Is "Bron Ball" offically dead?

[TAZORAC]

It was bond to happen at some point, but for about the last 3 seasons, Lebron James ability to drive to the basket has dramatically decreased. At his prime, he was the greatest facilitatry the NBA has ever seen, he could drive to the basket all will with speed, agility and power, or he could drive, draw the defense on him then kick it out.

LBJ although he has power, his speed has decreased and defientely his agility, he's one of the stiffest guys in the NBA (one of the oldest too). All these factorys contribute to him not being able to drive the ball like he could in his prime. He's never been a great shooter although he's gotten better the last few seasons.

To people who don't follow basketball, you can't really tell, but if you watch LBJ from 2009 vs today, you can see the difference.

So my question to ISH, is "BRON BALL" offically dead?[/B[B]] Does he need to take a pay cut as he can know longer carry a team by himself, but he still draws a big crowd to games.

[3ba11]

We all saw how the Warriors seemed to get stronger in the 4th

That's because Lebron's ball-dominance + "lull the defense to sleep" pursuit of open jumpers doesn't wear down defenses, so they have more energy to go off offensively and get stronger as the game or series progresses

Teams have always gone off on ball-domination as the series progresses - see the Mavericks vs. Clippers last year and countless other examples

[PP34Deuce]

When he wants to drive he can. He can't consistently do it for games. He can't explode every play but if he absolutely needs to he can still drive and dish.

Also think he wants that all time record and shooting 3 pointers is more valuable to him than going to the lane where he sucks.

[3ba11]

When he wants to drive he can. He can't consistently do it for games. He can't explode every play but if he absolutely needs to he can still drive and dish.

Also think he wants that all time record and shooting 3 pointers is more valuable to him than going to the lane where he sucks.


So he's living off reputation, which won't last - defenders will stop sagging and force him to drive once they realize he's lost a step penetrating and infact prefers jumpers

[Full Court]

He might still be the greatest facilitatry, but I'm not sure.


I agree with 3ball though. A few great players can pull it off, but in general ball dominator basektball is an inferior way of playing.

[ClipperRevival]

Call me crazy but his form on his jumpshots last night looked better than usual, as if he knew he lost a half step and put in work on his midrange game in the offseason. He seldom takes so many midrange shots like last night. Even a jab step pull up from the triple threat, which is something he almost never does he did.

If he did do this, he's being smart as this weapon will truly prolong his career.

[3ba11]

He might still be the greatest facilitatry, but I'm not sure.


I agree with 3ball though. A few great players can pull it off, but in general ball dominator basektball is an inferior way of playing.


Magic didn't pull anything off because Kareem is generally the higher-ranked player all-time... Similarly, Lebron needed super-teams to win - he never won without them as the clear-cut top producer.

Magic and Lebron have lower team ceilings, aka losing record in Finals (9-10 combined including numerous asterisks and bailouts)

If Magic or Lebron never formed super-teams, they'd be just like any other losing ball-dominator, aka harden, Nash, CP3, Westbrook, etc

ball-dominance needs more help to win because it loses the attrition battle - it lets the defense rest more than ball movement, so opponents are always fresher with more capacity to go off offensively.. ball-dominance literally gives the opponent the capacity to get "hot"

[Axe]

Kuzma just had a double double earlier

[TAZORAC]

So he's living off reputation, which won't last - defenders will stop sagging and force him to drive once they realize he's lost a step penetrating and infact prefers jumpers

He's lost about 3 steps. How many times does he pull up for 3 point bricks, when he would have drove the ball to the basketball and got an AND 1 years ago.