Thoughts on Lebron

[WTF]

Okay, while I have ranted and raved over this in each and every game thread, I believe this deserves a thread of it's own.

Yesterday's Bronze metal game. Lebron comes in the game to start the second quarter. Play's 7 minutes. Stats?

6 points, 2 assists, 2 blown assists, 2 steals, 2 rebounds on 3/5 shooting. He also got a BS call on a charge, so he would have had 8 points. Doug Collins says, "Team USA is a 100% better team when Lebron James is out on the floor".

Looks like a great 7 minutes right? Apparently, Larry Brown doesn't think so. Lebron is sat at the end of the bench, only to never return again. Lebron had the best Per Minute stats in the Olympics (USA Basketball.com), yet he gets nothing from Brown. What gives?

[bball_1523]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

at first I did not agree at all since rookies should not be in the USA, but after hearing about this stats and the way he's hustled, he should've played more. I think Brown doesn't enjoy rookies much. Either way I don't think any rookie or 2nd year players should have been there period.

[bball_1523]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

at first I did not agree at all since rookies should not be in the USA, but after hearing about this stats and the way he's hustled, he should've played more. I think Brown doesn't enjoy rookies much. Either way I don't think any rookie or 2nd year players should have been there period.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

[Dynasty4Kobe]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

He's good. What else is there to say?

[Dynasty4Kobe]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

He's good. What else is there to say?

[Admiral50]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

I agree with some of that. Stats don't always tell the whole story. Clanked jumpers and airballs too. He did hustle on defense much more than the other guards. His D created pressure on the ballhandlers in the halfcourt and led to steals and fastbreaks. I would have played Lebronze (sorry )more minutes than Jefferson though, regardless of finally connecting on some three's, he was still hit or miss at his best and James brought a lot more than that.

[Admiral50]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

I agree with some of that. Stats don't always tell the whole story. Clanked jumpers and airballs too. He did hustle on defense much more than the other guards. His D created pressure on the ballhandlers in the halfcourt and led to steals and fastbreaks. I would have played Lebronze (sorry )more minutes than Jefferson though, regardless of finally connecting on some three's, he was still hit or miss at his best and James brought a lot more than that.

[WTF]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

Bigeast, did you watch the games? Or just catch a minute here and there. While it is true, Lebron did miss a few jumpers, he shot 19/32, which is right at 60% from the field. Some guys are going to come in here and say, well the reason he shot so high is because of his dunks.... Okay, point being? Would you rather have a guy in there who is getting steals and fast break dunks, ally-ooped dunks, or would you rather have other guys bricking shots. His 3 pt % was 30%. While that is not great, he hit 3/10. 3 of those that he missed were with 4 or fewer seconds left on the shot clock, and desperation heaves.

In the half court set, LeBron was far from the ordinary. Coach Doug Collins, did an excellent job pointing this out. Every time Lebron was in the game, with a half court offense. He initiated the offense. He was the one who set up the guys. Even if he didn't get the assist, the person he sat up did.

Team USA was at a +6 in performance with Lebron on the floor. So, why did Larry Brown not recognize this? Stoudemire was another big guy who could have came in and made a huge impact. Why didn't he utilize the talent that he had, instead of sticking with Wade and RJ? Wade, averaged 17.5 minutes in the tournament, in which his assist:turnover ratio was 1:1.2? You turn the ball over more than you get assists? Only shooting 37%?

I just want to hear what your opinions are on the situation. You have a few guys, who bring the intensity, defense, and offense when they come in, yet you don't utilize them. My question is, why?

[WTF]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

Did you forget the constant quick shots and clanked jumpers that LeBron had through these Olympics along with the rest of his teammates?

On offense, in a half court set, LeBron looked very ordinary. He did play great defense IMHO though.

Bigeast, did you watch the games? Or just catch a minute here and there. While it is true, Lebron did miss a few jumpers, he shot 19/32, which is right at 60% from the field. Some guys are going to come in here and say, well the reason he shot so high is because of his dunks.... Okay, point being? Would you rather have a guy in there who is getting steals and fast break dunks, ally-ooped dunks, or would you rather have other guys bricking shots. His 3 pt % was 30%. While that is not great, he hit 3/10. 3 of those that he missed were with 4 or fewer seconds left on the shot clock, and desperation heaves.

In the half court set, LeBron was far from the ordinary. Coach Doug Collins, did an excellent job pointing this out. Every time Lebron was in the game, with a half court offense. He initiated the offense. He was the one who set up the guys. Even if he didn't get the assist, the person he sat up did.

Team USA was at a +6 in performance with Lebron on the floor. So, why did Larry Brown not recognize this? Stoudemire was another big guy who could have came in and made a huge impact. Why didn't he utilize the talent that he had, instead of sticking with Wade and RJ? Wade, averaged 17.5 minutes in the tournament, in which his assist:turnover ratio was 1:1.2? You turn the ball over more than you get assists? Only shooting 37%?

I just want to hear what your opinions are on the situation. You have a few guys, who bring the intensity, defense, and offense when they come in, yet you don't utilize them. My question is, why?

[bkrich83]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

I thought LeBron gave the team a spark at times. I don't think he deserved extensive minutes, but I thought he should have gotten more opportunities to come off the bench and try to spark the team.

[bkrich83]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

I thought LeBron gave the team a spark at times. I don't think he deserved extensive minutes, but I thought he should have gotten more opportunities to come off the bench and try to spark the team.

[WTF]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

BK, do you agree he should have gotten the same (at the minimum) as Dwyane Wade and Richard Jefferson? Neither of which shot better than 38%? Other than the Angola game, which Larry Brown didn't want to hurt "his team", he left the younger guys in there for a longer period of time, Lebron only averaged close to 9 minutes a game. Compare his stats of 9 minutes to the 18+ minutes of Wade, RJ, Marbury.

[WTF]

Re: Thoughts on Lebron

BK, do you agree he should have gotten the same (at the minimum) as Dwyane Wade and Richard Jefferson? Neither of which shot better than 38%? Other than the Angola game, which Larry Brown didn't want to hurt "his team", he left the younger guys in there for a longer period of time, Lebron only averaged close to 9 minutes a game. Compare his stats of 9 minutes to the 18+ minutes of Wade, RJ, Marbury.