This GIF shows why Lebron lacks the best skillset

[Ainosterhaspie]

The defense was only defending the pass because lebron was in a passing body position - he isn't in the proper offensive stance (triple-threat position), so it's clear he won't make an offensive move and is looking to pass - hence the defense disruprs the pass... that isn't"genius", or skilled - it's telegraphing/lower skill level.

Ultimately, it's a skill deficit because

Durant and Green are both defending the drive. Durant has left his man wide open because he's worried about James driving. Green loses his man because he's worried about James driving. There are three players there actively trying to stop James from driving. So if LeBron is telegraphing pass, why are three Warriors terrified he's going to drive and not defending the pass. And if he's telegraphing pass why can't they stop it without fouling.

[RRR3]

Durant and Green are both defending the drive. Durant has left his man wide open because he's worried about James driving. Green loses his man because he's worried about James driving. There are three players there actively trying to stop James from driving. So if LeBron is telegraphing pass, why are three Warriors terrified he's going to drive and not defending the pass. And if he's telegraphing pass why can't they stop it without fouling.

You’re wasting your time with 3braincells.

[3ball]

Durant and Green are both defending the drive. Durant has left his man wide open because he's worried about James driving. Green loses his man because he's worried about James driving. There are three players there actively trying to stop James from driving. So if LeBron is telegraphing pass, why are three Warriors terrified he's going to drive and not defending the pass. And if he's telegraphing pass why can't they stop it without fouling.

Lebron is holding the ball in a passing position for the entire GIF - junior high players wouldn't think he's going to do anything but pass, let alone professional NBA players

Durant and company are shading off their man because that's standard defense at all times - players are never instructed to stand right next to their man at the 3-point line when the ball is elsewhere... The defense sees that he's obviously waiting on a cutter and reacts correctly in the blink of an eye to barely disrupt the pass...

It wasn't this obvious thing where everyone was hugging their man at the 3-point line and begging him to drive - basketball is never played that way - defenders are always shading off their man at the 3-point line, ever since the 3-point line was line was introduced

[Turbo Slayer]

3ball is a hater no point changing his mind. Lebron is consensus top 5 and will always be. Don't try to argue to him.

Waste of time and effort.

[Ainosterhaspie]

3ball is a hater no point changing his mind. Lebron is consensus top 5 and will always be. Don't try to argue to him.

Waste of time and effort.

Then again, supposedly a 14 year old on the first page had been duped by stupid arguments like the one made here. Airball is a lost cause no doubt, but maybe others can be reasoned with.

[Turbo Slayer]

Then again, supposedly a 14 year old on the first page had been duped by stupid arguments like the one made here. Airball is a lost cause no doubt, but maybe others can be reasoned with.

agreed aino

[Ainosterhaspie]

I haven't even gotten into the likely intent in this moment to run the clock down. Attack early and the Warriors have a chance to score again. He's probably intending to run the clock down here. He already had two buzzer beaters that playoff run, so it's not like he wasn't having success there. But Hill makes a great cut, so he skipped the plan to run down the clock and went for the easy points. Result of the play is the Cavs tied the game, and had a chance to win in regulation, but for JR Smith being a moron.

[3ball]

Then again, supposedly a 14 year old on the first page had been duped by stupid arguments like the one made here. Airball is a lost cause no doubt, but maybe others can be reasoned with.

Players don't just do one thing... i.e. only play the drive or only play the pass

They do both, but if a player is telegraphing one way or the other like Lebron was, then the defense gets an advantage as they did on that play..

same thing happens in football when the QB telegraphs the signal.

Accept that Lebron's triple-threat fundamentals are poor, which reduced his options on that play - instead of squaring up and attacking the defense like MJ and still having the option to pass, Lebron stands in a passing stance and takes away his scoring options, thus telegraphing his intention (pass)... It's a lack of refinement and sophistication... That AAU bs that lebron has refused to grow out of

[Replay32]

Players don't just do one thing... i.e. only play the drive or only play the pass

They do both, but if a player is telegraphing one way or the other like Lebron was, then the defense gets an advantage as they did on that play..

same thing happens in football when the QB telegraphs the signal.

Accept that Lebron's triple-threat fundamentals are poor, which reduced his options on that play - instead of squaring up and attacking the defense like MJ and still having the option to pass, Lebron stands in a passing stance and takes away his scoring options, thus telegraphing his intention (pass)... It's a lack of refinement and sophistication... That AAU bs that lebron has refused to grow out of

Hey Idiot. You do realize that Magic Johnson did what is seen in the OP a lot also. So WTF are you talking about? It was one play that lead to 2 free throws from a really good free throw shooter. It proves nothing about his skill set. Lebrons approach to the game is different from Jordan and that's ok. Doesn't take away from his greatness. They play different positions also. MJ never played PF. They are 2 totally different players. Why does it bother you that he's not trying to be a carbon copy of MJ? You're so lame.

[3ball]

Hey Idiot. You do realize that Magic Johnson did what is seen in the OP a lot also. So WTF are you talking about? It was one play that lead to 2 free throws from a really good free throw shooter. It proves nothing about his skill set. Lebrons approach to the game is different from Jordan and that's ok. Doesn't take away from his greatness. They play different positions also. MJ never played PF. They are 2 totally different players. Why does it bother you that he's not trying to be a carbon copy of MJ? You're so lame.

Magic hit the big shot in the 87' Finals - he didn't pass it - Lebron has never hit the big shot in the championship, despite going there every year

And Magic wasn't required to close - that was Kareem and Worthy's job.. Lebron wants to be known as the goat like MJ, so he needs to hit goat shots.. But he has zero

Ultimately, MJ is better and won more rings because he was skilled enough to get great stats while the ball moved and the team played a ball movement brand that excelled on the championship level

Otoh, Lebron's style and skillset dominates the ball, so the ball doesn't move and the team plays a weaker brand that struggles on the championship level - lebron's ball-dominant skillset means that he gets 30 points by dominating the ball and turning teammates to spot-up shooters (weak brand), while MJ's off-ball skillset gets 30 while the ball is moving and teammates are playing a great brand of ball

Ultimately, Lebron's ball-dominant skillset turns teammates into spot-up shooters, which doesn't develop teammates or teams, this requiring team-hopping for ready-made stars and teams

Ball movement has always gotten better looks for role players than 1 guy dominating the ball in the half court... That's why mj had warriors and spurs-level teams (ball movement), while lebron has inferior lower assist teams that struggle in the championship

[3ball]

The OP GIF shows why Lebron is 0-8 on clutch shots in the Finals - he's literally 0-8 in those spots because of weak midrange game/post game/triple-threat game
.

[PeroAntic]

Blake Griffin would post up from there and body Steph all the way to the freethrow line. How do you not use strength/weight advantage there?

[3ball]

Blake Griffin would post up from there and body Steph all the way to the freethrow line. How do you not use strength/weight advantage there?

Who cares about strength and weight - just shoot over him via pull-up like the first Jordan gif in the OP

Or start a FT line post-up like MJ does on Hornacek in the next gif, or a quick triple-threat move like in the subsequent gifs.

[egokiller]

Magic hit the big shot in the 87' Finals - he didn't pass it - Lebron has never hit the big shot in the championship, despite going there every year

And Magic wasn't required to close - that was Kareem and Worthy's job.. Lebron wants to be known as the goat like MJ, so he needs to hit goat shots.. But he has zero

Ultimately, MJ is better and won more rings because he was skilled enough to get great stats while the ball moved and the team played a ball movement brand that excelled on the championship level

Otoh, Lebron's style and skillset dominates the ball, so the ball doesn't move and the team plays a weaker brand that struggles on the championship level - lebron's ball-dominant skillset means that he gets 30 points by dominating the ball and turning teammates to spot-up shooters (weak brand), while MJ's off-ball skillset gets 30 while the ball is moving and teammates are playing a great brand of ball

Ultimately, Lebron's ball-dominant skillset turns teammates into spot-up shooters, which doesn't develop teammates or teams, this requiring team-hopping for ready-made stars and teams

Ball movement has always gotten better looks for role players than 1 guy dominating the ball in the half court... That's why mj had warriors and spurs-level teams (ball movement), while lebron has inferior lower assist teams that struggle in the championship

He tried 8 times in the finals though and after that said never again. He will absolutely defer in a finals go ahead shot situation and has been since that 8th attempt missed. It's actually smart play on his part. If you know you aren't going to make it, don't shoot it.

[PeroAntic]

Who cares about strength and weight - just shoot over him via pull-up like the first Jordan gif in the OP

Or start a FT line post-up like MJ does on Hornacek in the next gif, or a quick triple-threat move like in the subsequent gifs.

You need footwork for posting up, not just strength. Lebron has the strength but not the footwork, so he doesn't even entertain that idea.