What the hell is wrong with LeBron's shot?

[RRR3]

Dude is making Rondo look like Steph Curry. Now before trolls ruin this thread, let me point out that this is particularly bizarre because LeBron's jumpshot is something that he has worked hard on over the years and made noticeable improvements on. So why has he completely forgotten how to make a jumper in the playoffs? This is a huge problem, and it is hurting his team.



Look at the discrepancies between some of his past shooting numbers and his shooting numbers in these playoffs:

2013 Playoffs: 49.1 FG%, 37.5 3P%, 43.4% on long two pointers
2014 Playoffs: 56.5 FG%, 40.7 3P%, 41.8% on long two pointers
2015 Playoffs: As of right now he is 3-16 in today's game. So that brings him to 41.7 FG% and an atrocious 15.3% from 3PT territory in these playoffs. Before tonights game he was also shooting terribly on long twos, at just 32.8%



One can argue that he is being forced to shoot more and has less spacing than he had in Miami, which is true, but LeBron has NEVER shot this bad from 3 in the playoffs, even when he was younger and really struggled from outside. His previous worst was 25.7% in the 2008 playoffs. Furthermore, LeBron has shot at least 33% (which is hardly impressive, it's just relatively respectable) from 3 in 9 of his 12 seasons, and in every season since 2008-09. He has shot above 35% from 3 five times. As far as long two pointers, he is a career 38.8% shooter, well above his current mark.




So, what do you guys think explains the unprecedented drop-off? LeBron has never been an elite shooter, but he had become an above average 3PT shooter over the last 3 years. I am not unfamiliar with him struggling with his shot, but it's never been anywhere near this bad. And he had improved enough as to where I thought this should no longer be a problem.



If there's anything positive about his shooting from these playoffs, his FT shooting has returned to more familiar levels after he had a noticeable drop off in said field this season.

[keep-itreal]

he never had a jumpshot

[BigBoss]

2 all stars at minimum have to be on the floor for Lebron to shoot well.

[Kobe_6/8]

Small sample size, he's just getting warmed up.

[Alamо]

he never had a jumpshot

Pretty much this. Don't know what else to tell you

[RRR3]

he never had a jumpshot

He's been a respectable and at times very good 3PT shooter most of his career, which is the main focus of this thread. His midrange is also much worse at the moment.

[RRR3]

2 all stars at minimum have to be on the floor for Lebron to shoot well.

Must be why he shot 50/40/73 in the 2010 playoffs.

[RRR3]

It's like some of you ignore how much LeBron has improved his shot

His shooting percentages these playoffs are incredibly inconsistent with his norms, and you want to act like he's always been incapable of hitting a jumper

[daily]

His legs are gone, best days are behind him. This is the Lebron of the future only it'll get worse. He'll have good games and go through stretches where he plays well but these types of numbers will be the norm

[Kingwillball]

If he finds it in the finals and Cavs win nobody will remember all the struggles.

[RRR3]

His legs are gone, best days are behind him. This is the Lebron of the future only it'll get worse. He'll have good games and go through stretches where he plays well but these types of numbers will be the norm

Thank you for giving me a legitimate, non-trolling answer (refreshing)


I realize he has declined, but that shouldn't affect his jumpshot so much. Isn't the point of working on your shot to give yourself something to fall back on when your athleticism fades? I'm not saying LeBron was ever a knockdown shooter (even at his best he's too erratic) but he's usually been capable of hitting contested shots fairly well and certainly was a good 3PT shooter until recently. To act like LeBron in recent years hasn't been a good 3PT shooter is asinine. At worst, he's solid. I'm not saying great, just that his 3PT shot was an effective part of his game.

[RRR3]

If he finds it in the finals and Cavs win nobody will remember all the struggles.

If he doesn't, Warriors in 4.


I am honestly finding it infuriating how his shooting is being largely ignored.


Either it's


"Hurr durr LeBrick always been da worss shoota evah doe! DERP"


or it's

"LEGOD! BEST PLAYER IN DA LEAGUE DOE!" (ignores shooting percentages completely, gives vague reasons why he is "da bess")


Both sides are completely missing the point.

[Lebron23]

The game is not yet over. He averaged 31 ppg on 46 FG% in the first 2 games of the series.

[inclinerator]

he needs to catch and shoot some instead of creating a jumper also would like to see him shoot some post fadeaways

[Indian guy]

The issues started late regular season and just kinda continued from there. Part of it can be explained by the fact that his two best teammates are out, so both the volume and the degree of difficulty of his shots has greatly increased, but it still doesn't explain a decline to this extent. Because he has essentially returned to how he played pre-2011, but he still managed to have a couple of good perimeter shooting postseasons in '09 and '10. The 3pt shooting is the biggest shocker. Even when he couldn't shoot a lick(pre-2009), he still had twice the % from 3 he does this postseason. It just doesn't make any sense.