Ozymandeas
Veteran
LeBron Stans will cling to stats and "efficiency" because they know the numbers look better on the surface but when you examine them closely, it falls apart.
My hypothesis with Lebron is he increases his efficiency by driving to the basket at a higher rate....which is proven already when you look at shooting by distance FG percentage. Lebron goes to the basket on 35% of his shots vs. Kobe's 21%. The problem is this strategy gets exposed in the playoffs when defenses tighten up and don't allow those easy shots.
Against Boston in 2010, in the first three games, LeBron averaged 32 PPG, 7 RBS, 6 AST on 54%
The last three games of the series, Lebron averaged 21 PPG, 11 RBS, 8 AST on 34% efficiency
Which is in line with Boston switching up how they played him.
Here's every game LeBron had vs. Boston in 2010:
Game 1: 35 PTS, 7 RBS, 7 AST, 3 STL, 2 TOV, 500% FG
Game 2: 24 PTS, 7 RBS, 7 AST, 3 STL, 5 TOV, 467% FG
Game 3: 38 PTS, 8 RBS, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 636% FG
Game 4: 22 PTS, 9 RBS, 8 AST, 2 STL, 7 TOV, 389% FG
Game 5: 15 PTS, 9 RBS, 8 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, 214% FG
Game 6: 27 PTS, 19 RBS, 10 AST, 3 STL, 9 TOV, 381% FG
Here's every game Kobe had vs. Boston in 2010:
Game 1: 30 PTS, 7 RBS, 6 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 455% FG
Game 2: 21 PTS, 5 RBS, 6 AST, 4 STL, 5 TOV, 400% FG
Game 3: 29 PTS, 7 RBS, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 345% FG
Game 4: 33 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 AST, 2 STL, 7 TOV, 455% FG
Game 5: 38 PTS, 5 RBS, 4 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 481% FG
Game 6: 26 PTS, 11 RBS, 3 AST, 4 STL, 2 TOV, 474% FG
Game 7: 23 PTS, 15 RBS, 2 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 250% FG
Kobe was MORE CONSISTENT in giving you 25-30 points a night on 40-45% efficiency whereas LeBron had bigger highs but, much lower lows. He had two exceptional games, one good game, and three horrific games in a row. Kobe beat Boston because his game didn't depend on driving to the basket. He could maintain good enough efficiency shooting jumpers vs. an historic defense
whereas LeBron couldn't maintain his strategy of driving to the rim ARGUE WITH YOUR MAMA!
My hypothesis with Lebron is he increases his efficiency by driving to the basket at a higher rate....which is proven already when you look at shooting by distance FG percentage. Lebron goes to the basket on 35% of his shots vs. Kobe's 21%. The problem is this strategy gets exposed in the playoffs when defenses tighten up and don't allow those easy shots.
Against Boston in 2010, in the first three games, LeBron averaged 32 PPG, 7 RBS, 6 AST on 54%
The last three games of the series, Lebron averaged 21 PPG, 11 RBS, 8 AST on 34% efficiency
Which is in line with Boston switching up how they played him.
Here's every game LeBron had vs. Boston in 2010:
Game 1: 35 PTS, 7 RBS, 7 AST, 3 STL, 2 TOV, 500% FG
Game 2: 24 PTS, 7 RBS, 7 AST, 3 STL, 5 TOV, 467% FG
Game 3: 38 PTS, 8 RBS, 7 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, 636% FG
Game 4: 22 PTS, 9 RBS, 8 AST, 2 STL, 7 TOV, 389% FG
Game 5: 15 PTS, 9 RBS, 8 AST, 1 STL, 3 TOV, 214% FG
Game 6: 27 PTS, 19 RBS, 10 AST, 3 STL, 9 TOV, 381% FG
Here's every game Kobe had vs. Boston in 2010:
Game 1: 30 PTS, 7 RBS, 6 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 455% FG
Game 2: 21 PTS, 5 RBS, 6 AST, 4 STL, 5 TOV, 400% FG
Game 3: 29 PTS, 7 RBS, 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 TOV, 345% FG
Game 4: 33 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 AST, 2 STL, 7 TOV, 455% FG
Game 5: 38 PTS, 5 RBS, 4 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 481% FG
Game 6: 26 PTS, 11 RBS, 3 AST, 4 STL, 2 TOV, 474% FG
Game 7: 23 PTS, 15 RBS, 2 AST, 1 STL, 4 TOV, 250% FG
Kobe was MORE CONSISTENT in giving you 25-30 points a night on 40-45% efficiency whereas LeBron had bigger highs but, much lower lows. He had two exceptional games, one good game, and three horrific games in a row. Kobe beat Boston because his game didn't depend on driving to the basket. He could maintain good enough efficiency shooting jumpers vs. an historic defense
whereas LeBron couldn't maintain his strategy of driving to the rim ARGUE WITH YOUR MAMA!
