Sadly, however, most fans need to understand that closing is only part of the game. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). It is this reason why many feel LeBron shouldnt be considered one of the 10 best to ever do it. He could be the first player to score 40,000 points. Anthony Davis led the way with 31 points and 19 rebounds, a strong response after a quiet Game 4 but it wasnt nearly enough. Those guys were spectacular tonight, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. The top four players off the Lakers bench Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley struggled. Ages given are the players ages on Feb. 1 of that season. Players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have taken more 30 percent of their made shots as 3-pointers. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. history. TRB% since 1970-71. Warriors, Steph Curry beat Kings, advance to face Lakers Lakers | LeBron James averages for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. Latest update for Suns at Lakers. Could others do more? He shares that durability, plus creativity and talent, with Abdul-Jabbar, who played from 1969 to 1989. Theres also relevance to Russell Westbrook, James teammate who has struggled with the decline of his athleticism. Note that All-Time Players' ratings never change on NBA 2K23. And when he's harder to defend, so are the Cavs. Last season, 31 players averaged at least three mid-range attempts, and James only hit 34.3 percent of them the worst mark of the entire group. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. He is a University of Maryland alum. Game Day: Looking forward to Lakers-Warriors His greatness has hurt his own cause in the eyes of many uneducated basketball onlookers. What those seasons have in common is remarkable but what might be even more impressive is how they dont line up. Irving's recent scoring exploits showcase on-ball wizardry unrivaled by anyone in league history. In 2020-21, Davis has been subpar from this area of the floor, making only 36.3 percent the 2nd-worst rate of the 29. Abdul-Jabbar took one 3-pointer in his career; 3-pointers made up a much larger share of Jamess output. Explore all Los Angeles Lakers NBA player stats - including scoring, rebounding, shooting, assists & more! a mid-range jumper, LeBron James, on the other hand, has none of these mid-range qualities at his disposal. Looking at top 5 behind-the-arc shooters in 2023 NBA playoffs, How many game-winners has LeBron James made in his career? There's never been a player with his combination of size and skill. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Durant holds the edge in total points across their 35 career head-to-head matchups. The footwork, the mannerisms, the mentality all of it. Early on he was all flash and dash while showcasing incredible athleticism near the hole. 2. Even the players who are actually able to defend LeBron at a high level - think Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler - are going to have hard time defending LeBron when he cuts across the lane and gets a chance to establish position close to the rim. The lines on the court have had different dimensions, and referees let Abdul-Jabbar endure body blows from opponents that today would easily earn James a chance at free throws. Its an interesting time to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. No other than His Airness Michael Jordan. WebLeBron James on NBA 2K23. There's no denying that young MJ was a force of nature when driving, but even he can't rival James's physicality and ability to put his head down and get to the cup whenever he wants. Your high quality sketch and reading will be delivered to you via email within 8 hours. Thats right. Larry Nance.5864: 60. Maybe not that much, but every shot is valuable, and there might be better alternatives. So, as long as Im in this league and the game changes again and Im still in it, hopefully Ill be able to continue to have that growth mindset and continue to adapt.. According to the Pelicans, McCollum consulted See More at HoopsRumors Brandon Ingram So to get to see LeBron throughout his whole career and to be able to surpass someone like Kareem, whos more of a symbol of freedom for the United States of America, I mean, its saying something.. Your login session has expired. Even if these shots have been inefficient, how much damage can roughly three shots per game really do? Before this, he shot only 35.5 percent in 2018-19 and 36.4 percent in 2017-18. Take this play from Sunday's win against the Hornets for instance. LeBron, as a way to counteract his jump shot becoming less effective, has largely abandoned the mid-range game altogether. Kobe was second, reaching 30,000 when he was 34. Please logout and login again. The fadeaway and quick-pivots all from a mid-range post or face-up is now a mythical quality thanks to Jordan and his six NBA Championships. While people expect LeBron to take Dillon Brooks down the paint to put him on a poster, the chances of that happening is highly unlikely. Buck Williams.5872: 58. When Abdul-Jabbar was 38, he was in just his 17th professional season. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. ET on Friday. Theres a lot of subtext to those details, not the least of which is that James wants more respect for how hes rewriting NBA history. That includes the stars, who are the ones supposed to take the lead and make an impact on their teammates. While James might not have his version of the skyhook, he's a more well-rounded scorer with more answers to increasingly complex defenses. The team seems likely to end up in the play-in tournament. How many players could just decide to play with their off-hand and still drop 47? This is the mark that reveals just how efficient a player is when shooting the ball. Ive always just wanted to have a game that fits any style of play or any era, he said. At his worst, LeBron wastes possessions by dribbling away the shot clock and firing up a jump shot. None of these changes were sudden. LeBron's rebuttal:If you line up their combined 16 Finals appearances, James owns the five highest-scoring averages and eight of the top nine. The next big decision for James is what is he going to do this offseason. But the pressure is no greater than in a Game 7 and in the heat of the moment, no player has scored like Durant who can get his from any spot on the floor against one, two or even three defenders. But when these shots go in at roughly equal rates, it becomes REALLY hard to tune out the math. LeBron James' criticism of NBA Play-In game comes across as hypocritical, NBA play-in: 3 ways the tournament could lead to total chaos, Lakers News: LeBron James's return could come Friday night vs. Kings. If he gets doubled inside, LeBron can pass out to a shooter - Dellavedova, Smith,Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love,Channing Frye, etc. Remember last year, when Anthony Davis turned into a mid-range assassin for the Lakers in the playoffs? Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, could be argued as a one-trick pony who capitalized on what NBA fans think should be a great player the closer. Now, they are more likely to have smaller, faster players stand outside the 3-point arc to set screens and take deep shots. Gambling Problem? ESNYs MLB 2023 Preview: Just what is next for the Miami Marlins? Eligibility restrictions apply. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Kyle has been a Lakers beat reporter since 2018, and was one of a few reporters inside the NBA bubble in 2020. But James, with 38,390 points, has broken Abdul-Jabbars record at 38 years old, an age long after most players are done scoring any points, much less the 30.2 points per game James is averaging this season. The idea that LeBron doesnt possess a picturesque jump shot confuses many of the fanboys who love and adore MJ and Kobe Bryant. LeBron James (Additional Stats) - NBA player profile page from WhatifSports Even if they dont start hitting mid-range shots, they will still be incredibly impactful on the court. Anytime a current player throws up a scoring performance of the ages, it takes one trip to #NBATwitter to find out that Chamberlain likely did it more often than anyone else. Barry poured in an astounding 36.3 points per game in the Finals, the most in NBA history. But since returning to the Lakers (he spent his first two seasons with them), Russell may have become a better version of himself. LeBron is the youngest player to reach 30,000 points at 33 years old. 3. Chamberlain's video-game numbers will never be matched. ESNYs MLB 2023 Preview: Can the Texas Rangers take over the AL West? Swanson: LeBron James, Lakers are much better in closeout win, as promised LeBron James had statistically one of his best regular and postseasons ever. Overlapping James production from 10 seasons ago to now will show some common traits. He has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 1,421 regular-season games. Ja Morant recovered from his rough Game 4 with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting, 10 rebounds and seven assists. In the case of a scorers true performance mark field goal percentage only one is devastatingly behind the other two (Bryant). James left after making only five of 17 shots and one of nine from three-point range. You have the most points scored ever, youre the best basketball player to ever touch the court.. And yet, James feels that he has not received the reputation of being a great scorer. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. He might be the greatest tough shot maker in NBA history not named Durant. NAME. While the 9-year veteran is a better shooter than this number suggests (33.0 percent a year ago), hes never proven himself to be a reliable long-range threat. 7 seed and came through the Play-In to make the playoffs. Then this definitely wont help, ESNYs 2023 MLB Preview: Pirates are a continually sinking ship, Mets, Yankees games on Apple TV+ wont be free, but there are loopholes, Dont get your hopes up about MLB making changes to new rules, City of Philadelphia perpetrates another Santa Claus-related sin, Heres how pitch clock, shift ban have impacted MLB spring training games. Hes simply amazing, and its this amazing quality thats naturally spurred on comparisons to Michael Jordan the man, who in many eyes, is the greatest to ever lace them up on the hardwood. It turns out that numbers can lie or, more precisely, obscure the truth. While his efficiency on threes (35.4%) is a little down from his percentage 10 years ago (36.2%), it makes sense that James averages would level out now that hes taking more than three times as many 3-point attempts (7.9 per game). He was especially good range from hitting from the midrange during the Over 600 players in NBA history have played in multiple Game 7s. Among 60 players averaging at least 4.9 shots per game within five feet of the basket, here are the five most efficient scorers this season. Abdul-Jabbar hit just one 3-pointer in his career. James has only made five shots from beyond the arc and attempted 27 shots. Greats. Ja Morant, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 3, attacked and told them they were too small.. receiving yards total: seemingly unreachable. ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, DRtg, BPM, VORP, and per 100 Poss stats since 1973-74. 33.3 percent on threes is better than 40.0 percent on twos). In the Finals, James averages over five more points than Abdul-Jabbar with a whopping 8-1 advantage in 40-point games. WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Looking at James shot charts from those seasons, its difficult to recognize them as the same player. He was especially good range from hitting from the midrange during the postseason. He's also taking six percent fewer threes (excluding corner threes, where his percentages are roughly the same) than he did last year. While he cooled off a bit, he still hit 49.6 percent (5.5 attempts per game) in the playoffs, a clip few players have been able to match this regular season. The fadeaway and quick-pivots all from a mid-range post or face-up is now a mythical quality thanks to Jordan and his six NBA Championships. Abdul-Jabbar, the former center for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, held the record for nearly 40 years. Open jumpers either missed badly or rimmed out, but the Lakers stayed close and again had the chance to take the lead with four minutes left in the third quarter. He was selected to play in 18 All-Star games. The Lakers scored only two more points over a nearly six-minute stretch in which Memphis push its lead from one to 25. And if you cannot have a growth mindset on how you can find ways to get better with the team, then youll get left behind.. Micah Adams is an Assistant Managing Editor at The Sporting News. SEO: XL Media. These guys dominated the game without needing to even hoist a shot up. Then known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar first spent four years at U.C.L.A., where he was one of the most dominant college basketball players in the country across three varsity seasons. Seven of the 29 are shooting <= 2.0 percent better from the mid-range than they are from downtown. And it shouldnt be overly surprising if one or both manages to flip a switch and improve from this area once the playoffs start for the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James is better than those two guys. has developed over the last 50 years. LeBron James has won 65.0 percent of the time in his career. For as dominant as Chamberlain was during the regular season, his scoring average went down in the playoffs in each of his 13 trips to the playoffs. For us to relax would be asinine, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before the game. I do know, just being around daily, seeing him being locked in and playing at a level that a lot of people dont really expect him to play at at his age, to see it firsthand, its something I can learn from as I continue to get older in this league and find ways to be able to be effective, Westbrook said. WebOverview Stats Game Log Splits Bio. And James, the player who saved the Lakers at the end of regulation and in overtime Monday, couldnt make a positive imprint in his first chance to close out the Grizzlies. Lebron James is one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. Oh, and when it comes to LeBron? For the next decade, the shot was considered a novelty, a break glass in case of emergency kind of heave. Their basketball eras have looked so different that they might as well have been playing different sports. This isn't to say that James won't stop shooting jumpers and that he won't occasionally jack up a lazy jumper. Despite his improvement last postseason, the forward only hit 34.9 percent over the entirety of last season (including playoffs). He hasnt officiallyopted out of next year with the Cavs but that is the exception. In 17 regular season contests, he averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game while hitting 48.4 percent of his shots overall and 41.4 percent of his attempts from 3-point range. That's not a very efficient way to distribute shots for a player CLICKBANK is a registered trademark of Click Sales, Inc., a Delaware corporation located at 1444 S. Entertainment Ave., Suite 410 Boise, ID 83709, USA and used by permission. James had a head start on catching Abdul-Jabbar because he was drafted out of high school, which wasnt allowed in Abdul-Jabbars day. Odds and lines subject to change. Its just basketball.. BPM and VORP not available for Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. This year, LeBron has flipped those numbers. Not only do Durant's three career game-winning buzzer-beaters pale in comparison to the seven for James, he's never hit one in the playoffs. LeBron James has deemphasized mid-range shotattempts, Cavs players also realize they were punked in the first round. The answer is LeBron, remarkablybut hes less than halfway to Wilt Chamberlains total. LeBron will play better, Davis said. LeBron's rebuttal: With the game on the line, Durant's reputation can't match LeBron's results. The Grizzlies, called out earlier this week by their coach for lacking maturity, showed some Wednesday in the familiar confines of FedEx Forum. Memphis needs two more wins to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing, 3-1. Add in LeBron's evolution as a 3-point shooter he's quietly become one of the NBA's best at making step-back 3s and it's apparent that James can beat opponents in more ways than even Jordan. SEO: XL Media. Hachimura has eased their offensive burdens so far in the series against Memphis, giving the Lakers a third option. As Dellavedova drives to the opposite corner, LeBron cuts with the help of a sort of lazy J.R. Smith screen. Yeah, it pisses me off.. His 118 50-point games are 87 more than Jordan, who has the second-most. The Lakers made only 10 of 39 from three-point range. Teams now structure their offenses to get 3-point shots. Grizzlies might have found an answer vs. Lakers. One of the major trends this season for LeBron James has been the decline of his jump shot. He just needs 21 more makes to eclipse the total number of his 2011-12 attempts (149) from beyond the arc in 62 games. Lisa Leslie, the retired W.N.B.A. 30 games) that have averaged at least two 3-point attempts this season, only two are shooting worse from downtown than Davis 28.6 percent. Rebecca Lai and Eve WashingtonFeb. 1. We all know he can score the ball.. A huge part of his night were his six 3-pointers three of them came in the fourth quarter of the 124-116 win and as he discussed how Steph Curry sent the NBA on course for a 3-point shot-centric version of the game, he realized he had to change. Moreover, its my contention that Jordan changed everything. With the series heading to another crucial moment, Davis said he has confidence in the single biggest adjustment a team could have in its pocket. His jump shot might be less effective, but LeBron James is finding success by eliminating mid-range shot attempts. Here, Matthew Dellavedova brings up the ball and James heads off toward the left corner. With almost half of the season in the books, the Nets are shooting an astonishing 51.3 percent in the mid-range. Hes been no Chris Paul, however. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Plaschke: Beating Grizzlies with his grit, LeBron James claims full ownership of the Lakers, Lakers win Game 4 in overtime to put Grizzlies on brink of playoff elimination, Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, Photos | Stars come out to support the Lakers, Game 7 mentality: Lakers close out Grizzlies to earn some rest, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages. (Well, maybe.). The 2021-22 version of James is one who has fully adapted to modern analytic thinking: Stat site Cleaning the Glass has charted his 3-point attempt percentage growing for six straight seasons, now at a career high of 34% of his attempts. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? James is averaging a team-leading 24.0 points and Davis is averaging 19.5 points going into Wednesdays potential close-out game at FedEx Forum in Memphis. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. The N.B.A. Among the 29 players, LeBron is the third-worst in field goal percentage. Joe Vardon is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic, based in Cleveland. He turned the ball over five times in 37 minutes and vowed hed be better in Game 6. In 2019, James surpassed Jordan's career tally of 32,292 points to move into fourth place on the all-time list. Duncan Robinson caps off the top five with 76.5%. MP and PER since 1951-52. Even when teams can contest James' shot, James getting inside makes the Cavs harder to defend overall. Lakers vs. Warriors: Second-round scouting report, prediction To finish off a comeback in this series, the Memphis Grizzlies are going to need a lot more of it. Bonus issued as site credits. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are superstars for a reason. He couldnt stop it. It ties his sixth-highest mark. debate. His midrange shots now account for just 23% of his field goal attempts, and he even gets a slightly higher percentage of looks at the rim as a 37-year-old (43%) than he Davis started the postseason hitting an absurd 25-41 (61.0 percent) of his mid-range attempts. Few 3-pointers were taken in the N.B.A. Many people have found that their sketch resembles someone that is currently close in their life, their current significant other / partner, or someone they admire or have feelings for. It was his lowest field-goal percentage (29.4 percent) in a playoff game since Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals (2-of-10, 20 percent) All five of his turnovers came before halftime an uncharacteristic performance anytime, but especially with the chance to close out a series. He's not for everyone but Harden's steady diet of free throws and 3s nearly toppled the 2017 Warriors. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. The Logo owns the third-highest scoring average in Finals history trailing only Rick Barry and Jordan. Hes only 208 points behind Karl Malone (he should pass him in the coming month) at No. James mid-range game particularly his fadeaway is beautiful when Grant Williams, MarJon Beauchamp, Miles McBride and Miles McBride are all shooting 100% from long distance. (Credit to NBA.com and basketball-reference for statistics and House of Highlights for GIF). This model was so popular among youngsters that it spurred on an entire generation of imitators. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Do yourself a favor and Google "Bird left-handed game.". Our team will get better and Friday is another opportunity to close the series.. Alexander: When Anthony Davis does it, Lakers can be devastating LeBron James is shooting 36.9 percent on 3.3 mid-range shots per game this season. The reason for the ghastly confusion has nothing to do with some of his questionable off-the-court decisions, such as The Decision. It has nothing to do with flopping or his perceived whining on the court. 10 scoring titles to one speaks for itself as does the all-time mark in both the regular season and playoffs. Doesnt matter what uniform, doesnt matter what year, doesnt matter how old.. Caris LeVert absolutely has interest in re-signing. Of course, clutch stats go beyond simply hitting shots with all zeros on the clock. James doesnt do it the mid-range way. Nobody during his generation came close to matching his dominance as a scorer. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). James finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-of-17 overall and 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Last season, the number was about three times that. has won 65.0 percent of the time in his career. It all comes down to his shooting ability. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. So whats the solution? This takes a physical toll, particularly when defenses are sending help in the paint. If you're staking your claim to be the greatest scorer of all-time, performance under playoff pressure has to factor in. James torched the nets in a 56-point game against Golden State, the team that has arguably forced him to evolve the most in his career. He does it in a variety of other ways such as playing facilitator and barraging his way to the hoop. DAngelo Russell mirrored his performance from late in Game 4 early in the second half, scoring eight straight points out of halftime to make it a one-point game, but the Lakers never could grab the lead. You got to be able to adjust, man, he said. These guys definitely played with the force we were talking about before the game.. Field-goal percentage: 52% LeBron is attempting 20.1 shots per game and is making 52% of them. Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. Jamess made shots have been 53 percent 2-pointers, 10 percent 3-pointers and 36 percent free throws. James has only made five shots from beyond He's never been a dead-eye shooter, but his decline this year has been notable. By this point, everyone knows the shortcomings of the mid-range when it comes to efficiency, but for some players, they actually are efficient shots. Iverson's 29.7 playoff scoring average is second in NBA history behind only No. His inefficiency could unlock a ton of chances for the squad to start making an impact in Game 5. As any analytics nerd will tell you, threes are more valuable than twos even when the mid-range shots go in at a higher rate (e.g. So, no pressure. LeBron is already taking a career-high 6.4 threes per game this season, but given his mid-range struggles, perhaps he should embrace the long-ball even more. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA.
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