The LeBron James Thread

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

You would think that but yet he’ll have guys on his HBO Show talking about that same coverage.

Oh of course, I would be surprised if KI and KD didnt make an appearance before the end of the season airing their grievances like AB and OBJ etc.

I realize too that even though they arent drastically different in age's...its a bit of a different world for these mid 20's early 30's guys....but that's another subject altogether.

[3304Life]

The LeBron James Thread

LeBron isn’t a shoot first player, never has been. His usage maxed out at 33%, Jordan’s career average. His assist percentage is higher than his usage, he’s always been a facilitator and has averaged 9 assists for the last two years (granted, he’s become much more ball dominant but as a result of having no other playmakers around him).

Regardless, he’s fourth all time in points. On good pace to be top 5 in assists by the time he retires. I don’t see what there is to pick at there.

[AlexBrady]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

LeBron isn’t a shoot first player, never has been. His usage maxed out at 33%, Jordan’s career average. His assist percentage is higher than his usage, he’s always been a facilitator and has averaged 9 assists for the last two years (granted, he’s become much more ball dominant but as a result of having no other playmakers around him).

Regardless, he’s fourth all time in points. On good pace to be top 5 in assists by the time he retires. I don’t see what there is to pick at there.

You realize he executes most of his assists on the move when he is penetrating the lane and the defense is forced to respond to his attacks right?

Facilitating pass-first players must position the ball correctly so the play can be undertaken with the appropriate timing and spacing. LeBron really doesn't do that and never has. That is why he is a shoot first player.

Why estimate and multiply numbers when the game is there to watch? Usage? Come on now.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Honestly, I don't think he's care too much about stuff like that in awhile.

What's really unfortunate is all the injuries.

with LBJ, BI, Zo they were 15-8 - 65.2%
with just LBJ and Zo 20-14 - 58.8%

I've saw comments here acting like the injuries are some overblown "excuse" but it's a real difference in comparison to how the team looked before and after, how many games they were winning before and after. It's not an excuse, injuries are part of the game and it is what it is, but to act like they didn't have any sort of impact is silly.

If they were still winning at anywhere near that rate and healthy the fan reaction would be a bit different.. Besides the reaction LeBron gets from the celebrity type fans, vs the Kobe-Laker fans are different. LeBron has the support from likely the only group of fans he cares about having support from.

Y'all are going to cling to that injury thing forever huh? I don't think anybody except completely unreasonable haters are acting like injuries didn't have an impact on how this season is going to end for them, but it's not as big as some of you are trying to push it either. They were in 4th place when LeBron got hurt, that was freaking December in the western conference. To keep pretending like we don't routinely dismiss NBA standings prior to the All-Star break ESPECIALLY in the western conference where the Lakers were still like 3 games out of the 8th or 9th seed at that point is completely ridiculous. LeBron came back January 31st, there is no excuse for the Lakers to have not made the playoffs and there's no amount of tap dancing that LeBron fans can do to change that fact. We've literally heard for the last 9 years of LeBron making it to the NBA Finals every year that if you put him on ANY team in the league he'd take them to the playoffs and if we need to start digging up the posts in here to prove that those statements were being made then we can do that. I don't want to hear NOW when he's had the opportunity to prove just that statement is accurate that Lonzo Freaking Ball is the reason it didn't happen.

The handling of the AD trade pursuit was going to nerf that team's chemistry regardless of injuries or not. Nobody is saying they should have won in the playoffs because the team just wasn't good enough to do that (maybe a first round win depending on the matchup) but trying to pretend like the guys they have weren't good enough to get into the playoffs without Ball but plus the so called GOAT by quite a few people is flat out ridiculous. There is no reason this team shouldn't have still gotten into the playoffs as at least the 7th or 8th seed.

[3304Life]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

You realize he executes most of his assists on the move when he is penetrating the lane and the defense is forced to respond to his attacks right?



Facilitating pass-first players must position the ball correctly so the play can be undertaken with the appropriate timing and spacing. LeBron really doesn't do that and never has. That is why he is a shoot first player.



Why estimate and multiply numbers when the game is there to watch? Usage? Come on now.

Just because he’s a pass first player doesn’t mean defenses can just look at the 6’9 dude barrelling down the lane and think “yup we’ll leave him, he’s gonna pass”. He has always used the fact he’s a threat slashing to the rim to get assists and is one of better drive and dish guys ever to play in the NBA.

Let’s not act like he hasn’t got some of the better court vision, passing ability and touch to be an excellent passer in sets where the defense doesn’t bite on his drives. His entry passes into the post have always been good, he uses bounce passes well to find cutting team mates and he can laser skip passes across court with ease.

I think usage is a good enough metric to look at. If he was a shoot first player he’d be taking more than one shot per three possessions. He has never taken more than 36 shots in a single game and like I said before, regularly accounts for around a third of his team’s assists.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Y'all are going to cling to that injury thing forever huh? I don't think anybody except completely unreasonable haters are acting like injuries didn't have an impact on how this season is going to end for them, but it's not as big as some of you are trying to push it either. They were in 4th place when LeBron got hurt, that was freaking December in the western conference. To keep pretending like we don't routinely dismiss NBA standings prior to the All-Star break ESPECIALLY in the western conference where the Lakers were still like 3 games out of the 8th or 9th seed at that point is completely ridiculous. LeBron came back January 31st, there is no excuse for the Lakers to have not made the playoffs and there's no amount of tap dancing that LeBron fans can do to change that fact. We've literally heard for the last 9 years of LeBron making it to the NBA Finals every year that if you put him on ANY team in the league he'd take them to the playoffs and if we need to start digging up the posts in here to prove that those statements were being made then we can do that. I don't want to hear NOW when he's had the opportunity to prove just that statement is accurate that Lonzo Freaking Ball is the reason it didn't happen.

The handling of the AD trade pursuit was going to nerf that team's chemistry regardless of injuries or not. Nobody is saying they should have won in the playoffs because the team just wasn't good enough to do that (maybe a first round win depending on the matchup) but trying to pretend like the guys they have weren't good enough to get into the playoffs without Ball but plus the so called GOAT by quite a few people is flat out ridiculous. There is no reason this team shouldn't have still gotten into the playoffs as at least the 7th or 8th seed.

I'm not clinging to anything. LeBron even post injury doesn't look the same and since his return they've still had games without JaVale, Kuz, BI, Zo, Lance, they haven't been whole in months, they weren't whole for most of their early season losses either.

Nobody is saying if not for injuries they would be a sure thing top 3 seed, or even saying that the injuries are the only reason they are losing. just pointing out they do play a role and it is a fact how much their win percentage when whole vs win percentage since injuries have changed.. Whether you want to say that's 95% of the problem or 3% of the problem is all up to you and your opinion, but the numbers are facts that can't be disputed either way.

I don't know what your issue with the injuries seem to be, nobody is saying anything outlandish, all that I said was it sucks they had the injuries. I've never made any sort of out-there claim that they would be winning the championship had they been healthy all year.

Most of that said about LeBron has held true for the majority of his career. At 34 years old where he is the player who got injured, that changes that narrative a bit. Comparing something said about LeBron playing at that level and LeBron playing at this level is like comparing two separate players. I don't know why you're even bringing that into a discussion that has nothing to do with the Lakers quite frankly.

So what should my response even be here? You want me to say LeBron can't make the playoffs on year 10 after me saying for 9 years he could, especially when he misses 1/4th of their games and they have other injuries? Ok sure, I'll say that? What are you so angry about lol.

[AlexBrady]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Just because he’s a pass first player doesn’t mean defenses can just look at the 6’9 dude barrelling down the lane and think “yup we’ll leave him, he’s gonna pass”. He has always used the fact he’s a threat slashing to the rim to get assists and is one of better drive and dish guys ever to play in the NBA.

Let’s not act like he hasn’t got some of the better court vision, passing ability and touch to be an excellent passer in sets where the defense doesn’t bite on his drives. His entry passes into the post have always been good, he uses bounce passes well to find cutting team mates and he can laser skip passes across court with ease.

I think usage is a good enough metric to look at. If he was a shoot first player he’d be taking more than one shot per three possessions. He has never taken more than 36 shots in a single game and like I said before, regularly accounts for around a third of his team’s assists.

If the defense didn't cluster around LeBron's penetration he would take his dribble all the way to the rim. He passes as his second option.

Yes, he is a terrific drive and dish guy. He can create scoring chances on virtually all high screen/rolls.

Your scenario just detailed plays where an assist might be in the offing. LeBron doesn't position the ball, cut through, screen, and pop out.

The team is built to best suit LeBron. That means spreading the floor with shooters that can take advantage of LeBron's powerhouse solo adventures. Certainly he is gong to accumulate many assists.

[Themayorofawsometown]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

The Mario Chalmers slander in this thread hurts the soul

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[lilteapot]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

All I'm saying is, LeBron has a no trade clause in his contract, and not for no good reason. I wouldn't be surprised if he asks for a trade if they don't get a star this summer and/or trade for Anthony Davis.

Also I like how the media was propping up a poorly constructed Laker team to go to the conference finals and then is surprised when they suck. The season hasn't been ideal but honestly I think most people who know what they're talking about didn't expect them to be in a much better spot than they are now.

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[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Oh of course, I would be surprised if KI and KD didnt make an appearance before the end of the season airing their grievances like AB and OBJ etc.

I realize too that even though they arent drastically different in age's...its a bit of a different world for these mid 20's early 30's guys....but that's another subject altogether.

Shoot, KD does it enough already. It’s pretty much normal from him.

“WHY YALL KEEP TALKING ABOUT ME? I JUST WANNA PLAY BASKETBALL SLIM!!”

“Check out my show, The Boardroom on ESPN+ to here my thoughts on the media treatment of Black Athletes”


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[cima]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

All I'm saying is, LeBron has a no trade clause in his contract, and not for no good reason. I wouldn't be surprised if he asks for a trade if they don't get a star this summer and/or trade for Anthony Davis.

Also I like how the media was propping up a poorly constructed Laker team to go to the conference finals and then is surprised when they suck. The season hasn't been ideal but honestly I think most people who know what they're talking about didn't expect them to be in a much better spot than they are now.

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LeBron isn't gonna request a trade out of LA.

This season was supposed to be a development season and go for gold in the summer. The problem is AD suddenly became available and Magic tried to swing for the fences early. Whether it was Rich or NOLA who leaked all the names, who really knows. Either way it appeared to be one of the many negative factors making this the worst season possible for them.

Had AD not become available maybe things would've been different. But at the same time, you can't NOT go for a guy like AD because players like him rarely if ever hit the trade market.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Rondo

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[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Damn Rondo, they gonna come after you harder now(Not that he cares)lol

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Rondo achieved peak DGAF in 2008, he's good.

It's honestly kind of rare to see him really compliment someone though...

[ojandpizza]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Rondo achieved peak DGAF in 2008, he's good.

It's honestly kind of rare to see him really compliment someone though...

He seems tired of the “noise” as well.


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