LeBron in the Clutch

[Karma]

In light of criticism of his late game play, highlighted by an ill advised 3 point attempt against Orlando.

Is this seen as an ongoing problem with LeBron James?

Should the Cavalier's look elsewhere down the stretch like veterans Marshall, Ilgauskas and Hughes?

Is this more just an experience thing being only 20 years old?

Is this not an issue at all?

 

[joma]

I dont think its that big of an issue. Late in games lebrons shot selection often seems puzzling. I think we should just go to jones or marshall in the clutch. I can only remember 2 times lebron has been clutch. First game of last year with a three against indy. And then the three ball to tie in chicago. He seems like tonight he just tried to iso instead of moving the ball in the final minutes. We should stick to marshall and jones.

 

[West Remy]

I feel LeBron is hit-and-miss in the clutch. Those who claim he is great in the clutch are biased, as are those who claim LeBron is poor in the clutch. If you take an unbiased look at the matter, you see he is in a unique position to be great or horrible in pressure situations due to his shoot/pass nature.

In tonight's game, you had a poor situation that involved the entire team. All the players on the court and all the coaches on the sideline were guilty of a cardinal sin in the clutch: being predictable. Not only that, failing to run a play, space the floor, clear out and show movement off-the-ball puts the receiever in a poor situation.

If I were looking at tonight's scenario from a coaching standpoint, I would ask, "If LeBron is in the corner, why not help him out?" I get the impression he didn't know what he wanted to do and perhaps didn't even want to take that shot. If LeBron had nailed that shot, he would have been a hero. But if he misses, he becomes the goat. That's never a good situation to be in. Your star player has little time and a difficult shot to work with.

In the future, I would like LeBron start his move quicker into the fading shot/game clock. That way, he'll have time to take a step back jumper, pull up or making a pass will forcing opposing defenses to meet him (because you have to react to LeBron's first step). Coach Brown ought to say, "Hold the ball a little less before making your move. But don't make your move right away." All in all, despite this holding flaw of James, I give him credit for showing patience and not going all out like an impulsive player without first weighing his options.

With Marshall on our team, LeBron James is a great decoy. If he has to give the ball up, you can trust Marshall or Z for the jumper. But if LeBron isn't doubled and keeps the ball, you're confident with that as well.

 

[PIP]

Karma you're a funny man... Not so subtle at times...But message sent :chuckles:

I noticed in the 4th down the stretch, they kept going to "Z" and it was not working.. (Stuck with it in overtime and it worked)

But they were having Larry come off a screen over the top set by "Z" to get the ball in a position to get it too "Z"..

It really looked like 'bron was not even involved in the offense... That is why I asked in the game thread: "Is it Larry or LeBron's team" ?... I wasn't being a smartass when saying that, I know the obvious answer, but the way it looked tonight, you would have thought Larry was the man on this team..

I just think Hughes is the better ball handler and he sets the team up better... But when we needed LeBron down the stretch to attack he did.. He's the better finisher...

I like the combination of the two, and it is proving the people wrong who thought they couldn't play together because of their similarities...

Hughes and 'Bron is better then Redd and 'Bron... The ability to break defenses down is so huge, and to have the luxury of having both is incredible.. Redd can't do that..

'Bron will get plenty of chances down the stretch, but like tonight when other teams are watchin' game film, they will see they better not just focus on 'Bron like in the past.. Thus, we will have more chances with 'Bron down the stretch with less double teams..

Too many people to watch out for... I love it..

 

[Wine and Gold]

OK ...First off ..we had a thread started and closed that was pure idiocy. Taking pot shots at Lebron for a tough three he took late in regulation of the Orolando game. So, why is Lebron being chastised #1 ..? He gets that ball on an inbounds in a very tough spot ...the corner. His options aren't wide open at that point ...he can step back and take a three or go left. The defender knowinh the baseline is pining him in hedges for Lebron to make a move ledft, so he's got nowhere to go ...The question should be this ...why did everyone leave Lebron all alone ? Why didn't someone run over and try and set a pick to free him up ? Lebron can not be blamed for that play going south ....just bad communication with the players on the court.

But ...on to the point of who should handle the ball late. I say it's really dependent on matchups on that given night. We have a number of guys that can control things in that situation. Hughes I would say is the best guy overall ...but still there might be times where Lebron has the greater advantage based on the matchup.

BUT AGAIN ...THAT POST ABOUT LEBRON BEING DUMB ...THE POST DID REVEAL ONE PERSON AS BEING DUMB, BUT IT WASN'T LEBRON.

 

[Pioneer10]

As Remy was pointing out, this is exaclty what happened last year against the Pistons. He was put in a terrible situation: 6 seconds on the clock inbounded too with no help: no cutters and no screen. Not a play with a great chance of success.

People need to remember he drove on OT to ice the game with a great 3 point pklay

 

[Glen Infante]

To be a clutch player, you need to be in clutch situations. LeBron will never learn how to be a supreme clutch player if he doesn't get the ball.

I would love the ball in his hands with the clock winding down, but most of the time he dissapoints me.

The more chances he gets though, the more he will learn how to score in those situations.

 

[PIP]

Well he hit two game tying shots at the buzzer last season (season opener against Indy and against Chitown)

Let the kid go to another team, then see how it is...I'm sure our games threads would consist of 6 post

I can't believe there is complaints on him.. Sure he can improve, but the dude is 20 friggin' years old...

He won't reach his peak for another 7 or 8 years...Especially from the mental aspect of the game...

I think the last person people should be bitchin about is LeBron James.

 

[moohead]

The dreaded 6 second iso.

I don't see this criticism as valid. In 6 seconds, what is he gonna do? Drive and chuck going away from the hoop? (That's all he would have had).

The team blew the lead and the TEAM won the OT.

Where is the STEVE FRANCIS FADEAWAY thread????

Road games are won with defense and execution. We did both in the OT. Orlando threw up 3's and perimeter shots.

We are 10 deep. Cherish THAT and quitcher bitchin'!!!

Moo

 

[Glen Infante]

Well every player has their flaws. It's ok to pin point them on LeBron once and a while. He is the best player that we have ever had on our team, but there is some things that needs to be critisized (sp?).

Just because he is King Cleveland doesn't mean he has a war shield in front of him that clangs away negitivity from his home crowd.

 

[Dungong]

Give it to Lebron down the stretch, but give the guy something to work with. The team shouldn't have even been in that situation in the first place. What exactly can you do with the ball in the corner with that much time left on the clock?

 

[PIP]

I hear you Infante, but you got to keep in mind the age... It's one thing if it's Iverson, Kobe or T-Mac guys that should be at a level of clutchness but are not... (they are, but they should be, as they have been at it for awhile..)

But the dude has been asked so much already..It doesn't seem to me he can ever learn through something or have time for anything.. Because his name is LeBron the expectaions are so friggin' huge...

For example, D-Wade is a poor outside shooter, but you never read or hear anything about it..

If this a problem when LeBron is 25 years old, then the question could be legitimately be asked...

But damn...You guys are asking for legendary greatness already...

 

[DawgOnKing]

As I recall it was Donyell that we went to. As I recall it was a designed play for him. As I recall he sent us to OT.

 

[NarlCavs]

The big issue to me is that LeBron's shot selection has been terrible at times this year. It's poor decision making to jack up off balance 22 footers early in the shot clock which has been happening much too often. The Cavs have many more offensive weapons this year and need to run offense since a good shot can be had almost every time down the floor.
I think Mike Brown has to get this cleaned up. It's almost seems at times as if LeBron has gone a few possessions without an attempt that he's going to fire up a shot no matter what.
LeBron has great court vision, creating and passing skills. It's a shame that they aren't getting used as much so far this season.

It's early in the season and the Cavs have a new coach, system and many new faces so things should improve. LeBron has been very good and even some of the questionable shot attempts have been falling so I don't want to be too hard on him. A player with his talent and ability does get held to a higher standard though.

 

[cdt]

MJ says it best...I've missed more game deciding shots then I've made.

He is a little iffy with his shot selection but to ask if he is the dumbest player in the nba? wow...put down the beer and set the bowl down because that is laughable at best :chuckles: He may not make great choices sometimes but cmon he is our franchise. Did you not like the cut to the basket lay in and the 3 point play? His shot selection will come with maturity..funny most players dont have an nba body,some are selfish, some are bad chemistry guys..and we are on LeBron for taking a bad shot?