What did Lebron change about his game after his Finals 2011 performance

[KDthunderup]

Did Lebron change anything about his game after his 2011 performance? Did he improve a part of his game? Was it overcoming some mental demons? Or did Miami just learn to play better team ball taking the pressure off Lebron.

[russwest0]

became more efficent and improved his outside shot for 2012 (which has now declined). thats all I can think of.

[Yankstar]

He was always king of the regular season. He learned how to bring it inconsistently in the playoffs now (he still disappeared in half of those games in the finals last year).

Still got to give him props for improving :applause:

[JebronLames]

Did Lebron change anything about his game after his 2011 performance? Did he improve a part of his game? Was it overcoming some mental demons? Or did Miami just learn to play better team ball taking the pressure off Lebron.
He was the villain, and since he's actually a good guy, he didn't do well in that role. It's like an actor trying to act in a role that doesn't fit him. LeBron fits as the protagonist that has to win championships with injured teammates. That's why he won the past two years :cheers:

[KDthunderup]

became more efficent and improved his outside shot for 2012 (which has now declined). thats all I can think of.
But was that because the Heat shifted away from ISO ball? I think KD this off season needs to have new coach and needs to work on being more physical and not being a bitch.

[KDthunderup]

He was the villain, and since he's actually a good guy, he didn't do well in that role. It's like an actor trying to act in a role that doesn't fit him. LeBron fits as the protagonist that has to win championships with injured teammates. That's why he won the past two years :cheers:
This isn't a fairytale brah

[Lebron23]

He was always king of the regular season. He learned how to bring it inconsistently in the playoffs now (he still disappeared in half of those games in the finals last year).

Still got to give him props for improving :applause:

He's a champion. Better playoffs performer than CP30 and Blake "zero rings" Griffin.

[AnaheimLakers24]

got more hall of famers to join.

[coin24]

Recruited ray, paid more for refs

[KDthunderup]

Recruited ray, paid more for refs
Ray wasnt on the 2012 Heat

[Leftimage]

Improved spot-up & 3-point shooting,
Raised his post game from developing to elite level (by 2013)
Most importantly though, I'd say his role with the Heat & the team philosophy have become better defined - overall chemistry he has with his teammates, (particularly Bosh & the role-players) has improved dramatically since the 11' finals.

It comes down to the fact Lebron had to learn how to play with good teammates in 2011. I think at first he overestimated how much of a distributor he would get to be with Miami..

[navy]

Did Lebron change anything about his game after his 2011 performance? Did he improve a part of his game? Was it overcoming some mental demons? Or did Miami just learn to play better team ball taking the pressure off Lebron.
Lebron improved his post game and his shooting. That's about it.

He also eliminated his mental demons that affected him. He still goes into shooting slumps but there is not a single playoff game since 2011 where you can ask, "Where's Lebron?"

[russwest0]

Recruited ray, paid more for refs

it is true the refs gave him and that Heat squad an assload of calls in 2012

[zizozain]

he just listened when kobe gave him THAT advice (during ASG 2012)































-

[BlazerRed]

it is true the refs gave him and that Heat squad an assload of calls in 2012
They wouldn't have even made the finals in 12' if they hadn't been handed the Boston series :facepalm

[Verticality]

became more efficent and improved his outside shot for 2012 (which has now declined). thats all I can think of.

My god, you wrote something that isn't trolling. :cheers:

[Nash]

Wade stepping back.

Biggest thing is that Lebron is not a jump shooter like KD. Shooters are easy to stop, Lebron is a train that is impossible to stop and I think he started realizing that.

Let's not forget that Lebron is one of the most talented players in the history of the game, sooner or later he was going to figure it out. He's too good not to. KD will too, but he's not as good as Lebron is and can't dominate teams all the way to championships.

[russwest0]

My god, you wrote something that isn't trolling. :cheers:

**** you pvssy

[russwest0]

Wade stepping back.

Biggest thing is that Lebron is not a jump shooter like KD. Shooters are easy to stop, Lebron is a train that is impossible to stop and I think he started realizing that.

Let's not forget that Lebron is one of the most talented players in the history of the game, sooner or later he was going to figure it out. He's too good not to. KD will too, but he's not as good as Lebron is and can't dominate teams all the way to championships.

Put KD on Miami, which teams is KD struggling vs that Miami faced?

[BlazerRed]

**** you pvssy
:lol

[KDthunderup]

Wade stepping back.

Biggest thing is that Lebron is not a jump shooter like KD. Shooters are easy to stop, Lebron is a train that is impossible to stop and I think he started realizing that.

Let's not forget that Lebron is one of the most talented players in the history of the game, sooner or later he was going to figure it out. He's too good not to. KD will too, but he's not as good as Lebron is and can't dominate teams all the way to championships.
So then what stopped him in 2011? Tbh KD is more then a jumpshooter as well, for some reason he hasn't drove at all this series.

[Verticality]

**** you pvssy

There is the post I came to expect from you. Welcome back.

[Nash]

Put KD on Miami, which teams is KD struggling vs that Miami faced?Eh, wait.. Indiana x2, Boston, Chicago.

Miami would not be this winning machine with KD and without Lebron. Lebron is their leader in ppg, apg, and rpg while guarding best players come playoff time.

Lebron makes up for a lot of things that Miami miss since Miami are awkwardly built. You honestly think KD would lead Miami to a win past teams like Indiana, Boston Chicago with Wade on 1 knee and with a front court with only Bosh? And lets not forget that Miami were without Bosh in 2012. KD is today struggling against Memphis who are similar to Indiana.

[russwest0]

Eh, wait.. Indiana x2, Boston, Chicago.

You just listed all teams that Durant has killed and specifically played better than LeBron versus in the regular season...

[Warfan]

So then what stopped him in 2011? Tbh KD is more then a jumpshooter as well, for some reason he hasn't drove at all this series.

Mavs defense & lebrons choking on dirks nut sack

[Nash]

You just listed all teams that Durant has killed and specifically played better than LeBron versus in the regular season...
Playoffs? Isn't this the discussion now. Playoffs is a different beast and KD is a walking proof of that right now.

[russwest0]

Playoffs? Isn't this the discussion now. Playoffs is a different beast and KD is a walking proof of that right now.

so wait, on Miami with Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, KD is going to struggle vs the Pacers and the Bulls.

Why, exactly?

[ForeverHeat]

so wait, on Miami with Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, KD is going to struggle vs the Pacers and the Bulls.

Why, exactly?

Cause hes a jump shooting choker with no defense and no balls. Indiana and Chicago would shut him down just like Memphis is doing.

[russwest0]

Cause hes a jump shooting choker with no defense and no balls.

So when he destroyed the Mavericks, Lakers, and Spurs in 2011...?

[ForeverHeat]

So when he destroyed the Mavericks, Lakers, and Spurs in 2011...?

Teams who focus on offense. The East is less talented offensively but the defense is legit. Memphis is pretty much the only West team that play like they belong in the East and they are shutting his ass down.

[AcquiringSteak]

They wouldn't have even made the finals in 12' if they hadn't been handed the Boston series :facepalm

lebron game 6

[Marlo_Stanfield]

became more efficent and improved his outside shot for 2012 (which has now declined). thats all I can think of.
what a retard
his shot is now better than ever. looked great in the playoffs so far:applause:
he became more efficent and is now one of the best post players in the league.
can own you with power AND finesse from there and if you dont double him good luck not to get scored on

[Marlo_Stanfield]

so wait, on Miami with Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, KD is going to struggle vs the Pacers and the Bulls.

Why, exactly?
are you retarded?? he is struggling against the grizzlies this year in the 1st round. a grizzlies team without an allstar while he has a supporting cast of westbrook( top 5), Ibaka Perkins( real Center on defense) thabo, Jackson,Collison Adams Fisher and Butler.
last year, when westbrook went down he got backdoor swept.
this isnt the regular season man:no:

[Bandito]

Wade stepping back.

Biggest thing is that Lebron is not a jump shooter like KD. Shooters are easy to stop, Lebron is a train that is impossible to stop and I think he started realizing that.

Let's not forget that Lebron is one of the most talented players in the history of the game, sooner or later he was going to figure it out. He's too good not to. KD will too, but he's not as good as Lebron is and can't dominate teams all the way to championships.
When has Lebron been used as a shooter ever?

[Bandito]

what a retard
his shot is now better than ever. looked great in the playoffs so far:applause:
he became more efficent and is now one of the best post players in the league.
can own you with power AND finesse from there and if you dont double him good luck not to get scored on
2013 Finals:facepalm

[Marlo_Stanfield]

2013 Finals:facepalm
lebron clinched game 7 with like13 jumpers or soemthign including the game winner
stay mad tho that his game 7, by far not his best playoff game, was better than everything kobe ever did in the playoffs

[Bandito]

are you retarded?? he is struggling against the grizzlies this year in 4th round. a grizzlies team without an allstar while he has a supporting cast of westbrook( top 5), Ibaka Perkins( real Center on defense) thabo, Jackson,Collison Adams Fisher and Butler.
last year, when westbrook went down he got backdoor swept.
this isnt the regular season man:no:
OMG retard alert. Randolph and Gasol are better than anyone on the Thunder not named KD and Westbrook. THe Grizzlies are just more balanced specially in the interior. Or what do you really believe they are stopping KD and westbrook from the perimeter? Watch some games...

[Bandito]

lebron clinched game 7 with like13 jumpers or soemthign including the game winner
stay mad tho that his game 7, by far not his best playoff game, was better than everything kobe ever did in the playoffs
Game 1 to 5 they stopped him completely from the perimeter and he was missing everything from far away. Even in game 6 he did too, that 'run' he had in the last quarter was pretty much him attacking the rim without fear. Game 7 he was just on fire, it happens.:facepalm

[BoutPractice]

KD will too, but he's not as good as Lebron is and can't dominate teams all the way to championships.

First of all, the series is not even over yet. Second, I disagree with that last part. To me Durant clearly has what it takes.

He may well be in the "Jordan losing to the Bad Boy Pistons" stage of his career: individual dominance, but some holes left in his game and his team not playing well enough as a group to go all the way.

History has a funny way of repeating itself when it comes to scoring superstar careers...They frequently reach absurd levels of individual play quite young (early to mid 20s) which they raise to MVP level when they enter their prime (around 26-27). Think late 80s Jordan, or mid 00s Kobe... but no matter how many points they score, the big win only comes in their peak years, a bit later.

Often they'll make a surprising Finals run several years before they win a ring, carrying their team along the way too. This happened to Dirk (2006), LeBron (2007), and Durant (2012) could be next. The three of them have a somewhat similar career shape so far. When they lose in the Finals, they are often accused of "choking" after outdoing expectations.

In spite of the precocious Finals run announcing a "bright future", the promising team's performance typically regresses the next year, whatever the reason: the 2007 Mavs lose in the first round, 2008 Cavs in the second, and 2013 Thunder in the second.

While the superstar wins individual awards (Dirk in 2007, LeBron in 2009 and 2010, Durant this year) the playoff record often only gets worse, or at least doesn't get much better, in the following years (OKC getting upset this year? we'll see), and the superstar leading the team is called an underachiever or choker by the media. Towards the end of that extended drought (strangely enough, there were exactly five years between Dirk and LeBron's Finals and championship run, although again it's just a funny coincidence really - "OKC 2017", or whatever team Durant will be on in 2017 is just a possible hypothesis, although Durant will be 28 which is usually when players reach their peak), people on message boards start writing threads about how "X will NEVER lead a team to the championship". Usually it's the sign that X is about to lead their team to the championship.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Game 1 to 5 they stopped him completely from the perimeter and he was missing everything from far away. Even in game 6 he did too, that 'run' he had in the last quarter was pretty much him attacking the rim without fear. Game 7 he was just on fire, it happens.:facepalm
he shot great the entire playoffs prior to that including against nr 1 defense indiana for 31ppg on 50%
and no Randolph is not better than Ibaka at least not this series.
hes terrible on defense and shoots what 40%??

[sportjames23]

Ray wasnt on the 2012 Heat


But he was on the 2013 Heat, and it was a good thing he was.

Ask Lebron. :lol

[sportjames23]

Playoffs? Isn't this the discussion now. Playoffs is a different beast and KD is a walking proof of that right now.


Ouch. :oldlol:

[KDthunderup]

First of all, the series is not even over yet. Second, I disagree with that last part. To me Durant clearly has what it takes.

He may well be in the "Jordan losing to the Bad Boy Pistons" stage of his career: individual dominance, but some holes left in his game and his team not playing well enough as a group to go all the way.

History has a funny way of repeating itself when it comes to scoring superstar careers...They frequently reach absurd levels of individual play quite young (early to mid 20s) which they raise to MVP level when they enter their prime (around 26-27). Think late 80s Jordan, or mid 00s Kobe... but no matter how many points they score, the big win only comes in their peak years, a bit later.

Often they'll make a surprising Finals run several years before they win a ring, carrying their team along the way too. This happened to Dirk (2006), LeBron (2007), and Durant (2012) could be next. The three of them have a somewhat similar career shape so far. When they lose in the Finals, they are often accused of "choking" after outdoing expectations.

In spite of the precocious Finals run announcing a "bright future", the promising team's performance typically regresses the next year, whatever the reason: the 2007 Mavs lose in the first round, 2008 Cavs in the second, and 2013 Thunder in the second.

While the superstar wins individual awards (Dirk in 2007, LeBron in 2009 and 2010, Durant this year) the playoff record often only gets worse, or at least doesn't get much better, in the following years (OKC getting upset this year? we'll see), and the superstar leading the team is called an underachiever or choker by the media. Towards the end of that extended drought (strangely enough, there were exactly five years between Dirk and LeBron's Finals and championship run, although again it's just a funny coincidence really - "OKC 2017", or whatever team Durant will be on in 2017 is just a possible hypothesis, although Durant will be 28 which is usually when players reach their peak), people on message boards start writing threads about how "X will NEVER lead a team to the championship". Usually it's the sign that X is about to lead their team to the championship.
:applause: Good post

[pauk]

Despite after improving from 2011 in some areas incrementally the biggest difference is that he & his teammates finally melted together, he found his role, he knew how to attack & use those new teammates and most importantly WADE took a backseat and let Lebron run the show......... their first year Lebron played for the first time with 2 stars & had to learn how to get his & how to keep those guys happy aswell, all while being as successful as possible as a team..... 2011 he was actually 1a-1b with Wade, many games where he would just stand in the corner not be agressive enough as Wade was that instead/had it going etc..... hell, this is exactly what happened in 11 Finals, everybody keep talking about how he choked, sure, but the thing is he averaged only 15 FGA, shooting 48% FG as Wade had it going, Lebron didnt even try, he became a sidekick as Wade had it going.... after that year Wade went: "For us to win, i need to take a step back, Lebron is our best player"... and things started to bloom for Miami....

[RagaZ]

PEDs.

[StephHamann]

Durant/ Spurs choked

2011 terry and my nikka dirk showed him what alphas are made of :rockon:

[KD35Brah]

it is true the refs gave him and that Heat squad an assload of calls in 2012
Lebron was given 80 FTs and shots them at 65% clip against.

Most games were close too, so if he didn't get all those call they probably would have lost that series.

2nd Most FT attempts ever by a player in a playoff run(all time) in 2012

[tmacattack33]

Perimeter shooting and posting up.

And then also there was the quick fix of him and Wade apparently talking to each other and Wade telling Lebron that the team needed a clear go-to-guy, because it was weird/confusing/detrimental to have Wade be the guy half the time and Lebron be the guy the other half.

[Dresta]

The biggest factor was that he stopped choking.

[Megabox!]

Post game, picking his shooting spots and his entire mentality. In 2011 he was too busy trying to prove everyone wrong and his on-court demeanor was totally different. Now he's playing for himself, his teammates and the love of the game. Durant will eventually figure it out just like lbj and the rest of the all-time greats