in history.. It has become an automatic, built-in component of the game and all perimeter players have been the beneficiary - this is proven by league-wide offensive rating, which experienced it's largest 1-year increase ever from 2004 to 2005 (102.9 to 106.1).

The wider driving lanes (thanks to spacing) and aforementioned rule changes designed to make penetration easier have ushered in today's golden age of dribble penetration, as the league intended.

The spacing-inspired wider lanes are actually a bonus, because a simple high screen or isolation play is all that's needed to take advantage of the hand-check ban and get in the lane.. Wings like Harden, Kobe and Lebron live off these plays, along with all point guards.. Previous era wings would be no different.
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[Giaodollo]

As a 19 year old MJ was averaging 13 ppg in college.

[J Shuttlesworth]

3ball, I think you have a mental illness.

[ZMonkey11]

Wow. Really? This board's knowledge stock is falling like the 2008 Credit Crisis. Jeff laughing all the way to the bank with these tools.

[Roundball_Rock]

Why do you guys keep doing this? Ever since I joined ISH I have incessantly heard from the "80's/early 90's forever" crowd (and yes, I appreciate the 90's as much as anyone, hence my user name, but I don't hate on today's game as a result) about the rule changes aiding scoring? Why do you all conveniently leave a little detail out?

The rules were indeed changed to boost scoring--because scoring had plummeted to its lowest levels since the 1950's. Games were featuring embarrassingly low scores. Yes, scoring increase subsequent to the rule changes--but STILL scoring in the 2005-2015 period is the lowest in NBA history outside of the 50's and the late 90's and early 2000's. The notion that it is easy to score today is absurd. Scoring is 5.5 points less than 93' (the last year of the halcyon days, right?), 7.2. less than 90', 11 points less than 85' and 9.5 less than 80'.

LeBron has played in a lower scoring era than MJ, KAJ, Wilt, Magic, Bird, Hakeem and Russell did and he has overlapped obviously with Kobe, Duncan. Imagine LeBron in a league where average teams were scoring 110-115 ppg.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

He was a rookie straight out of high school playing 40 MPG on a terrible team.

Shut the **** up 3ball.

[Roundball_Rock]

He was a rookie straight out of high school playing 40 MPG on a terrible team.

Shut the **** up 3ball.

And improved them from 17 wins to 35 wins nonetheless!

[Real14]

This should not be a surprise ISH

[AnaheimLakers24]

It no wonder he only has 2 asterisk rings

[24-Inch_Chrome]

And improved them from 17 wins to 35 wins nonetheless!

He turned them around very quickly, they posted a a 50-32 record in his third year with Cleveland. 3ball may have a legitimate allergy to giving anyone not named 'Michael Jordan' credit for anything good.

[3ball]

LOL at you guys trying to defend 41.7% FG, 48% TS, and 99 ORtg.. oh, and it's just coincidence this was the ONE AND ONLY YEAR he played under the old rules.

Yeah, even 40-year old Jordan did better the prior years in both 2002 and 2003 (and he also led his team to 19 more wins).

But again, fortunately for Lebron, since the new rules were implemented in 2005, dribble-penetration has occurred more than any time in history - it has become an automatic, built-in component of the game and all perimeter players have been the beneficiary.
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[Roundball_Rock]

He turned them around very quickly, they posted a a 50-32 record in his third year with Cleveland. 3ball may have a legitimate allergy to giving anyone not named 'Michael Jordan' credit for anything good.

Exactly. 17 wins to 35 and then 42 and then 50 and in his fourth year he carried scrubs to the Finals. Since he turned 21 LeBron's teams have never done worse than 0.600 (when he plays--the 08' Cavs were 45-37 but that is because those scrubs went 0-8 without him) and the second round.

Imagine how much greater immediate impact LeBron would have had if he went to college and came to the NBA more polished.

Yeah, even 40-year old Jordan did better the prior years in both 2002 and 2003 (and he also led his team to 19 more wins).0

CHI under early MJ: 38 wins (+11, similar to rookie Rose's improvement of CHI), 9-9, 40-42, 50-32, 47-35 (ECF, though, albeit after a last minute walk-off game winner to prevent another first round exit). Chicago was spinning its wheels in mediocrity for years until Pippen became a starter.

CLE under early LeBron: 35 wins (+18), 42-40, 50-32, 50-32 (Finals), 45-29.

[CavaliersFTW]

As a 19 year old MJ was averaging 13 ppg in college.

damn.

[SugarHill]

What was Jordan doing at 19?

[3ball]

CHI under early MJ: 38 wins (+11, similar to rookie Rose's improvement of CHI), 9-9, 40-42, 50-32, 47-35 (ECF, though).

CLE under early LeBron: 35 wins (+18), 42-40, 50-32, 50-32 (Finals), 45-29.

40-year old Jordan led his team to 19 more wins in 2002... does that mean he's better than 21-year old Jordan who only led his team to 11 more wins?

See, your logic is very weak, and that's being generous - nothing can change the reality that in his ONE season under the old rules, Lebron shot 41.7%, 48% TS, with a 99 ORtg... 40-year old Jordan did better under the same conditions just a year earlier in 2003.

But again, fortunately for Lebron, the new rules in 2005 ushered in the golden age of easy dribble-penetration - a simple high screen or isolation play is all that's needed to take advantage of the hand-check ban and get in the lane.. Wings like Harden, Kobe and Lebron live off these plays, along with all point guards.