Lebron does not have a quick first step

[JohnMax]

A lot of observers conflate top speed and first step.

Lebron is probably one of the fastest player in the league when he's at full stride in top speed, but his acceleration or first step is pedestrian at best. This kid needed a pick and roll as soon as he got into the league because he never had the blow by first step of a guy like Kobe.

a lot of guys have both attributes. but u also have guys on opposite end of spectrum like Jeremy Lin, who has great acceleration from standstill but definitely below average in speed.

This is the difference between quickness and raw speed. You can spot the difference pretty easily.

Quickness/elite first step:

http://media.giphy.com/media/tBb19fh1Bn4utxzUHMA/giphy.gif

Power/speed:

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2316015/ledunk.gif

[Soundwave]

Fairly obvious.

[MP.Trey]

And J.R. Smith doesn't have a consistent jumpshot. Any more bombshells you wanna drop on us?

[Prometheus]

I've always thought what OP said is very obvious, but there are a lot of people who don't get it. I've seen LeBron's quickness praised on ISH countless times.

[Smoke117]

ok

[lilteapot]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkb2r9GgEL0

Watch more basketball

[ImKobe]

He has elite first step for his size/weight.

[Prometheus]

He has elite first step for his size/weight.

If LeBron's first step is "elite", what is Carmelo's?

[ImKobe]

If LeBron's first step is "elite", what is Carmelo's?

Melo's nowhere near as good at getting past his man/driving to the rim :confusedshrug:

Melo's is above average, which is why he's jump shot happy.

[JohnMax]

Westbrook's first step is not amazing - if it were, you would see him just blow by his initial defender more often, the way MJ or AI used to do. But his second and third step acceleration and speed is definitely all-time level. Dude just turns it up to another gear after that first step or two when he sees a lane.

[jlip]

ok

This

[heyhey]

i have made this point multiple times, Jeremy Lin of all people has a better first step than Lebron

[Nash]

Here is the thing about Lebron. People think he's this good because of athletism, which is party true but what people seem to forget is that he uses his strength very well and that will always be there with him. Even if he's 36 years old he will always have an advantage on most PF's not named Anthony Davis in teh future.

[Akhenaten]

i have made this point multiple times, Jeremy Lin of all people has a better first step than Lebron


what do you mean "of all people" Lebron weighs 250+ pounds, every NBA or even college guard has a better initial step. Simple physics, it takes more time to get up to top speed when you're that heavy.

Kobe, MJ, AI etc were all below or just barely above 200 pounds when they played, BRAWN is 60-100 pounds heavier than them.

[No_Look604]

I f'n hate Lebron James game. Dude needs double picks set every single damn time down the floor, just to get a little separation from his defender. Without that he is lost. And to make matters worse, he doesn't post anyone up either. So in my eyes he has zero one-on-one skills. I don't find his game aesthetically pleasing at all.

[3ball]

.
Lebron must frequently stiff-arm and "Shaq" his way to the rim


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/d7821303425e7393bf4711800224841e.gif




Let's compare to the GOAT..


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/Jordan_with_the_Baseline_HopSt_f3dde741dd9364e1d67 d426c26375b8c.gif... MJ at 29 years old


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/b65300f8b710f908d7b963f480a3e929.gif


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/e1d648dd77ad5a827bad9dae0c1f6dde.gif


Confirmed: Lebron's first step is average for SF's and slow as molasses compared to MJ.

This is just another example of how Lebron's game can't compare to the GOAT combination of skill and athleticism (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11021030&postcount=6).
.

[oarabbus]

i have made this point multiple times, Jeremy Lin of all people has a better first step than Lebron

""Of all people" Jeremy Lin has a quicker first step than most of the league so that isn't surprising. Only a few guys like healthy Rose, Wall are quicker.

LeBron has a tremendous first step for a 6'8" 260lb guy, not sure why you'd compare him to a guard :confusedshrug:

[KingPush]

How many guys at 6'8 260 lbs have a quick first step? :coleman:

[ballin33]

Yeah its good for being 250, obviously not as good as a point guard. He's still the best athlete in the league though due to power, speed, jumping ability etc.

[Im Still Ballin]

Lighter lebron during the early years in Cleveland was much quicker