LeBron James - Midrange Mastery 17/18 (Playoffs)

[coastalmarker99]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFlM5IBs1OE



Watching this video has made me appreciate 2018 LeBron even more as my god was he a monster that year in the playoffs with his incredible speed and athleticism to go along with his jump shot that seemed to be at an all-time high that year.



I also think this video proves that Lebron would have zero problems playing in the 1980s and 1990s and in fact that he would be just as godlike in those eras as Jordan was.

[Micku]

Whenever his jumper is on, I feel like he's unstoppable. Definitely one of the most unstoppable players in league history. Like he's already unstoppable now, but once that jumper is on? It's over.

He didn't shoot that much midrange jumpers in comparison to like KD in those playoffs or Kawhi in 17, but his jumper was on.

Like in 17, he didn't really take that many mid range jumpers. It was less than 10% of his offense if you look at b-ball reference. 18, he was more on with his shot.

Imo tho, he was on and he picks his spots very wisely. But he usually is really streaky. I wouldn't really turn him when it comes to midrange mastery tho

LeBron 17 percentage in midrange were
10-16 range 24.0
16-3pt line: 48.6%

10-16 isn't really all that good, but that beyond that was amazing.

LeBron 18 % were

10-16 range 43.3%
16-3pt line: 46.3%

Now that's elite mid range % right there.

In the 80s, it seems like you need a mid range jumper. Cuz that paint was packed. But he is so big, strong and fast that he could/should take the punishment driving. He'll take a few more bumps tho.

Like MJ's best that we could record were in the 97 playoffs.

10-16 ft: 44.7%
16-3pt line: 48.1%

Elite stuff to be sure. But what made this crazy was the shot attempts. Like 32% of his total shot came from that 10-16 ft range. And like 16-3pt was like 27% In comparison to LBJ 10% or less for either or. 97 is likely wasn't his best year. Those years were probably in the early 90s or late 80s, but we don't have the recording of that. I bet those numbers are even more god like.

Look at Kawhi percentage tho in 17.

10-16ft: 55.0%
16-3pt: 53.8%

He also took more shots from there too, since that's his game. 20% from the 10-16 ft and 13% from 16-3pt of his total shots. KD also had sick years before the Warriors. The warriors inflated his percentages cuz it was easier.

Anyway, I don't mind to drag it out. I'm just saying LeBron really wasn't a mastery of the midrange even in the 17 in the playoffs. He didn't take enough of them. But he was shooing very well from them tho. But 18, man he felt unstoppable. I wouldn't call it a mastery per say just because of the volume and how he did it, but he was a beast for sure.

[Doranku]

2018 Playoff Bran is the best player I've ever seen on a regular basis (too young to remember peak Jordan, same with Shaq).

[RRR3]

2018 Playoff Bran is the best player I've ever seen on a regular basis (too young to remember peak Jordan, same with Shaq).
Along with 2014 it’s the best he’s ever been scoring wise. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive the refs for robbing him in game 1 of the 2018 finals, that was maybe the best I’ve EVER seen him play and they stole it from him. Obviously the Cavs would have been lucky to win another game but LeBron deserved that legendary moment.

[clipps]

How about 19 playoff Bran?

[Airupthere]

If someone gets into his head, he’s not shooting like that. And it would be easy for the 80s, 90s to get into his head.

[SouBeachTalents]

Along with 2014 it’s the best he’s ever been scoring wise. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive the refs for robbing him in game 1 of the 2018 finals, that was maybe the best I’ve EVER seen him play and they stole it from him. Obviously the Cavs would have been lucky to win another game but LeBron deserved that legendary moment.
How that series plays out if the Cavs win Game 1 will always be a huge what if to me. LeBron was at the absolute peak of his powers and you'd have to think winning Game 1 with arguably the best performance of his career would've given him and his teammates significant confidence heading into Game 2, knowing they had stolen homecourt and would be at home for 3 of the next 4 games.

Granted, the talent disparity between the teams was so massive that series could've very well played out like the '01 Finals, but I truly believe that series is much more competitive had the Cavs won Game 1

[Doranku]

How about 19 playoff Bran?

The sun will burn out before the Clippers catch Bran in rings.

[RRR3]

The sun will burn out before the Clippers catch Bran in rings.
:roll:

[RRR3]

How that series plays out if the Cavs win Game 1 will always be a huge what if to me. LeBron was at the absolute peak of his powers and you'd have to think winning Game 1 with arguably the best performance of his career would've given him and his teammates significant confidence heading into Game 2, knowing they had stolen homecourt and would be at home for 3 of the next 4 games.

Granted, the talent disparity between the teams was so massive that series could've very well played out like the '01 Finals, but I truly believe that series is much more competitive had the Cavs won Game 1
That’s part of why I’m so mad at those refs. They literally ignored precedent on one of those reviews. Steve Javie was baffled. I have no idea why they rigged that game you’d think they’d want a longer series but Jesus. Some of the most biased reffing I’ve ever seen. Probably the most biased tbh. I think Bron gets one more game if they win game 1 and ends up losing in 6. Warriors just had too much firepower and at some point that was going to catch up to the Cavs even if Bron stole a game or two.

[ShawkFactory]

I had game 1 on in the background while I was working one day last week and it almost seemed like he'd lost weight. He was more agile and explosive than he'd been in years, and his footwork and scoring repertoire didn't even look like it was coming from the same person who played with LA just 5 months later.

He was by far the best player on a court that had 2 other MVPs and sure fire HOFers.

[Micku]

2018 Playoff Bran is the best player I've ever seen on a regular basis (too young to remember peak Jordan, same with Shaq).

He was, imo, the best player since those two that I seen on the floor in 18 POs too. At least offensively. Not defensively.

I thought his 09 was pretty crazy too tho, but he was more skillful in 18.

[JohnMax]

Without watching video I bet there a lot of uncontested jump shots.

Update: I watched a little bit and I was correct, the bum was given wide open jump shots like in 2013 Finals.

[ShawkFactory]

Without watching video I bet there a lot of uncontested jump shots.

Update: I watched a little bit and I was correct, the bum was given wide open jump shots like in 2013 Finals.

It's a video of midrange shots. The entire is point is that they're contested..

NBA players aren't leaving dudes open for 16 footers.

[Spurs m8]

Peak Bron got swept lol

That's what happens when you focus on yourself and not the team.

[Axe]

2018 he was at his best ever but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to avoid him and his original team from getting swept in the finals for the second time. Having that said, where was ty lue tho when they needed his coaching the most?

[StrongLurk]

Let's be honest, Lebron has NEVER been a midrange master. He's had a few playoff runs or even seasons where his jumper was pretty good from mid range, but if you look at the FULL numbers from his prime (let's say 08/09 - now), his jumper is completely average at best...from everywhere. Like literally everything outside of him being 5 feet away from the basket is average or below average, and he sucks at free throws.

He can certainly create at a high level from the perimeter and make plenty of tough jumpers, but Lebron's lack of consistency has always stemmed from his failure to master scoring fundamentals. Lebron's offensive greatness comes from a few things: 1) Legendary size/athleticism/durability, great BBIQ, great vision/passing ability, and GOAT-level finishing ability within 5 feet of the basket. Everything else outside of these things have been very streaky or honestly unreliable. It's why Kobe/Jordan stans have a hard time with liking Lebron because his game is SO different from theirs.

With all this being said, Lebron is still to me the 2nd greatest player of all time behind MJ (you could make a case with Kareem too).

[Airupthere]

Lol, by mastery you would think it spans most of his career.

[Bronbron23]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFlM5IBs1OE



Watching this video has made me appreciate 2018 LeBron even more as my god was he a monster that year in the playoffs with his incredible speed and athleticism to go along with his jump shot that seemed to be at an all-time high that year.



I also think this video proves that Lebron would have zero problems playing in the 1980s and 1990s and in fact that he would be just as godlike in those eras as Jordan was.

Brons mid has been alot better in the last few years but overall for his career it's been inconsistent and at times non existent. 17/18 post season it looked really good. This year it's looked very good also but in general it's been a weakness of his.

Yeah bron would still be a beast in the 90's but his mid would more often than not be questionable and that would be the main difference between him and mj. Especially in an era where it was more of a slowed down halfcourt game and bron wouldn't get as many opportunities to get downhill in the open floor. Brons game is better suited for the 80's but he'd be a top 3 player no matter what era he's in.

[72-10]

LeBron is turning into an iso master to behold. To shoot the ball well from there is difficult. If he keeps it up, he can really get the shots in.

[72-10]

RRR3, do oyu think LeBron's turning into an iso master to behold? RRR3, what does you screen name stand for?

[kawhileonard2]

How that series plays out if the Cavs win Game 1 will always be a huge what if to me. LeBron was at the absolute peak of his powers and you'd have to think winning Game 1 with arguably the best performance of his career would've given him and his teammates significant confidence heading into Game 2, knowing they had stolen homecourt and would be at home for 3 of the next 4 games.

Granted, the talent disparity between the teams was so massive that series could've very well played out like the '01 Finals, but I truly believe that series is much more competitive had the Cavs won Game 1

The talent of the Cavs that year was like the talent of the Rockets that year once CP3 was out.

[TheGoatest]

He hit more buzzer beating game winners in a span of a couple of weeks those playoffs than most of the LeBron haters favorite players have done in their entire careers. :applause:

[SATAN]

It was amusing seeing MJ stans in another thread saying MJ would have trained differently if he played today's game so he would obviously be basically better than everyone at anything ever. Yet they deny anyone else would have trained differently if they happened to play in the 80s-90s.

You can't make this shit up :oldlol:

[Bronbron23]

It was amusing seeing MJ stans in another thread saying MJ would have trained differently if he played today's game so he would obviously be basically better than everyone at anything ever. Yet they deny anyone else would have trained differently if they happened to play in the 80s-90s.

You can't make this shit up :oldlol:

Both sides do this though. Player from 90's would obviously work on threes more now and be better at it just like players now would be better in the post or mid if they came up in 90's. People act like if you put steph curry in the 90's he'd be doing what he's doing now. He wouldn't for a variety of obvious reasons.

[SATAN]

The point about Steph is kinda interesting. What do you think he would be like back then?

A weird mix of Kenny Anderson and Steve Kerr springs to mind for me. :milton