This GIF shows why Lebron lacks the best skillset

[Phenith]

what does this image show us OP?

This shows us LBJ doesn't like taking the last shot... he has played like twice as much NBA basketball as MJ, yet he's taken less of these shots?

[ILLsmak]

He didn't have to chunk the ball out of bounds but the only option he had was a no dribble pull up with someone on him

-Smak

[3ball]

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[COLOR="Navy"]Playoff shots in [COLOR="DarkGreen"]last 5 minutes[/COLOR], within 5 points, since 2001[/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkRed"]134-323 for Lebron.. 41.4%[/COLOR]
108 games.. 3.0 attempts per game

https://www.basketball-reference.com...r_by=date_game



Jordan 1997 Playoffs:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 20-39.. 51.3% (11 games)
Jordan 1998 Playoffs:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 22-50.. 44.0% (14 games)

[COLOR="darkgreen"]42-89 for MJ.. 47.2%[/COLOR]
25 games.. 3.6 attempts per game

This shows us LBJ doesn't like taking the last shot... he has played like twice as much NBA basketball as MJ, yet he's taken less of these shots?

NBA.com and basketball-reference defines "clutch time" as being within 5 points in the last 5 minutes - these stats are shown above for Lebron and MJ

In Lebron's entire playoff career (239 games), he had 108 games where he took a clutch shot attempt (45% of games), while MJ had 25 such games in just 2 playoff runs (63% of games).. MJ had a higher frequency of games where he took clutch shots because he was the Bulls' only closer, while Wade and Kyrie often closed for Lebron.

Furthermore, in those games where Lebron attempted a clutch shot, he attempted 3.0 per game at 41.7%, compared to 3.6 at 47.2% for old MJ - so old MJ had a FAR greater clutch burden than Lebron (higher frequency of games where he took clutch shots, and 20% more attempts on better efficiency in those games)
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[TheMan]

Also, look at the spacing between LeBron's gif and MJ's gif. In LeBron's, there is a ton of space, even with KD shading towards him, if LeBron was aggressive in that sequence, he could've gotten a clean look a little above the free throw line (Curry isn't doing anything vs a much bigger and stronger LeBron) or he could've set up KD's man for a clean look at a three. Instead he tries to pass to a cutter, an easily defended play because he telegraphed his intentions.

In MJ's gifs, defenders are close to the lane, yet MJ finds a way to get a shot off, in heavy traffic too...

GOAT

[TheMan]

He didn't have to chunk the ball out of bounds but the only option he had was a no dribble pull up with someone on him

-Smak

A midget in Curry on him, it would be like an uncontested jumper around the free throw line on one dribble. Curry isn't doing anything to stop that, not like it's Kawhi on him.

[3ball]

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


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

Lebron 2004: 35.6%, 324/998
Lebron 2005: 39.9%, 400/1136
Lebron 2006: 41.7%, 423/1166
Lebron 2007: 39.5%, 372/1066
Lebron 2008: 39.4%, 338/1001
Lebron 2009: 42.2%, 366/1024
Lebron 2010: 43.4%, 356/970
Lebron 2011: 45.4%, 393/968
Lebron 2012: 43.7%, 290/726
Lebron 2013: 49.0%, 333/784
Lebron 2014: 47.0%, 288/736
Lebron 2015: 43.1%, 280/788
Lebron 2016: 39.0%, 181/543

Bryant 2000: 38.5%, 328/851
Bryant 2001: 43.0%, 460/1141
Bryant 2002: 41.8%, 478/1184
Bryant 2003: 44.1%, 597/1494
Bryant 2004: 40.3%, 282/787
Bryant 2005: 43.5%, 346/947
Bryant 2006: 46.5%, 709/1724
Bryant 2007: 46.7%, 556/1358
Bryant 2008: 44.6%, 468/1217
Bryant 2009: 45.0%, 519/1285


Jordan 1997: 51.2%, 727/1528


Currry 2015: 56.0%, 424/1029
Currry 2016: 62.9%, 389/847

^^^ Lebron shoots worse at higher volume, while Kobe/MJ maintain their efficiency because they're simply much better jumpshooters (greater jumpshooting repertoire - they can get jumpers off in many more ways with greater accuracy)

Infact, their volume and greater contested shooting ability makes them better jumpshooters than Curry

[Ainosterhaspie]

First of all, the idea that LeBron can't attack out of the triple threat is absurd. Hell, OPs GIF shows the Warriors are worried about and defending the pass, shot and drive.

Green and Durant are covering driving lanes to the left and right of Curry. So much so that they aren't covering their man. That's why Hill is able to cut to the rim unguarded. Green is too worried about James driving and loses track of Hill.

Meanwhile Thompson is worried about getting too far from Korver in the corner because he knows James will rifle it to Korver if he gets too far away. Because of this he isn't in position to contest Hill when Hill cuts and is forced to foul him instead.

Curry is defending James tightly. Why do that if you're not worried about the shot? James shot 42% from three that game and Curry is trying to challenge any potential shot.

Everything about OP's claim here is ignorant and contradicted by OPs own GIF.

On top of that, you cannot draw conclusions about a player's lack of skillet from a single GIF since its not possible to showcase an entire skillet with one GIF. You could make a GIF of any bad play in any player's career (this isn't even a bad play) and claim he should have done something different and is missing the skills he didn't use in that particular play. It's utterly meaningless.

[RRR3]

TheMan reduced to agreeing with 3braincells

[3ball]

A midget in Curry on him, it would be like an uncontested jumper around the free throw line on one dribble. Curry isn't doing anything to stop that, not like it's Kawhi on him.

The instinct to shoot the jumper over Curry didn't occur to Lebron because he isn't good at:

1) turnaround jumper
2) 1-dribble pull-up
3) pull-up off hard dribble (several dribbles with direction)


Lebron lacks repertoire and the many ways to get a jumper off, so his jumpshooting attempts/volume is literally half of MJ and Kobe's, at lower eFG (stats in previous post above)

[TheMan]

TheMan reduced to agreeing with 3braincells

Dummy, all I'm saying is that LeBron could've one dribbled his way to an uncontested shot once boney midget Curry switched on him. Not a damn thing Curry could've done if LeBron was decisive on that play...hell, if KD goes hard at him, his man is wide open behind the three point line. If he misses, you still have time to grab the offensive rebound...instead LeBron waits for time to run down and forces an easily defended telegraphed pass

[3ball]

First of all, the idea that LeBron can't attack out of the triple threat is absurd. Hell, OPs GIF shows the Warriors are worried about and defending the pass, shot and drive.

Green and Durant are covering driving lanes to the left and right of Curry. So much so that they aren't covering their man. That's why Hill is able to cut to the rim unguarded. Green is too worried about James driving and loses track of Hill.

Meanwhile Thompson is worried about getting too far from Korver in the corner because he knows James will rifle it to Korver if he gets too far away. Because of this he isn't in position to contest Hill when Hill cuts and is forced to foul him instead.

Curry is defending James tightly. Why do that if you're not worried about the shot? James shot 42% from three that game and Curry is trying to challenge any potential shot.

Everything about OP's claim here is ignorant and contradicted by OPs own GIF.

On top of that, you cannot draw conclusions about a player's lack of skillet from a single GIF since its not possible to showcase an entire skillet with one GIF. You could make a GIF of any bad play in any player's career (this isn't even a bad play) and claim he should have done something different and is missing the skills he didn't use in that particular play. It's utterly meaningless.

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 he doesn't know what to do from a pre-dribble, stationary position (triple-threat position), so he freezes here and chokes.. otoh, the mj gifs show proper triple-threat play . Or that post-up over hornacek was viable for lebron in that spot too
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[RRR3]

Dummy, all I'm saying is that LeBron could've one dribbled his way to an uncontested shot once boney midget Curry switched on him. Not a damn thing Curry could've done if LeBron was decisive on that play...hell, if KD goes hard at him, his man is wide open behind the three point line. If he misses, you still have time to grab the offensive rebound...instead LeBron waits for time to run down and forces an easily defended telegraphed pass

LeBron got a good FT shooter two FTs. Not his fault the refs literally stole that game from him (not really sure how anyone could argue this if they watched it either but I’m sure you’ll try)

[TheMan]

The instinct to shoot the jumper over Curry didn't occur to Lebron because he isn't good at:

1) turnaround jumper
2) 1-dribble pull-up
3) pull-up off hard dribble (several dribbles with direction)


Lebron lacks repertoire and the many ways to get a jumper off, so his jumpshooting attempts/volume is literally half of MJ and Kobe's, at lower eFG (stats in previous post above)

Well yeah, no excuse to not go hard at Curry, that's a mismatch. He had a couple of good options but settled for the worst one, forcing a pass where there wasn't one.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Dummy, all I'm saying is that LeBron could've one dribbled his way to an uncontested shot once boney midget Curry switched on him. Not a damn thing Curry could've done if LeBron was decisive on that play...hell, if KD goes hard at him, his man is wide open behind the three point line. If he misses, you still have time to grab the offensive rebound...instead LeBron waits for time to run down and forces an easily defended telegraphed pass

It's not easily defended if the defender isbl forced into a desperation foul to stop a layup. That was the highest percentage play available. LeBron executed perfectly.

[ILLsmak]

A midget in Curry on him, it would be like an uncontested jumper around the free throw line on one dribble. Curry isn't doing anything to stop that, not like it's Kawhi on him.

Imo he could have shot over curry from 22 or put it on the floor and shot over kd/dray and curry.. They had him pretty boxed in. It was a good look to throw and he was on an island.

If he caught it and immediately made a move maybe he could have done more but he also could have barreled into dudes and lost the ball as Bron does sometimes. Once hs surveyed for a sec his chance of getting a good pull up dribble j was gone imo.

-Smak