LeBron James is not as dominant as 2008-2010.

[OldSchoolBBall]

There's no difference.

% at rim:

07: 72.0%
08: 71%
09: 72%
10: 73.3%
11: 72%

And1%

07: 5.9%
08: 5.2%
09: 5.7%
10: 5.4%
11: 5.2%

FTR (Free Throw Rate)

07: 0.43
08: 0.47
09: 0.47
10: 0.51
11: 0.45

Meh.

That doesn't show how frequently he actually GETS to the rim, though, which is what's in question here. There's no question he's still a tremendous finisher when he gets there. FTR is supporting evidence, but there's not a 1:1 correlation there. Lebron is a superstar and will get his 8.5-10 FTA regardless of whether he drives 30% of the time or 15% of the time.

[Jacks3]

Attempts at rim:

07: 6.9
08: 8.0
09: 6.6
10: 6.8
11: 5.9

Decline has more to do with the team he's on more than anything. If he was back in CLE I doubt he'd have any trouble getting back up to around seven attempts. People are losing it. He's pretty much as athletic as ever.

[Nobler]

Its the haters man, cant get over it.

[moe94]

Rose was more athletic this season than any PG in NBA history. He's the game's best athlete today. .

Steve Francis? Nate Robinson? Westbrook is more than his equal.

[pmj]

Attempts at rim:

07: 6.9
08: 8.0
09: 6.6
10: 6.8
11: 5.9

Decline has more to do with the team he's on more than anything. If he was back in CLE I doubt he'd have any trouble getting back up to around seven attempts. People are losing it. He's pretty much as athletic as ever.

His field goal attempts as a whole are slightly down (all of the Big 3's are), which could account for it too.

Like I said, maybe he's slightly slower due to weight, but it's mainly being in a different offensive system and not having the ball in the same situations. All he did is run iso's in Cleveland... Not saying I'm a fan of the Heat's offense, they could incorporate more of his old style b/c imo he's better on iso's (as far as driving) with floor spacing than he is with PnR. His best play out of the PnR is his passing (making those Stockton-esque bounce passses), not his driving. He's just asked to be different player now.

[Anaximandro1]

I'm still not sure.LeBron looks a little slower,but his jumper has improved a lot.I guess we'll all find out soon enough.Can't wait for game 3

[Samurai Swoosh]

Attempts at rim:

07: 6.9
08: 8.0
09: 6.6
10: 6.8
11: 5.9

Decline has more to do with the team he's on more than anything. If he was back in CLE I doubt he'd have any trouble getting back up to around seven attempts. People are losing it. He's pretty much as athletic as ever.

LOL @ the LeBron / stat geeks looking at stats for EVERYTHING.

His attempts at the rim don't equate to lose of athleticism or not.

And eye test, watching the hames, he's lost a lot.

[heyhey]

LOL @ the LeBron / stat geeks looking at stats for EVERYTHING.

His attempts at the rim don't equate to lose of athleticism or not.

And eye test, watching the hames, he's lost a lot.

i think the reason his stats are still there is that he's getting bailed out by refs more. This season I see a lot more questionable barrel into players with no call or blocking call.

But he's just not as good a penatrator from top of the key as he was before. even his pick and roll game is not as smooth as Cavs days.

[pmj]

LOL @ the LeBron / stat geeks looking at stats for EVERYTHING.

His attempts at the rim don't equate to lose of athleticism or not.

And eye test, watching the hames, he's lost a lot.

Dude, the reason he brought up stats is b/c someone said "well he can't finish at the rim anymore, he used to get so many and-1s", and then he showed FG% at the rim and and-1%. Then someone said well he doesn't get to the rim as often as he used to, and he showed the stats of FGA at the rim.

[Samurai Swoosh]

Dude, the reason he brought up stats is b/c someone said "well he can't finish at the rim anymore, he used to get so many and-1s", and then he showed FG% at the rim and and-1%. Then someone said well he doesn't get to the rim as often as he used to, and he showed the stats of FGA at the rim.

And it's straight up dumb to even point out. As someone else said it isn't a 1:1 ratio. It doesn't tell you all the opportunities LeBron does have to drive that he passes on because he can't due aka due to the extreme loss of explosion off the dribble.



Playing on a court with Wade and Bosh to divert defensive attention, and a cast of shooters surrounding him. If he still had the same capabilities to get to the rim, he should be getting their more often, not less often, and finishing stronger at the rim than at near equal clip as he used to.

[pmj]

And it's straight up dumb to even point out. As someone else said it isn't a 1:1 ratio. It doesn't tell you all the opportunities LeBron does have to drive that he passes on because he can't due aka due to the extreme loss of explosion off the dribble.



Playing on a court with Wade and Bosh to divert defensive attention, and a cast of shooters surrounding him. If he still had the same capabilities to get to the rim, he should be getting their more often, not less often, and finishing stronger at the rim than at near equal clip as he used to.

I'm not even arguing that at this point, and neither was he.

"LOL @ the LeBron / stat geeks looking at stats for EVERYTHING.

His attempts at the rim don't equate to lose of athleticism or not."

He was using stats to refute those specific points which were that Lebron can't finish anymore, or doesn't get and-1s, etc. They weren't even talking about the overall lost athleticism topic... And then you chimed in making fun of him for using stats.

[IGOTGAME]

Lebron gains all this extra muscle and people expect him to be just as quick and agile?

The difference is not because of degeneration but because of a choice Lebron made to put on extra muscle. The same thing happened when Kobe bulked up for a season and slowed down going to the basket. As soon as Lebron loses some bulk he will go back to around 2009 level but it is his fault for adding muscle.


However, the myth that Lebron was some great isolation/slashing player is revisionist history. Guy has always relied on picks to get to the basket for the most part.