Lebron getting blocked FTW shows why he ain

[Elosha]

I have to say it's kind of funny when I watch the replay. Hezonja got a "boost"/push in the back from Deandre Jordan. Definitely helped the height of his jump on the block on LeBron. Although it's probably a stupid move, the push could have just as likely caused Hezonja to commit an offensive foul by running into James. But it worked out ok for the Knicks. Guess they had the luck of the Irish. Still think he may very well have blocked the shot without the push, he was towering over LeBron on that shot either way.

[/QUOTE]

[jayfan]

How many of those shots were with the score tied v. trailing?

Completely different situations. Should be two separate categories.



.

[Indian guy]

I thought it showed 1) inability to get a step up on his defender, signifying loss of quickness 2) inability to get adequate lift to get the shot off, signifying loss of elevation

[3ball]

[COLOR="darkRed"]Effective FG% on all jumpshots and midrange for Curry, MJ, Lebron[/COLOR]


[COLOR="White"].................[/COLOR]eFG% All Jumpshots[COLOR="White"]..................[/COLOR] Midrange

Lebron 2004: 35.6%, 324/998............ 33.2%, 183/551
Lebron 2005: 39.9%, 400/1136.......... 36.0%, 217/602
Lebron 2006: 41.7%, 423/1166.......... 38.4%, 242/630
Lebron 2007: 39.5%, 372/1066.......... 35.1%, 204/581
Lebron 2008: 39.4%, 338/1001.......... 36.4%, 185/508
Lebron 2009: 42.2%, 366/1024.......... 36.8%, 193/525
Lebron 2010: 43.4%, 356/970............ 38.8%, 188/444
Lebron 2011: 45.4%, 393/968............ 44.6%, 217/487
Lebron 2012: 43.7%, 290/726............ 42.3%, 188/444
Lebron 2013: 49.0%, 333/784............ 43.2%, 174/403
Lebron 2014: 47.0%, 288/736............ 38.5%, 126/327
Lebron 2015: 43.1%, 280/788............ 37.0%, 127/343
Lebron 2016: 39.0%, 181/543............ 37.1%, 96/259

Bryant 2000: 38.5%, 328/851........... 39.7%, 201/506
Bryant 2001: 43.0%, 460/1141........... 41.5%, 290/698
Bryant 2002: 41.8%, 478/1184........... 40.9%, 321/785
Bryant 2003: 44.1%, 597/1494........... 41.0%, 376/918
Bryant 2004: 40.3%, 282/787............ 38.3%, 151/394
Bryant 2005: 43.5%, 346/947............ 35.5%, 147/414
Bryant 2006: 46.5%, 709/1724............ 42.4%, 414/976
Bryant 2007: 46.7%, 556/1358............ 43.9%, 330/751
Bryant 2008: 44.6%, 468/1217............ 38.8%, 256/660
Bryant 2009: 45.0%, 519/1285........... 42.0%, 319/759


Jordan 1997: 51.2%, 727/1528........... 48.9%, 588/1202


Currry 2015: 56.0%, 424/1029........... 41.1%, 117/285
Currry 2016: 62.9%, 389/847............. 45.3%, 67/148

[3ball]

True. This is why I didn't think his game wouldn't age well. His incredible conditioning is what has allowed him to keep producing. With that gone. This is what you get.

When MJ was 34, he made [COLOR="DarkRed"]727[/COLOR] jumpshots at a 52% efg - that's twice the volume of lebron or curry's highest season, at better efficiency than lebron's best season (see stats in previous post above)

So goat jumpshooting - that's how MJ remained the best player at 35 (MVP/scoring champ/FMVP)

but Lebron doesn't have the jumper or pull-up ability as we saw last night - so he's toast, and he knows it... Not that it matters - lebron never had MJ's hangtime either, at any age.. MJ never would've been blocked like that.. too good of a shot-maker for that
.

[Phoenix]

Even at Lebron's athletic peak he was never elite at isodribbling his way into a great shot, nor does he have what I'd consider an all-time great first step. That's just become even more an issue with age. In that particular situation he probably would have been better off working his way into a long two, but the defender was on top of the play from the get-go, got his hand on the ball and Lebron's jump and fade was so weak( either by surprise or a sign of declining situational athleticism not getting the necessary lift) it's no surprise it got blocked.

[Indian guy]

How many of those shots were with the score tied v. trailing?

Completely different situations. Should be two separate categories.

Well, just off the top of my head, I believe LeBron's aforementioned GWs are:

1) Layup against Wizards while down 1 (Game 3 2006 1st round)
2) Layup against Pistons with score tied (Game 5 2007 ECF)
3) Buzzer beating 3 against Magic while down 2 (Game 2 2009 ECF)
4) Buzzer beating layup against Pacers while down 1 (Game 1 2013 ECF)
5) Buzzer beating jumper against Bulls with score tied (Game 4 2015 ECS)
6) Buzzer beating 3 against Pacers with score tied (Game 5 2018 1st round)
7) Buzzer beating jumper against Raptors with scored tied (Game 3 2018 ECS)

MJ's should be:

1) The Shot against Cavs while down 1 (Game 5 1989 1st round)
2) 2pt jumper against Pistons with score tied (Game 3 1989 ECF)
3) The Shot II against Cavs with score tied (Game 4 1993 ECS)
4) Buzzer beating jumper against Utah with score tied (Game 1 1997 Finals)
5) Jumper against Utah while down 1 (Game 6 1998 Finals)

So 3 while trailing for LeBron. 2 for MJ.

[Phoenix]

I agree with you in that Lebron has never had elite body control or ability to change shots mid air like the best mid-range scorers (not to say he's bad, just not elite). This comparative lack of elite body control, as much as his relatively mediocre ability at pulling up in the mid-range, makes it much harder for him to get off a mid-range game winner, if he's not allowed to bully ball, crab dribble, or stiff arm his way to the basket.

That said, I will note that part of LeBron's problem in that last drive was that Hezonja got his hand on the ball even before the shot attempt, which threw off LeBron's timing and balance and made his shot attempt even more awkward looking. This isn't really a defense for LeBron, as it shows his defender was in full command of the situation throughout the final drive. I'm just saying that if LeBron hadn't almost been stripped before the shot, he might have put up a less awkward shot, which might not even have been blocked, although it certainly would have been heavily contested.

He's done that shot a few times. But like you said the defender was on it from the get-go, and Lebron just followed through with the motion because it's not the kind of shot that can easily adapt to something else if the defense telegraphs it( which is what happened). Maybe if Mario didn't get his hands on the ball Lebron would have faded back further, but he had no wiggle room in that situation but put the shot up with hardly any lift or enough backwards momentum.

[Indian guy]

nor does he have what I'd consider an all-time great first step.

Or much of a first step at all. Easily the biggest weakness of his career once he developed a decent jumper. It completely shaped his dribble-heavy playing style.

[bullettooth]

I have to say it's kind of funny when I watch the replay. Hezonja got a "boost"/push in the back from Deandre Jordan.

Took a page out of Kuzma's book on defense:

[Manny98]

Took a page out of Kuzma's book on defense:

How many times are you going to keep on spamming that stupid ass gif no one cares about that shit no more.

[ImKobe]

Terrible play. Kobe would have pump-faked and swished the jumper as well.

[bullettooth]

How many times are you going to keep on spamming that stupid ass gif no one cares about that shit no more.

Remember when you got banned for spamming the forum with this image?

[FreezingTsmoove]

All this show is Lebron wasnt good enough to blow a team out like Mike. MJ didnt need it to come down to the wire, he already had a comfortable lead.....

[Phoenix]

Or much of a first step at all. Easily the biggest weakness of his career once he developed a decent jumper. It completely shaped his dribble-heavy playing style.

Yeah I wasn't going to go quite to that extent but this is probably more accurate. Lebron's speed has always been more momentum-based than simply exploding out of the triple threat or being able to change pace off the dribble like a prime Wade, Rose, Westbrook, guys like that. Not that I'd really expect that considering his build and size compared to theirs, but when he's out there dancing on the perimeter it is a fair point to make when he's in iso situations.