Phil Jackson: LeBron needs to take over like Michael Jordan

[jlip]

MJ scored 51% of his team's points in a game that either ties the series, or puts them in a 3-1 hole with the Knicks having HCA. Pippen, Grant, and BJ were a combined 14 for 30 in the same game for 39 points....to MJ's 54.

What would you call it?

Or Pippen led the team in the previous game preventing them from going down 0-3 by scoring 29 on 83% shooting while MJ scored 22 pts on 17% shooting. MJ came through in game 5, especially in the 2nd half, but every objective observer who saw the series and is not clouded by blind worship of MJ knows that Pippen came through offensively and closed out game 6 while MJ was struggling with his shot. But true to form, the cult of MJ acts like this comeback was all about the one dominating scoring game that MJ had. MJ is the only player in the history of all team sports that is not allowed by his fans to have quality help that every now and then actually carries the team when he isn't playing well.

[Dragonyeuw]

Or Pippen led the team in the previous game preventing them from going down 0-3 by scoring 29 on 83% shooting while MJ scored 22 pts on 17% shooting. MJ came through in game 5, especially in the 2nd half, but every objective observer who saw the series and is not clouded by blind worship of MJ knows that Pippen came through offensively and closed out game 6 while MJ was struggling with his shot. But true to form, the cult of MJ acts like this comeback was all about the one dominating scoring game that MJ had. MJ is the only player in the history of all team sports that is not allowed by his fans to have quality help that every now and then actually carries the team when he isn't playing well.

Whose to say the Bulls don't tie the series at 1-1 if not for Pippen scoring a paltry 17 in game 2? Kudos to him for outscoring MJ in one of the 6 games, I suppose. But considering they lost game 2 by 5 points, a little more offensive from the 2nd option may have avoided the game 3 situation you describe above. The worst knock against MJ that series was the efficiency, no doubt it was shit. But take away that scoring, and you get the 94 series result.

[Replay32]

I get tired of the comparisons to MJ. Lebron is no Michael Jordan. He's not as good. He's Lebron james and he needs to play better. He needs to stop being so passive. Last game they were giving him the mid range jump shot. He refused to take it and the Cavs end up getting a bad shot or turning the ball over because of it.

Dude needs to take open shots and just play the game. Stop over thinking things. He has a bad habit of doing this. IMO, a couple years of college would of helped him. It's just basketball and not rocket science. The entire cavs team needs to take the open shots when they get them and play faster. If they lose, so what. I bet they won't loose by 30 points though. They also need to stop switching unnecessarily and play their normal defense.

Steph and klay has got these dudes shook. It's sad to watch.

[HylianNightmare]

If only he could

[pegasus]

I'm not sure if he'll be able to do that in Space Jam 2 even with the help of special effects, let alone in the NBA finals.

[IllegalD]

On a more serious note, Jordan averaged 25-30 FGA or sometimes more, in the playoffs & especially Finals, that was his offensive mindset every single game.... Lebron played with that offensive mindset only when he really has to, like last Finals for example, hoisting shots going out guns blazing, but only because he was forced into with literally no other scoring target whatsover around, he just isnt that "unselfish" or excuse me "has that score-first mindset" to do that essentially every game.... right now he has help, he has Kyrie/Love (and even Jr Smith) who are completely underperforming, i dont think he will ever lose trust on them and thats what he will have to do to play more like Jordan... it will require for him to ignore his teammates alot to average 25-30 FGA this series... sure, it maybe could result in wins as Kyrie/Love/Smith could have underperformed again if he didnt go out guns blazing, but if he trusted them that game they could catch fire / play up to their standards instead, thats why its a gamble, every game is different........

For especially guys like Lebron/Bird, who are hybrids offensively between two very extremly opposite gamestyles (scoring & passing/facilitating) its a gamble every game, you just dont know exactly what your offensive mindset should have been / what you really should have done until the game is over..... like last 2 games for Lebron for example, he probably beats himself because he knew he could have instead tried to take over the game (the entire game) ignoring teammates knowing how they performed that game....

For Jordan that wasnt a problem at all, he had only ONE role & mindset offensively.... and he was the GOAT at it....

Point #1:
Lebron has a different game, namely the offensive mindset/style... an offensive mindset that is much more closer to Magic or even Bird... all he actually needs this Finals is for his teammates to simply give him some help, just the usual help, to just play up to their standards, which they have yet to do in the Finals... now that Love is injured (might miss game 3) makes things only worse, but it could give a better reason to "take over like Michael Jordan".

Point #2:
Jordan is the greatest scorer i have ever seen, by far... nobody can take over like Michael Jordan when it really matters... especially not a point-forward... well, not every single game....

Damn. A whole thesis meltdown just to come to terms that LeBron can't take over games offensively like Jordan and Kobe can.

Funny how you're changing up your tune now all of a sudden after years of spewing the opposite...

[G0ATbe]

They're doomed.

[Born Sinner]

Lebron is no mj. He sucks compared to mj

[Blue&Orange]

Such a terrible comparison.

Jordan was a great iso player. That was his strength. As long as his teammates rebounded and played D, he could take on a big scoring load.

Lebron's strength is setting up teammates. And because of his ability to get to the rim he does it better than any other player in the league. But these guys have to at least be able to knock down a few shots.

Dudes wanna clown on Lebron because he doesnt chuck a bunch of bad shots trying to be the hero. Guys with low IQ's thinkin basketball is all about "killer instinct" cliches, rather than finding the most practical approach to beating your opponents as a team.

Phil's obviously just trying to hype up MJ as usual, but it's pretty crappy analysis. They have different styles of play. He doesnt need to do what MJ did, he needs to do what he's capable of doing at a high level, and he needs his teammates to do what theyre supposed to do, at a high level. And even then, the Warriors are just better. Thats why Curry hasnt "taken over like MJ" either. It's a team game.

Phil just bein a cornball.

lol this sorry ass loser. Lebron can take over because he can't shoot, and he can't beat his man without traveling and without using the stiff arm. Passing the ball to some random guy standing behind the 3pt line is setting up shit.

Lebron brand of basketball is the one that turns hyped teams, favorite teams, historic team into crap teams.

Stacked team, Not 1, not 2, not 7, not 8, it's going to be easy, they are going to beat bulls record, turns into "he has horrible teammates".

Stacked team, $198 million payroll, cavs would have won if healthy, 16-0 playoff run, turns into "he has horrible teammates".



You should be grateful we are beyond natural selection.

[HighFlyer23]

MJ was a killer

Lebron can't even beat a prebupescent mulatto girl, despite being a 6'9" 265 lb athletic monster

[PP34Deuce]

I believe Phil was not comparing them but saying Lebron needs to realize his legacy rides on this.

Lebron coasts. Everyone knows he probes and coasts through a game. Mostly for cerebral purposes. Everyone is waiting for Lebron to become the intimidator instead of intimidated.

[smoovegittar]

enough with the mindset excuse,

the truth of the matter is that Lebron is INCAPABLE of playing like Jordan from a skill and athleticism stand point.

Lebron is a garbage iso scorer, has a pedestrian first step and flat out poor two feet leaper. that means he's a very limited half court scorer, below average in fact.

So he can't take over games teh way Jordan or Kobe could. And the Warriors are playing exactly to that deficit right now, they are exposing him by covering his teammates and forcing him to beat them.

Lebron is left on an island in single COVERAGE all game long, if that was Jordan or Kobe being defended the same way they would drop 50+ on the warriors defense. But Lebron is a pathetic half court scorer, so he can't do it and his team is suffering as a result

That's a wrap.

[stalkerforlife]

Jackson is trolling, as always.

He knows damn well Bran can't do that Jordan would do, and he's rubbing it in the faces of all the people who ever even mentioned them in the same breathe.

[diamenz]

I get tired of the comparisons to MJ. Lebron is no Michael Jordan. He's not as good. He's Lebron james and he needs to play better. He needs to stop being so passive. Last game they were giving him the mid range jump shot. He refused to take it and the Cavs end up getting a bad shot or turning the ball over because of it.

Dude needs to take open shots and just play the game. Stop over thinking things. He has a bad habit of doing this. IMO, a couple years of college would of helped him. It's just basketball and not rocket science. The entire cavs team needs to take the open shots when they get them and play faster. If they lose, so what. I bet they won't loose by 30 points though. They also need to stop switching unnecessarily and play their normal defense.

Steph and klay has got these dudes shook. It's sad to watch.

great post. didn't realize there were still a few level headed peeps here.

[livinglegend]

WTF is Phil talking about?


1993 game 3 Knicks-Bulls: Here are Jordan's stats:


22 points on 3/18 shooting!

Pippen's stats:


29 points on 10/12 shooting!

He got bailed out by Pippen and his stacked team in that game 3.
Take over like Jordan