Links To The Present: February 22nd, 2010
2010-02-22
Good news: According to the Washington Post’s Michael Lee, the league would not block a potential Z return to the Cavs.
Kelly Dwyer thinks LeBron James takes too many long jumpers.
Sebastian Pruiti takes a look at some of the things LeBron did in the fourth last night.
Congratulations to Brian Windhorst for receiving an award for the Best Game Story of 2009.
I mean, he’s certainly no Ray Allen, but amongst the elite scorers, he’s very efficient. Another issue that bothers me is that for years I’ve heard people criticize him for relying on driving to the basket, which uses athleticism, and saying that he needs to develop a jumper. Now that he’s finally got one, they say that he needs to drive to the hole. I know its more effective, but 4-5 years for now, we’ll be happy that he took jumpers when he could and avoided taking too much of a beating. His number’s will all go up in the… Read more »
Totally love the stats Bob. I’ve never been one to over cirticize LeBron’s jump shooting, especially when it has gotten better. To many people still think this is LeBron from ’06 and it isn’t. This guy can shoot. I thought he had been doing a very good job of mixing it up for most of the season and shooting the correct amount of jumpers (both mid and long range). Like you said though, these last few games he has become way to jumper happy. Two games in the last 4 (or is it 3?) in which he has shot 9… Read more »
This is from 82games.com, Jumpers make up 65% of Lebron’s shots and he shoots them at an eFG of 45%. Wade’s jumpers make up 66% of his shots with a 40% eFG and Bryant’s jumpers make up 77% with a 47% eFG. Carmelo shoots them 63% of the time with a 41% eFG. Lebron’s shooting is inline with the other top scorers, and amongst the top 4, has the 2nd best 3 point % (It was first before this slump), and the 2nd best mid range %. He has been really jumper happy the past three games, but otherwise, he… Read more »
Kelly Dwyer is right. He should be going to the post and either scoring from there or kicking out when they double. Instead he pulls up for long, contested jumpers that aren’t high percentage shots. And everyone in the organization is too scared to tell him he’s doing something wrong. He’s had a few bad 4th quarters because he’s just launching jumpshots, and I think it’s time for Mike Brown to grow a pair and tell him he’s making bad decisions.
Using NBA.com’s hotspots, http://www.nba.com/hotspots/, I found that in the playoffs last year, Lebron shot 36-74 from the 16-23 feet range. That’s 5.3 attempts a game, in line with his season average, but 2.6 makes per game, well above the norm. Considering the huge jump in his play last year from the regular season to the postseason, I would not worry too much about his excessive jumpers, he tones down the three’s and creates higher percentage shots in the playoffs because he probably knows its more effective to do so.
Mo’s performance on Sunday and Mo’s performance in the ECF last year were visually two different play styles. On Sunday, Mo was getting OK looks, seemed a bit slow to get to his normal spots, and wasn’t knocking down the shots he decided to take. In the ECF last year, he looked like everything was in hyper speed. His game didn’t make sense to the eye after we had seen the cool, calm Mo all season long. So I would say yesterday can’t be used as a measuring stick because he just didn’t seem up to game speed (most likely… Read more »
Geez, Mo hasn’t played in a month … let’s cut him some slack.
I think he’s fine tinkering around with long ridiculous shots right now. Maybe tone it down at the end of March/early April? Also he can do whatever he wants. I have a question John: Is there any evidence, perhaps historically, that should give any of us hope for Mo’s presence in these next playoffs? Maybe there isn’t a stat that exists, but maybe what’s the average difference in a player’s performance from their first “real” playoff experience to their second? I guess all I’m asking for is for someone to ease that “where the hell did Mo go?” fear I… Read more »
I agree with Rich. He does need to shoot jumpers. Eventually he’s going to have to rely more on those shots and its good that he’s working on it now. And yes… a few less threes. Once the Cavs work out some of their kinks he won’t need to take as many shots
I’ve been on the LeBron needs to shoot jumpers bandwagon for a while..however even I think this recent rise in 3 point shots is over the top. I think he absolutely should take 3-4 a game and even more if it’s off a catch and shoot situation and he’s open. However, 8 and 9 a game when 5 of them are from a standstill situation off of a failed pick and roll is to much.
I agree with KD. I hope Lebron doesn’t take as many 3’s and especially long 2’s in the post-season. I get antsy when he just jacks up shots, and him missing it or making doesn’t seem to make me feel any different. When he misses it makes me uncomfortable because I know he’s going to come back and try again until he makes it. When he makes it I feel uncomfortable because I know he thinks he’s “on” and he’s just going to jack up more (even though every now and then he really IS on). I’m happy he isn’t… Read more »
What? The L.A. Times was actually just making a story up? Not like them……
Seriously, the L.A. Times is like a slight grade above a tabloid.