2013 NBA playoff thread

[Noryb]

Height is one thing, but Leonard has a 7'4 wing span. A little different to play against that, than someone 6'6.

I agree that Kiwi does have a freakish wingspan. I show him with a 7'3 wingspan and Lebron with a 7'0 wingspan. Lebron vert is 44 and Kiwi's is 32. If it's simply about wingspan then why is Danny Green's 6'6 wingspan giving Lebron fits too???

 

[Noryb]

Uh, his skill is inferior to Kobe's which makes it implicitly way less than Jordan's. There is no comparison... That is why he's having difficulty maneuring around Leonard's arm length.

I'll agree to disagree because when it comes to dribbling, shooting, passing and finishing at the rim, Lebron can hang with those two in my opinion. Lebron is a freakish athlete, a very skilled player and has a high basketball IQ. IMO, what separates him from those two greats is heart and desire.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

He is two inches taller than both Leonard and Green, while being bigger and stronger. I'm sure he has a better vert than both of them too. Shawn Marion matched him physically but not these two guys. He's just settling and is perfectly fine with it.

His skill set is not inferior to Kobe's or Jordan's, but his mindset is.

Kobe and Jordan both had jump shots.

 

[Noryb]

Kobe and Jordan both had jump shots.

Jordan developed a jump shot towards the middle of his career, it was one of the few weaknesses he had coming into the NBA. Jordan shot under 20% from 3pt range his first 4 years in the NBA.

career 3pt FG % for Lebron 33.7, Jordan 32.7, Kobe 33.6
career FG % Lebron 49.0, Jordan 49.7, Kobe 45.4

Lebron averages more rebounds and assists than both players while averaging more pts per game than Kobe.

Lebron has skills, he just doesn't have the desire to be the best.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Jordan developed a jump shot towards the middle of his career, it was one of the few weaknesses he had coming into the NBA. Jordan shot under 20% from 3pt range his first 4 years in the NBA.

career 3pt FG % for Lebron 33.7, Jordan 32.7, Kobe 33.6
career FG % Lebron 49.0, Jordan 49.7, Kobe 45.4

Lebron averages more rebounds and assists than both players while averaging more pts per game than Kobe.

Lebron has skills, he just doesn't have the desire to be the best.

Those stats really aren't a good measurement of who had/has the better jump shots, but i think its safe to say if there was a shot to win the game from 20 feet.. LeBron would be the last one of the three that everyone would pick to take it.

 

[Noryb]

Those stats really aren't a good measurement of who had/has the better jump shots, but i think its safe to say if there was a shot to win the game from 20 feet.. LeBron would be the last one of the three that everyone would pick to take it.

If there was a layup to make to win a game.... LeBron would be everyone's last choice. That's a reflection of his heart.

I agree though, in their prime, his jumper is probably the least consistent of the three but his skills are very much on par with theirs.

 

[DFWJC]

Jordan developed a jump shot towards the middle of his career, it was one of the few weaknesses he had coming into the NBA. Jordan shot under 20% from 3pt range his first 4 years in the NBA.

career 3pt FG % for Lebron 33.7, Jordan 32.7, Kobe 33.6
career FG % Lebron 49.0, Jordan 49.7, Kobe 45.4

Lebron averages more rebounds and assists than both players while averaging more pts per game than Kobe.

Lebron has skills, he just doesn't have the desire to be the best.

Michael Jordan had a beautiful jump shot even in college. Gorgeous. His NBA 3pt range was not in synch early on, but he had a very nice stroke. Part of it was he only shot jump shots, while many 3s taken are not always pure jumpers...often some of the best 3pt shooters (not all) use more of a semi set shot from that range.

He just chose to take it to the rim in his early years because he had one of the best first steps ever. It didn't hurt that he also had level 100 body control and supreme hang time too

 

[Gemini Dolly]

PREDICTION TIME:
I expect Lebron to be on attack mode from the beginning. He will have a monster game.

Each had their blowout games. This one will be tight.

The Heat win 94-90 and even series for an all crucial Game 5.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

And Lebron is 290 of pure muscle, whether PEDs or not that gives him a clear advantage physically to others. Larry Sanders has an incredible wing-span as well. Leonard is just doing his thing.

I seriously doubt James is 290 lbs.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Michael Jordan had a beautiful jump shot even in college. Gorgeous. His NBA 3pt range was not in synch early on, but he had a very nice stroke. Part of it was he only shot jump shots, while many 3s taken are not always pure jumpers...often some of the best 3pt shooters (not all) use more of a semi set shot from that range.

He just chose to take it to the rim in his early years because he had one of the best first steps ever. It didn't hurt that he also had level 100 body control and supreme hang time too

Jordon had a decent 18 ft. jumper when he was at UNC but he did not have 3 pt. range and he rarely used the outside jumper early in his career. Once he really learned to shoot the jumper from distance is when he became the best player in the world IMO. Before then, it was still Magic and Bird.

 

[Noryb]

Jordon had a decent 18 ft. jumper when he was at UNC but he did not have 3 pt. range and he rarely used the outside jumper early in his career. Once he really learned to shoot the jumper from distance is when he became the best player in the world IMO. Before then, it was still Magic and Bird.

This is what I remember. He also took his game to another level when he developed a low post game, mainly a fade-away jump shot over either shoulder, something Lebron still has yet to do for some odd reason.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

This is what I remember. He also took his game to another level when he developed a low post game, mainly a fade-away jump shot over either shoulder, something Lebron still has yet to do for some odd reason.

Because he can't make a jumper when he's completely squared up, let alone trying to fade away with a hand in his face.

 

[Noryb]

Because he can't make a jumper when he's completely squared up, let alone trying to fade away with a hand in his face.

He's not a great jump shooter but he's not horrible one either. He shot 40% from 3pt range this year and 36% last year. He could develop any shot if he put some freaking work into it and he's been in the NBA long enough to have done so.

Magic lacked the athletic ability to have a fade-away (or even a jump shot, he had a set shot), so he developed a hook shot that he referred to as his junior sky hook. He shot a game winning hook shot over Mchale in the 87 finals. yeah I know, if only the Celtics had a long armed defender on him. Tell me why Lebron can't do the same, because he doesn't care to.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Magic lacked the athletic ability to have a fade-away (or even a jump shot, he had a set shot), so he developed a hook shot that he referred to as his junior sky hook. He shot a game winning hook shot over Mchale in the 87 finals. yeah I know, if only the Celtics had a long armed defender on him. Tell me why Lebron can't do the same, because he doesn't care to.

You are right, Magic had a Baby Hook and a running hook and he absolutely taught himself how to shoot the set shot. What's funny about that, and a lot of people don't really know this about Magic, is that he learned that from practicing during the summers with Larry Bird. I heard that in an interview once from Magic.

 

[Noryb]

You are right, Magic had a Baby Hook and a running hook and he absolutely taught himself how to shoot the set shot. What's funny about that, and a lot of people don't really know this about Magic, is that he learned that from practicing during the summers with Larry Bird. I heard that in an interview once from Magic.

He also said he got a few pointers from Kareem. I've never understood why big men don't utilize the sky hook anymore. I read an article once that said only two men were ever credited with actually blocking a Jabar sky hook. The shot is extremely hard to block and can be executed easily. But big men (talking to you Bosh) would rather shoot jumpers now a days for some stupid reason.

As a Lebron fan (yeah I know) it's just frustrating not seeing him take his game to another level like the people we've mentioned above. His jump shot is slightly better but there isn't a lot of improvement to his game since year two of his career, especially in the playoffs. Players around him have gotten better but his game and mentality is pretty much the same. If he developed a go to move in the post and counter move to go with it, he'd be too much to handle if you ask me. I thought Dirks development of the one legged fade-away in the post was instrumental in the Mavs finally getting over the hump.

 

[juck]

Lebrons strength is just that is mostly his Drive to the cup. He has wonderful PG skills for a big man. I figure to see him drive to the cup relentlessly this game and live at line. The guy that needs shots more is Ray Allen.

 

[jterrell]

various:

Spurs are looking strong and well-rested. They took advantage of the West losing OKC when Westbrook went down.

The Heat have such poor depth they struggled to get to this point and it shows.

Stop with the LeBron hate. The guy is the best player in the game. He is simply phenomenal but basketball isn't a 1 man game. Wade has nothing left to his game, Bosh has always been soft and Miami just doesn't have quality depth. They really are not much better than the Cavs team LeBron took to the Finals previously. And the coaching is really poor.

LeBron's shooting percentage is great. His ability to get to the rim is beyond great. His ability to defend the quickest player on the floor or the biggest? Off the charts great.

No he isn't as good as Jordan in his prime but NO ONE was.

Kobe isn't really in that conversation. He is a great shooter and determined scorer but he always played with real teams around him. He wasn't carrying spares to titles. He was never the defender Jordan was not to mention how terrible Kobe is as a passer. Jordan had more assists as a clueless rookie than Kobe ever has.

LeBron has a slightly higher career 3PT% than Kobe. His percent this year was higher than any year of Kobe's career. So please stop saying goofy things like he can't shoot outside or doesn't work at it. That's patently false.

Pop is using a pack line defense like the Mavs did at times forcing outside shots because that is most effective when their isn't much help. On offense like the Mavs did they are avoiding turnovers so Miami can't get going offensively.

Miami only has 1 guy who can take someone in the half court to score.

I really dislike the Heat as a team and all the pomp from which they were formed but some of the LeBron specific hate is off the charts goofy. When he is a free agent, once again every team in the league will be begging him to come to their city.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

No he isn't as good as Jordan in his prime but NO ONE was.

Certainly debatable. I am a UNC fan and a Jordan fan but he is not the best player of all time IMO. He is in that discussion thou.

Kobe isn't really in that conversation. He is a great shooter and determined scorer but he always played with real teams around him. He wasn't carrying spares to titles. He was never the defender Jordan was not to mention how terrible Kobe is as a passer. Jordan had more assists as a clueless rookie than Kobe ever has.

According to Phil Jackson he is. According to Phil Jackson, the difference between Kobe and Michael were very close and on any given night, against any given team, it could go either way. Over all, he did say in his book that Michael was better and I agree with that but he never said that Kobe wasn't in the conversation. In fact, he said just the opposite and I heard him say that myself in interviews on ESPN.

LeBron has a slightly higher career 3PT% than Kobe. His percent this year was higher than any year of Kobe's career. So please stop saying goofy things like he can't shoot outside or doesn't work at it. That's patently false.

LeBron might have a better precentage but LeBron can not shoot a jump shot like Kobe can, on the move and in the face of defenders. LeBron can spot up and shoot pretty well but he can not take guys off the bounce, rise up and shoot over guys like Kobe can. His jump shot is different and that's probably why he shoots a higher percentage but that is just speculation on my part.

 

[bounce]

At a point, we just have to stop comparing guys to Jordan. He and Lebron are two totally different players, at two different positions, with two different skill sets in two different eras. It's a lesson in futility.

Who was better - Larry Allen or Emmitt Smith?

Who is better - Clayton Kershaw or Miguel Cabrera?

 

[Noryb]

various:

Stop with the LeBron hate. The guy is the best player in the game. He is simply phenomenal but basketball isn't a 1 man game. Wade has nothing left to his game, Bosh has always been soft and Miami just doesn't have quality depth. They really are not much better than the Cavs team LeBron took to the Finals previously. And the coaching is really poor.

I really dislike the Heat as a team and all the pomp from which they were formed but some of the LeBron specific hate is off the charts goofy. When he is a free agent, once again every team in the league will be begging him to come to their city.

Did Wade have nothing in the tank when they played the Mavs 2 yrs ago? The Heat kept those games close only for Lebron to shrink in the 4th quarter.

Lebron is the most skilled player in the league but he has clearly shown the tendency to shrink in big moments. Lebron shot 57% from the field and 40% from 3pt range during the season but in this series he is shooting 39% and 23% respectively, while pretty much averaging the same amount of attempts per game. Most of the shots he made in games 2 and 3 came in garbage time. Mike Miller and Ray Allen are a combined 20-25 in this series and the role players carried Lebron in game 2. The heat are down 1 - 2 because as to the norm, Lebron the star has disappeared and has been replaced by Lebron the facilitator.