The LeBron James Thread

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Like that article... Dirk was a great example. But I think it's saves LeBron for the longer season. But it's almost like when Jordan came back the second time. He used the triangle offense way more to his advantage.

[24ct]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

That's the exact thing I was thinking. Even some of the passes while he was in the league, its just a rarity to see other guys do that.

It was funny to me that two of the biggest negatives he's had over his career are that he isn't clutch and can't shoot 3's very well. It was crazy to see all of those big shots all in a row. Lots of buzzers beaters, 3 pointers, and game winners. Watching this you'd never imagine he could have that sort of negativity.

Why not? I can believe it...

Why? Most people are casual fans who only hear what the media says. The people you hear say Lebron isn't clutch are casual NBA fans. Not hardcore NBA watchers, lol... But anybody that's watched Lebron from CLE to MIA...and I mean really watch, can't say he isn't clutch.

Passing to an open teammate for a game winner doesn't make a player scared or not clutch. It makes him a good teammate and smart basketball player. CLE won the Wizards series on 3 Lebron game winners (one off a pass to a wide open Damon Jones) because Lebron made the right plays.


My arguement has ALWAYS been...if Lebron really did care about what the media thought of him not being 'clutch' he would change the way he plays and take those terrible shots at the end of games over multiple defenders like Kobe or Carmelo. That's their game, but make or miss, a bad shot is always a bad shot. Lebron RARELY takes bad shots. Especially in MIA. He did in CLE, all the time...especially those post up fades from the corner...But who else was going to shoot?

People hear ESPN and repeat whatever they say. I don't even talk sports with people like that, because they don't watch the games. They watch Sportscenter highlights and hear the discussions and take it as their own opinion. I watch the games and careers. Anybody who's really a Lebron fan or really watches NBA games can and should tell you, Lebron closes games as best as anyone. It's rarely on buzzer beaters, because his team is rarely losing in the late seconds. They're always ahead by at least 2 possesions and there's a reason behind that.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Totally agree... I never needed any stats to tell me what I've been watching for the last 10 years.

[wwharton]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Why not? I can believe it...

Why? Most people are casual fans who only hear what the media says. The people you hear say Lebron isn't clutch are casual NBA fans. Not hardcore NBA watchers, lol... But anybody that's watched Lebron from CLE to MIA...and I mean really watch, can't say he isn't clutch.

Passing to an open teammate for a game winner doesn't make a player scared or not clutch. It makes him a good teammate and smart basketball player. CLE won the Wizards series on 3 Lebron game winners (one off a pass to a wide open Damon Jones) because Lebron made the right plays.


My arguement has ALWAYS been...if Lebron really did care about what the media thought of him not being 'clutch' he would change the way he plays and take those terrible shots at the end of games over multiple defenders like Kobe or Carmelo. That's their game, but make or miss, a bad shot is always a bad shot. Lebron RARELY takes bad shots. Especially in MIA. He did in CLE, all the time...especially those post up fades from the corner...But who else was going to shoot?

People hear ESPN and repeat whatever they say. I don't even talk sports with people like that, because they don't watch the games. They watch Sportscenter highlights and hear the discussions and take it as their own opinion. I watch the games and careers. Anybody who's really a Lebron fan or really watches NBA games can and should tell you, Lebron closes games as best as anyone. It's rarely on buzzer beaters, because his team is rarely losing in the late seconds. They're always ahead by at least 2 possesions and there's a reason behind that.

It was deeper than that. But it's been discussed to death and he has changed his game to be a dominant/aggressive scorer AND a teammate that passes to the right guy, so no reason to rehash. But people weren't on him just bc he didn't force the ball up over double and triple teams.

[bghost]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

It was deeper than that. But it's been discussed to death and he has changed his game to be a dominant/aggressive scorer AND a teammate that passes to the right guy, so no reason to rehash. But people weren't on him just bc he didn't force the ball up over double and triple teams.

are you sure?
I seem to recall there were some people asking for this... most rational basketball minds were not, but there were some people (who probably know as much about basketball as I know about underwater basket weaving) who were saying this.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Regardless of the reasons he was still more "clutch" than probably 90% of the league and had shown up in plenty of big time moments on basketballs biggest stage. Nearly any other player in the league wouldn't have had that kind of bad rap floating over them at all times.

It's just funny to see this video which exclusively showed all those plays back to back just to give a visual of how many times he did step in comparison to the few times he didn't. All while remembering how he was labeled a choke artist.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know how many of you watched the 2nd video but Charles Barkley says something like "he will never reach Jordan's level" something along those lines, this was after LeBron had that disappointing finals against Dallas.

Then Oscar Robertson says that LeBron is already "in a class by himself" which was interesting to hear. This was also after the loss to Dallas, before he even won a ring... Oscar was the same dude who said that you take the NBAs 50 greatest players and after the top 10 or so guys the rest of the players are only there because they benefitted from where they played, and with who the played.. Basically saying they were just good players in good situations..

Oscar seems to think a little differently than a lot of these other old school guys. I'd be really interested in hearing his take on the NBA and hearing his opinions on the greatest players of all time.. Wish I could personally talk with the guy, that would be bad***.

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Both are partly true

Galaxy Note 2

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't put much stock in what a lot of the "NBA legends" say anyway ...they are by far the most bitter out of the 4 major sports

[DukeC]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Eh. Baseball is a very close second. It'd be far and away the number 1 in terms of bitterness if we add in journalists/sportswriters.

Most of the NFL legends are just happy to still be able to walk without having to take 5 different medications, but I digress.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't put much stock in what a lot of the "NBA legends" say anyway ...they are by far the most bitter out of the 4 major sports

That's why it surprised me to hear Oscar say something like that. Especially considering some of the guys he played with and against, you don't usually hear that.

Take Walt Frazier for example, he's one of those "guys from my era" type. Always talking up how good the players from his generation were. Saying Wilt could average 70ppg, just things like that.

[24ct]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

It was deeper than that. But it's been discussed to death and he has changed his game to be a dominant/aggressive scorer AND a teammate that passes to the right guy, so no reason to rehash. But people weren't on him just bc he didn't force the ball up over double and triple teams.

He really didn't change his game though. He actually dialed it back, to compliment Wade's obvious ego.

I'm still waiting for a "Cleveland Lebron" SERIES from him in a Heat uniform. And by that I mean 38, 8, 8 type numbers.

Bos Game 6 & SAS Game 7 were "Cleveland Lebron" games...But he's yet to need those numbers for a whole series.

That's just something I'd like to personally see. I'd like to see how they fair with him taking it to the opposing team every game like that.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

He really didn't change his game though. He actually dialed it back, to compliment Wade's obvious ego.

I'm still waiting for a "Cleveland Lebron" SERIES from him in a Heat uniform. And by that I mean 38, 8, 8 type numbers.

Bos Game 6 & SAS Game 7 were "Cleveland Lebron" games...But he's yet to need those numbers for a whole series.

That's just something I'd like to personally see. I'd like to see how they fair with him taking it to the opposing team every game like that.

I don't think he has to and ever will again. His teammates are much better. Using them makes his life way easier.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

38-8-8 or not, the 2011/12 playoffs was close to the best individual playoff run I've ever watched.

And this past season wasn't all that far behind. He was huge in every game he needed to be.

[Sam Marlowe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

He really didn't change his game though. He actually dialed it back, to compliment Wade's obvious ego.

I'm still waiting for a "Cleveland Lebron" SERIES from him in a Heat uniform. And by that I mean 38, 8, 8 type numbers.

Bos Game 6 & SAS Game 7 were "Cleveland Lebron" games...But he's yet to need those numbers for a whole series.

That's just something I'd like to personally see. I'd like to see how they fair with him taking it to the opposing team every game like that.

If he ever "has" to do that again you can mark it down as series loss. It would be a bad omen for Miami. Teams don't generally win they need that much from 1 player. See Cle...