LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

That's not at all what I'm saying and I don't even know how you could come to that conclusion. You're saying LeBron is a perimeter based player and that's what he's always been and therefore he's doing it here now. I'm saying there's no way you can make that conclusion. There's an equally likely answer that LeBron is being put in those positions by the coaching staff and not that LeBron is taking it on himself to play the perimeter. In fact, if I remember correctly everybody in the organization was talking about getting LeBron in those post/mid-post situations and yet here we are running sets that don't necessarily put LeBron in that position. I'm sure @bfc1125roy could explain better than I how LeBron ends up on the perimeter in the offense we run.

60/40 is a HUGE split and doesn't at all line up with the speed we're trying to play at. I'm not looking at the numbers right now, but I would be shocked if there are even many CENTERS that have that kind of split. LaMarcus Aldridge gets the most post up possessions a game right now at 12 and he averages 59.7 possessions a game. That's only 22% of the time spent in the post. You want him spending 60% of his shots in the post? That's crazy.

And I don't even disagree that he needs to transition that way, but I just disagree on the frequency. He's not an old fogey yet. Giving him room to operate in the mid-post (where Randle used to get all his touches) is still the optimal spot in my opinion.

I don't disagree at all. I think that falls on Luke which is my larger point. You're blaming LeBron, I'm blaming Luke.

Eh, the sample size is small and they're very, very close.

He earns .500 points per touch at the elbow and .583 points out of the post. So far he's getting one more post up per game so we're talking about a difference of .083 points per possession, per game.

The really shocking number is that he only spends 4% of his time in the post and 3% of his time at the elbow so regardless of our relative "rightness" regarding elbow vs. post, he's not there enough in my opinion. In the half-court, I'd scheme at the elbow and run cuts to free him up. I don't like him creating in isolation situations and I'd limit his pick and rolls.

 

I'll chime in.

Theoretically, it's the smart move to position LeBron in the post and / or elbow as he ages. He's big, strong and should be able to eat like crazy there. Obviously the examples of MJ and Kobe are worth remembering as they aged. The big problem from my perspective is that he STILL looks fairly awkward when making any moves from those spots (more so in the post than elbow). I know he invested some time a couple of years ago to improve his post game, but I don't really see it. He is just much smoother and more confident starting out at the 3 point line with space to either shoot or drive. I think it's still possible to gain a real post game even at his age, but I'm not confident he ever will.
Maybe I'm just spoiled from watching Kobe in the post.

 

Frankly, I don't think he ever will. He is better in the post now, but not great. It's just not his game. And it's not that he doesn't work hard, we know Bron is one of the hardest working players in the game, but it's just not who he is. Not everyone can have great footwork and post moves. Basically, not everyone is MJ, Hakeem, Kobe or Duncan. They do not push the ball or drive like Bron either. None of them shot the ball like Steph or passed like Magic. I still hope Bron will improve a little in that respect, but honestly I am not counting much on it.

 

This is part of why I like him at that elbow spot. He can still drive or do the spin move he likes. He can attack with that fall away jumper. More importantly he kind find cutters and baseline movement which he is truly amazing at. It keeps his options open.

He does seem most comfortable though attacking off the dribble from the three point line. Hard to blame him.

Edit- this is what I'm talking about.

 

Nice breakdown. I don't remember him ever being the most efficient post player in the NBA at any point, but I'll take your word for it.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Princeton/Triangle type of sets. That's actually what runs through my mind any time I see LeBron get the ball at the elbow. We should be running more sets like that and I think we will; especially since Magic just called for Luke to install more offense into the gameplan.

 

With all the complaining about half court offense, it should be noted that was a play the Lakers have run multiple times this season.

Usually for Kuz, Pope, or Hart as I remember it. 3 players down low weak side, and one of them kind of cuts through screens to the front of the basket while heads are turned to LeBron iso with the ball, and LeBron just passes to the cutter for the easy score.

It’s one of the few recognizable half court plays I’ve seen repeatedly run by the Lakers that usually works, although it was more spread out in that video with less congestion next to the basket

 

This was an alright game from Bron. We got a win in POR which is amazing. He had a dominant stretch, but also had some questionable plays late. Offensively, he did a ton, but some of the defensive (non-)plays were atrocious. Oh well. Good numbers though.

 

I find myself saying "WTF are you doing" a lot when he's on defense. Also I had hoped we had finally found our closer, but I just don't feel confident in his closing abilities so far this year. I'm looking for that cold blooded killer instinct and I'm not seeing it in LeBron. He can still score because he's just that good, but I don't see him taking over the game and willing the ball into the basket like CJ and Lillard were doing down the stretch there play after play.