Who has done this successfully outside of Dallas? In one unique situation they used the combination of an elite rim protector, a great zone that closed off all the driving and passing lanes, a variety of veteran on-ball defenders to give him different looks, and a complete lack of shooters alongside Lebron, to make life very difficult for 26-year-old Lebron.
That's the ONE time this #### worked and you acting like it's a formula. No one has been able to do it since. Spurs beat the Heat in 2014 on insanely efficient offense, not defense (Lebron chucking inefficiently would have just put them further behind), and Warriors beat the Cavs in 2015 with Lebron the opposite of passive.
He's won the other 21 series in that time. You're literally basing your entire plot on ONE series that worked with 26-year-old Lebron and never worked again.
How is that "shoot and shoot until you make one" mentality a good thing?
And I love that Lebron has a scoring title, multiple 30+ point seasons, just had his 13th consecutive season averaging 25+ ppg, and is the all-time leading playoff scorer with a 28.3ppg playoff average and FIVE postseasons averaging 30+ppg, including the ridiculous 2009 postseason where he averaged 35+ppg and this year where he's averaging 32.5ppg, but he's not a "dominant offensive scorer".
If Lebron isn't a dominant offensive scorer, then there has never been one and never will be.
it's not the defenders. it's the rule that allows Bron to be unstoppable. again, i ain't saying he isn't great. he is great. a total package. but you can hold him to 24/9/7 ish night where he shoots 45-46% instead of 55% if defenders were allowed to get physical with him.
we've seen it before. make him passive, make him hesitate. the common denominator is the tough physical defense and make bron the passer, not the scorer.
the league doesn't allow to get physical anymore. basketball was a physical sport. seriously i play borderline football/basketball in my winter rec league. those old fools love it. i love it. it's very different type of game. dudes elbow is always on my waste. and they E Honda you - and no foul gets called unless it's just blatant showing. and then when i play against typical no contact basketball - it has a totally different flow to my game and the game itself.
i mean just watch what raptors did to Bron. it's a disgrace. you can't beat bron like that. he's too big and fast. if glove was guarding bron in the 90's he would absolutely no doubt try to mess up bron's head and then do whatever it takes to not give him any wiggle room. bron becomes the magic, not magic/MJ hybrid. that doesn't guarantee W, but at least it can neutralize the best player.
and shoot until you make one is a great thing in the playoffs especially when the game is on the line and when you are kobe/MJ or any other great scorer. cuz at the end of the day the whole team and fans counting on you to come through. usually they do. i've seen jordan go 6 for 22 or something and those 3 buckets at the end were critical.
IT'S OK TO MISS A SHOT. AS LONG AS YOU MAKE THE NEXT ONE. WHEN BRON STOPS SHOOTING AND BE PASSIVE, THEN THAT'S THE MOST VULNERABLE HE BECOMES.
AGAIN - JUST WATCH ALL THE GAMES WHERE HE KINDA DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HIMSELF. IT ALL STARTS WITH HIM STRUGGLING MENTALLY. AND HE BECOMES LESS INVOLVED OFFENSIVELY. YOU NEVER SEE BRON GO 5 FOR 25. ALMOST NEVER.
