Why's LeBron only averaging 4.8 assists?

[Warfan]

His playoff career average is 6.5 assists, with Miami it's 5.8. He's playing his lowest MPG for his postseason career at 38MPG, which is roughly 3/4 minutes less than his career average. So is it just the minutes, or is it him handling the ball less/playing off the ball more? Or teammates hitting less shots?

Also his assist numbers have dropped for the past 5 years from the regular season to the postseason.

[SamuraiSWISH]

That's fadeaway Jordan assist totals when he made his niche as clutch scorer, and defender. Strictly. Letting Pippen, and the triangle offense ball movement fasilitate the offense.

LeBron's assist numbers have dropped off a cliff this season. I noticed it as well. Possibly because he's not playing PG as much? IDK. But it is interesting. He's a career 7 to 8 apg caliber guy.

[Rose'sACL]

he lets cole and chalmers run the point a lot more. he only run it continuously when game is tight in 4th quarters.

[navy]

Lebron usually gets assist on the pick and roll, where the screen is set by a guard.

This year Spo has elected to make Lebron screen more or attempt to get post position.

It usually works fine, although there are times when it seems like Lebron doesnt touch the ball for long stretches.

[ThatCoolKid]

The Heat's ball movement has improved, and since Lebron is normally the guy to start the ball movement and the Heat are making 2nd and 3rd passes, Lebron has gotten less assists the more the team as a whole moves the ball.

[K Xerxes]

Playing much less point. He only really handles the ball at the end of quarters.

If he's doubled in the post, the ball swings around to the open man generally in the opposite corner, so he's not going assists from that.

[Solefade]

Lebron unusually gets assist on the pick and roll, where the screen is set by a guard.

This year Spo has elected to make Lebron screen more or attempt to get post position.

It usually works fine, although there are times when it seems like Lebron doesnt touch the ball for long stretches.


it works but i prefer the ball in brons hand over cole or chalmers...they turn the ball over too much

[navy]

His playoff career average is 6.5 assists, with Miami it's 5.8. He's playing his lowest MPG for his postseason career at 38MPG, which is roughly 3/4 minutes less than his career average.
Well Lebron is almost 30, but the decreased minutes is because Spo has enough to not run Lebron into the ground.

[navy]

it works but i prefer the ball in brons hand over cole or chalmers...they turn the ball over too much

Yeah, sometimes the Heat will stick with trying to get players involved when it clearly isnt working. And the threads will be up in arms about Lebron not taking enough shots or being to passive. They havent been bad on offense this entire post season really, which is why I always tell people to calm down about the Heat players shot attempt numbers.

[Djahjaga]

Better ball-movement. Even when he does play the 1 and initiate PnRs, his pass is more likely the first in a string of passes that will lead to a great shot, whereas in Cleveland (and even his first year in Miami), the receiving player was more likely to shoot it. The Heat routinely pass up good shots for great ones and that tends to lower Lebron's and Wade's assist numbers.

[edrick]

He's been getting a lot of hockey assists lately. Which don't count for shit in the NBA, obviously.

[russwest0]

He's been getting a lot of hockey assists lately. Which don't count for shit in the NBA, obviously.

this. he gets more hockey assists than chris paul but no one seems to care.

[fpliii]

Because he's playing off ball more. Still isolates and creates when it's late/close, but by and large he's playing more like a big than a wing.

[Eye Test]

all starters shooting above 50% without lebron having assists, another myth debunked.

"the miami cavaliers" :oldlol:

[Warfan]

http://stats.nba.com/playerTrackingPassing.html#pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=25

Lebrons averaging 1.3 'hockey assists' per game for the playoffs which is tied for the 6th most

[Crafty]

Playing less point, and being the screener more times.

[GODbe]

He's just an overrated passer. Don't get why idiots expect 7+ against an above average team. He can't pad his assist numbers against teams like this.

[pauk]

A combination of things like he is working more from the post, of the ball (cutting/catch n shooting) and Miami is moving the ball alot, hockey assists.

But the biggest reason i think is that he/Spo/Miami is letting the pg's do their job especially the 1st half, this alone can be the only answer, since he used to handle the ball alot before even for entire games, this i dont think is a good idea since the ball should be in the hands of the best decision maker/passer/handler/playmaker, if not Lebron then at least give it to Wade... when they need to take it very surgically offensively (in the 4th example) Lebron is always handling the ball and creating and "taking the game over, controlling the game", why shouldnt Miami/Spoelstra have that mindset the entire game and let Lebron orchestrate? Lots of times they have to fight from way back just BECAUSE of that.... and how did they get back? Lebron "took over", no he didnt, he just started handling the ball....

[LilEddyCurry]

all starters shooting above 50% without lebron having assists, another myth debunked.

"the miami cavaliers" :oldlol:
You fail the "eye test."
They get good looks because the defence is heavily focused on Lebron :facepalm

[inclinerator]

He's just an overrated passer. Don't get why idiots expect 7+ against an above average team. He can't pad his assist numbers against teams like this.
yea he averaged 7.00001 against the spurs last year

[russwest0]

http://stats.nba.com/playerTrackingPassing.html#pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=25

Lebrons averaging 1.3 'hockey assists' per game for the playoffs which is tied for the 6th most

dude averages less hockey assists than russell westbrook yet lebron stans act like this is why his regular assists numbers have been poor

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[DuMa]

playing off the ball and in the post more. this increases his impact on the game.

[juju151111]

Ball movement. Same thing happened to Mj has he got older.