MYTH: Lebron struggles against single coverage defense

[dubeta]

Not only was MJ's 27 points bad, but he only shot 40%


LeBron in 2014 outscored AND was MUCH more efficient than MJ


LeBron in 2015 scored 33% more, and got TWICE the amount of rebounds and assists than MJ, while shooting the SAME efficiency






Overall LeBron VASTLY outperformed MJ in 2014 and 2015 its not even close

[kennethgriffin]

Age - 33 years, 4 months

27.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 41.5 FG%, 31.6 3P%, 83.6 FT%, 3 TO


Kobe Bryant's stats through 7 games in the 2010 NBA Finals:

Age - 31 years, 10 months

28.6 PPG, 8 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 40.5 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 88.3 FT%, 3.9 TO

the difference is kobe shot 41% on mostly long jumpers

while lebron shot 27% from beyond 5 feet

[3ball]

Tom Haberstroh ✔@tomhaberstroh
Highest Pct of Team Points Finals History.
1993 Michael Jordan 38.4%
2015 LeBron James 38.3%

Right, except MJ won his series because he shot 51% against double-teams, while Lebron shot 39% against single-coverage and wide open clearouts.

[GIF REACTION]

Sure, let's compare each player's worst Finals:


*MJ 1996: 27 ppg on 42%

Kobe 2000: 15 ppg on 35%
Kobe 2004: 22 ppg on 39%

Lebron 2007: 22 ppg on 35%
Lebron 2011: 17 ppg on 47%


* MJ's #2 option Pippen averaged 15 ppg on 34% shooting, which is the worst all-time for a 2nd option

Lebron played a 2nd option role in 2011, evident by his efficiency and USG numbers

Compare Jordan's supporting casts to Lebron's in 2007/2014/2015

It's easier to score with a better team around you

It's also better to make the finals than to not

2007 is to be celebrated for the one man carry, just like 2015

Jordan never got to the finals without a strong supporting cast

[LiLharvard]

I believe it is fact, through 2006-2010, Old Paul Pierce was effectively a Lebron stopper.

[dubeta]

the difference is kobe shot 41% on mostly long jumpers

while lebron shot 27% from beyond 5 feet

So what?


LeBron shot like 60% in the paint, while Kobe shot like 40% in the paint.


Why isnt Kobe skilled enough to shoot a high percentage in the paint?


He's the same size as lebron, yet shoots 20% worse in the paint

[Bankaii]

Sure, let's compare each player's worst Finals:


*MJ 1996: 27 ppg on 42%

Kobe 2000: 15 ppg on 35%
Kobe 2004: 22 ppg on 39%

Lebron 2007: 22 ppg on 35%
Lebron 2011: 17 ppg on 47%


* MJ's #2 option Pippen averaged 15 ppg on 34% shooting, which is the worst all-time for a 2nd option

It's adorable how you cherry pick every single post.
In what world does MJ's 41.5% round up to 42%, but Lebron's 17.8 on 47.8% not round up to 18 on 48%?
You didn't round up for Kobe either.
It's such a small difference but you're a Sneaky little bastard.

[GIF REACTION]

Right, except MJ won his series because he shot 51% against double-teams, while Lebron shot 39% against single-coverage and wide open clearouts.

MJ won his series because he had a strong supporting cast around him which helped him play to the best of his abilities

Just like every other championship winner

But we don't have any evidence of MJ succeeding with subpar supporting casts

[3ball]

LeBron in 2014 outscored AND was MUCH more efficient than MJ

[COLOR="Red"]Nobody cares about your erroneous assessments - we can all just look at the FACTS:
[/COLOR]

Playoffs Thru Age 30:

Jordan: 34.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.0 BLK, 25.4 FGA, 50.1 FG%, 29.6 PER
Lebron: 28.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BLK, 20.8 FGA, 47.3 FG%, 27.4 PER


Finals Thru Age 30:

Jordan: 36.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 7.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.76 BPG, 52.6% FG, 40.7% 3 PT
Lebron: 26.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.54 BPG, 44.6 FG%, 31.9% 3 PT



Career Playoff Averages:

Jordan: 33.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.9 BLK, 25.1 FGA, 48.7 FG%, 28.6 PER
Lebron: 28.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BLK, 20.8 FGA, 47.3 FG%, 27.4 PER


Career Finals Averages:

Jordan: 33.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.65 BPG, 48.1% FG, 36.8% 3 PT
Lebron: 26.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 6.9 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.54 BPG, 44.6 FG%, 31.9% 3 PT


Source: basketball-reference.com



[COLOR="Green"]4th Quarter Scoring:[/COLOR]


MJ 1997 Playoffs: 9.6
MJ 1998 Playoffs: 9.0

MJ 1993 Finals: 10.7
MJ 1997 Finals: 10.4
MJ 1998 Finals: 10.3

FYI: MJ 1988 Regular Season: 12.1


Lebron 2013 Playoffs: 7.4
Lebron 2014 Playoffs: 5.8
Lebron 2015 Playoffs: 8.1

Lebron 2011 Finals: 2.2
Lebron 2014 Finals: 3.6

[3ball]

But we don't have any evidence of MJ succeeding with subpar supporting casts

Truthfully, from a talent standpoint, ALL of MJ's supporting casts had less talent than Lebron's, Magic's, Bird's, Kobe's, Duncan's.

But MJ was a SG who led the league in scoring by playing off-ball - like, imagine someone averaging 32+ ppg within the Spurs or Warriors-type system (equal-opportunity)... This extremely optimal style allowed teammates to play to full capacity and his teams to perform better despite having worse talent.

Anyone who knows basketball can easily see that MJ's supporting casts were devoid of talent compared to the aforementioned players.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

It's adorable how you cherry pick every single post.
In what world does MJ's 41.5% round up to 42%, but Lebron's 17.8 on 47.8% not round up to 18 on 48%?
You didn't round up for Kobe either.
It's such a small difference but you're a Sneaky little bastard.

It doesnt really make a difference anyways. MJs worst finals (by far) against an alltime great defense he still played great defense himself. Bran played horrible D in the finals of 07, 11, 14 and 15.

in 07 it was the Cavs team defense and rebounding that carried them all playoffs and finals. Even with Bran having 30% shooting 6 turnover games they still barely lost games by a couple points because of the stacked defense and Cavs being the best offensive rebounding team and 2nd best defensive rebounding team

[dubeta]

Truthfully, from a talent standpoint, ALL of MJ's supporting casts had less talent than Lebron's, Magic's, Bird's, Kobe's, Duncan's.

But MJ was a SG who led the league in scoring by playing off-ball - like, imagine someone averaging 32+ ppg within the Spurs or Warriors-type system (equal-opportunity)... This extremely optimal style allowed his teams to perform better despite having worse talent.

Anyone who knows basketball can easily see that MJ's supporting casts were devoid of talent compared to the aforementioned players.

[COLOR="Red"]Nobody cares about your erroneous assessments - we can all just look at the FACTS:
[/COLOR]


Before Pippen

Jordan 1-9 in the playoffs




Once Jorrdan leaves


Bulls win 55 games (only 2 less than with Jordan)


oh and...

[dubeta]

No Player in NBA HISTORY, had as much help as Jordan, not Bill Russell, not Duncan, not BIrd nobody.




Jordan's teams were literally better without him

[GIF REACTION]

Truthfully, from a talent standpoint, ALL of MJ's supporting casts had less talent than Lebron's, Magic's, Bird's, Kobe's, Duncan's.

But MJ was a SG who led the league in scoring by playing off-ball - like, imagine someone averaging 32+ ppg within the Spurs or Warriors-type system (equal-opportunity)... This extremely optimal style allowed teammates to play to full capacity and his teams to perform better despite having worse talent.

Anyone who knows basketball can easily see that MJ's supporting casts were devoid of talent compared to the aforementioned players.

Wrong

Scottie Pippen
Orlando Wooldridge
George Gervin
Horace Grant
Charles Oakley
Dennis Rodman
Tony Kukoc

He's played with some of the best

[GIF REACTION]

MJ has only ONCE beaten a team with a better supporting cast than his

5 out of the 6 times he had the superior team