[WizardofOzParticipant]

It’s so obvious. If you watch 1 minute of Miami LeBron, and then watch watch 30 seconds of Cleveland LeBron, if you don’t see the difference, you’re blind. He’s lost a significant amount of athleticism. That’s why he’s been dissapearing. Nowadays, he really struggles to beat his man off the dribble, and most like to settle for a jumpshot or just pass it out. This series, he can’t get by anybody. In game 1, he couldn’t get past Stojackovic. There was even one time in that game when JJ Barea was guarding, but LeBron couldn’t even get past him and settled for a jumper. And Jason Kidd has been guarding him these last 2 games, and Jason Kidd is a good defender and all, but lets be serious, if this was Cleveland LeBron, he wlould’ve destroyed him.

He’s greatly improved his jumpshot, but in the playoffs, he’s only played well when his jumper is going in, and that hasn’t been the case this series.

And I don’t want to hear that excuse about him not having to drive anymore because of Dwyane Wade. Don’t you think that Heat want LeBron to score more? If LeBron was able to get into the lane last night, the Heat would’ve won.

When was the last time you’ve seen him get a chasedown block? When was the last time you’ve seen him get his head above the rim? The guy’s athleticism is diminishing and if you can’t see it, you’re in denial. And I’m not a hater either.

And this is why I now think Dwayne Wade has eclipsed him.

[WizardofOzParticipant]

What’s sad about tonight is that I can’t even put the blame on his severely diminished athletic ability. The previous losses during the regular season and EC playoffs I could, but tonight he wasn’t even trying. Nothing was stopping him from being aggressive and taking jump shots out there LIKE HE’S DONE ALL FREAKING YEAR, but he flat out refused to do it. I swear, it felt like he was intentionally trying to throw the game. At the very least he was trying his best to be a complete non-factor.

[MalcolmxParticipant]

I believe he is getting to bulky I have been thinking this all year.He can still get his head on the rim but he was flying higher and moving faster when he had less muscle.He is getting to huge probably in the 270 range and his draft weight was 245 and he was nicely built back then.He is still a top notch athlete though so not driving to the rim has me scratching my head

[jeff416Participant]

Yeah, I think he needs to lose a little weight. He’s just weighs way to much, even if it is all muscle. He’s still a very good athlete though, but he has loss some athleticism, mainly speed.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Is not the issue. The guy is still as athletic as ever, he is playing fantastic defense and can still move as well as he ever has. Dallas’ zone has been the issue. They have an entire defense that is gunning for LeBron James, he is never ever given open space, there game plan has been top damn notch in stopping him. However, this has allowed Dwyane Wade favorable match-ups and an ability to provide much more of a presence. It also has given Chris Bosh some openings, that he has used at times and clanged at others. LeBron did not have a good game 4, it was incredibly poor, but Dallas’ entire zone was gearing towards his side of the court, he had so little breathing room it was ridiculous. He played facillitator rather than attacking it, and in the end that probably hurt the team. He needs to be going to the line much more than 4 times, it is getting pretty ridiculous.

He is playing smart instead of playing aggressive, which is honestly a tad disappointing. The guy made amazing basketball plays during that game, but he was very tentative in looking for his own shot, which was mainly due to the fact that he was either doubled or played with a guy right in his grill. I feel Miami did a fairly poor job of spreading the floor, and also as usual the isolation offense that they went too at the end of the fourth quarter provided next to nothing. I really hope LeBron becomes more aggressive in Game 5, at least in looking for his own offense, but his facillitating has really been pretty damn solid. Overall, of course it has to be a tremendously poor game when LeBron does not crack double digits, not to mention losing the game, but I give credit to Dallas’ zone, it killed LeBron’s opportunities for daylight. Stevenson, Marion and Chandler all were completely fixated on stopping him, and while it lead to Wade and Bosh having daylight, their plan still worked in stopping the greatest force on the floor. Make no mistake, they are much happier with Wade going off than LeBron going off. They have had each one of these last 3 games in their grasp with this game plan, and they now have a tied series.

[TRC1991Participant]

LeBron doesnt have a spin move which is hurting his game. I saw maybe 3 or 4 times yesterday where shawn marion was guarding him super close and all he needed to do was dribble once to the left and then spin back around and he had a good look in the paint…d wade has a great spin move and so does kobe, thats a part of the game that hes lacking

 

and agreed…he needs to drop weight because hes having difficulty taking people off the dribble

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

Watching game two and three it didnt look like he lost any athleticism. He was making plays nobody else in the world could make. The problem was his aggressiveness in game 4. He was settling for the most part on offense and was a spectator to wade without the ball in his hands. Wade looked the same way in the Chicago series. If they get in sync game 5 youll see a much more aggressive and more athletic looking lebron.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

When the entire court is slanted to your side, what is a spin move going to matter? LeBron definitely does have one, but he had 0 oxygen to use it. I do not know, maybe he is tired, but I for one think this talk of his body failing him is garbage. Look at the way he has been playing all over the court, he has been fairly relentless. People tend to dislike it when he tried to take over in crunch time in Game 2, because Wade had the hot hand. Well, Wade made plenty of mistakes yesterday in crunch time as well, it is definitely a double standard. I think they are both fine personally, no one was complaining about LeBron’s weight during the first three rounds. The guy is as explosive as ever, he just has no space to work with in Dallas’ zone right now, and Miami should do a better job of spreading the floor.

[TheLastWordParticipant]

Did you guys not see that put back tip in the first quarter? He has not lost athleticism.

[NJHooper95Participant]

Lebron can not go by anyone with his First Step. He still has end to end speed and leaping ability, but that first step is a bit slow. I have noticed it alot this playoffs, that Lebron cant go by people on his initial step, they are still with him. Also his ball-handling is part of the problem as well. He doesnt have a yo-yo handle. And often times he shields off with his opposite hand while dribbling.Good post Wizard.

[ghrghrParticipant]

 ^^^ This guy is right.

The heavier you are, the harder it is for you to accelerate. It doesn’t affect your max speed so much, but it reduces the speed of the first step and the ability to change directions.

Lebron is still a monster and to me the best all-around player in the league,

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

 @mikeyv

lebron playing "smart" instead of aggresive is actually not smart at all

cuz he isnt attacking the defense or like u said getting to the line

and on lebrons body has failed him

true, he is reallly really big at 270 or so… he needs to trim down if he can… but he still hes an AMAZING athlete regardless… 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

It is not smart, technically, but I still think that he is trying to make the right basketball play rather than forcing it. But, you are right, it would be much more smart for him to be aggressive and be more than a facillitator. I still think that saying "his body has failed him" is complete garbage though. His body is fine, we honestly have no idea how much he weighs, and he does not appear that much bigger than he was the last couple of years. He is still incredibly fast and athletic, and Jason Kidd has not at all been the primary defender on him. He is shooting 46% for the series (though only 36% in the last two games), but he has been trying to make the right play rather than force the issue while being double teamed with a 7 footer down low watching him like a hawk.

What needs to happen is he needs to play with more urgency, and he needs to be getting to the line at least 8-10 times per game rather than the less than 4 he has averaged thus far in this series. People seem to be forgetting that the Finals is tied at 2-2, and for the majority of this series Miami has looked like the better team due to, of course, the play of their three best players. LeBron had a really bad Game 4 and lacked aggression, but he was trying his butt off on defense and was spoon feeding them some easy buckets. There is no way he should only be taking one shot in the last quarter, and no way that he should be taking only 11 field goals and 4 free throws in a Finals game. Perhaps he was taking the "I do not care about scoring as long as we win the game" thing too far. They are much better off with LeBron taking too many shots rather than too few, but I see little way that his body has failed him, especially seeing that he has been all over the court in this series and while he has not been his usual high scoring self, he has his team tied at 2-2 in the NBA Finals.

[andxxxParticipant]

 I actually think its more fatigue than anything else.  If you’ve been watching the heat all season he has been able to blow by people, but as the playoffs have gone on he just seems to be a little fatigued.  He’s played more minutes than anyone else in the playoffs you got to remember that.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Now Kobe has lost a step I know that.  I remember in game 4 against Dallas, Kobe tried to blow past Kidd and didn’t get anywhere.  I haven’t really noticed if LeBron has lost a step.  He usually puts his head down and barrels over people and he did that last night (e.g., Brian Cardinal). 

He’s built more like a power forward than a small forward so his game at times reminds me of Karl Malone or someone more like that.  More of a power game than finesse. He might have been tired but so was everyone else.  It has been an incredible series and I am pretty sure everyone was totally winded by the end of the game.  … but I do think he needs to lose weight so he can still stay explosive and be quick enough to guard perimeter guys.  He’s not as athletic as he was when he first came into the NBA but he is still great, but he has never been a "hangtime, floating, spinning" athletic dunker/finisher like MJ or Dr. J.  He is a quick power dunker/finisher like Nique, Sir Charles, the Mailman, and Amare.  

[ilike.panochasParticipant]

I don’t think it has anything to do physically, I think LeBron just doesn’t have much one on one moves and the league has somewhat figure out how to contain him. He needs to counter that this offseason by working new move (a post up game) or improved jumpshot.

[Untouchable JParticipant]

I had League Pass, and i’ve noticed it all year.

Texted many friends that Lebron is now ‘just’ athletically great, but not athletically Historical like before.

It is literally frustrating to see him NOT be able to get by ANYBODY

He plays old.  He brings the ball up like your old uncle…using his off hand to block the defender.

Its puzzling.  He does NOT play like he’s 26.

[Untouchable JParticipant]

Again, for those of us with LEAGUE PAS, who watched more than just televised reg. season games, know that you could set your clock to Spoelstra’s sub pattern.

4 min. left in 1st qtr, out goes Bosh and Wade…Start of the 2nd, out comes Bron, back in are Wade and Bosh…then Bron comes back in at the 7 min mark.

Obviously your rotation shortens in playoffs, but ther’s no reaosn to play Born 46 minutes in ANY game.  Thye been crying about playing too many minutes all year.  Forget the symbolism of ‘its the Finals you dont get tired’  BULLSHYT.

That shyt will show, and it sis in game 4.  JT blew by Bron a few times.  He’s gassed.  Just play his normal 40 min…get him his rest early.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Dallas’ zone has been the issue. They have an entire defense that is gunning for LeBron James, he is never ever given open space, there game plan has been top damn notch in stopping him. However, this has allowed Dwyane Wade favorable match-ups and an ability to provide much more of a presence. It also has given Chris Bosh some openings, that he has used at times and clanged at others. LeBron did not have a good game 4, it was incredibly poor, but Dallas’ entire zone was gearing towards his side of the court, he had so little breathing room it was ridiculous.

That’s an excuse. Isn’t Miami’s defense geared towards stopping Dirk? They’ve basically doubled him the entire series. Have you seen the way Miami has collapsed on him when he’s put the ball on the floor? Or when he’s tried to post up on the block and shoot his fadeaway to the left? They’re always sneaking that defender over and they’ve timed it very good majority of the time. They’ve constantly tried to jump him when he puts the ball on the floor and turns his back. They’ve banged him coming off of screens. They’ve been playing him physical.

Despite that, Dirk has shown up every game. That doesn’t mean he’s made every shot, but he’s played aggressive. He’s put the ball on the floor. He’s attacked the basket and gotten to the line. You can’t say that about LeBron. Regardless of if it’s man to man or zone, LeBron hasn’t been aggressive. He’s not attacking. He’s struggling to get by Kidd, Stevenson and Marion off of the dribble. I mean, that’s ridiculous. Those are good defenders, but not ONE of them should be able to keep LeBron from attacking the gaps. Even if LeBron doesn’t score, he NEEDS to attack.

I won’t say LeBron’s body has failed him… I mean, failed is extreme. However, his first step doesn’t look as explosive nor does he get up as high. I’ve noticed it all season. Just think of the days where he used to take off of that left leg. It was the most powerful and unique left leg jump in the history of sports. He’s not doing that anymore. I’ve said I think he’s playing too heavy. He’s carrying what? 265-275 lbs? That’s heavy for a wing player who’s also the primary ball handler. He just seems to lack that blow by ability that he used to have.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

He needs to go back to his 245 days.  265-270 is too much for him.

[cward23Participant]

I wonder why people kept talking about Dirks Temperature but didn’t mention LeBrons which was higher than Dirks?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

LeBron is the oldest 26 year old in league history.  He is in his 8th year and has played 40 plus minutes EVERY every game in his career. This is his second Finals appearance along with appearing in two summer Olympics and going to at least the 2nd round every year.  The mileage is really starting to add up.

 

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

"has played 40 plus minutes EVERY every game in his career"

Then how did he average 39 minutes a game in 03-04?

And the fact that he hasn’t averaged 39+ minutes per game in the last 3 season?

Kidding.  He does have a lot of mileage on him.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him in the Olypmics for the rest of his career.

[aamir543Participant]

If the Lebron’s body has failed him, and he is playing the way he has, (meaning over the course of the season, not just the finals) than I want my body to fail me, 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

But it makes sense. Of course he should be taking more shots and more of a focal point of the offense, but on Dallas who is going to take the bulk of the shots other than Dirk? Jason Terry? He had a nice couple bucks on LeBron, but he has been trapped otherwise. Miami can not gear it’s entire defense to Nowitzki, because Dallas has shooters that could kill them if they do so. DeShawn Stevenson does not get open 3 point shots if that is not the case. All you need to do to defend DeShawn is stay in front of him, but with Dirk pulling people away to focus on him, DeShawn is wide open for a clear three point look. Miami does not really have that, Mike Bibby has been extinct (other than a pretty nice Game 2), Mario Chalmers was not hitting much and Mike Miller has been fairly AWOL as well. One more trey, they are not in the mess they were at the end of the game.

But, you are right, it is an excuse, but at the same time, it is what has been happening. To me, this is much more logical than saying someone who is still as athletically and physically dominating as ever is not driving to the paint to live at the line. Miami can not play Dallas the way Miami plays LeBron though, and I think you know this to be true. It is due to the fact that Dirk Nowitzki is much more versatile on offense than LeBron, as are his team mates. It is unfortunate, but they have managed to turn Miami into a jump shooting team, especially at points late in the game, and that is where Miami has trouble scoring.

LeBron James more than anything needs to develop more of a post game, it is sort of silly that he has yet too. Still, this defense is completely geared to stopping him, which frees Dwyane Wade for driving, Bosh for his 15-18 footers and no breathing room for LeBron. Miami has almost completely played Dirk straight up, and much of the time the help has come too late or leaves a shooter wide open. Has definitely not happened as much on Miami’s side of the ball, especially when they have one guy who you literally need no focus on defensively (Joel Anthony) and another player who has done very little to make you pay for leaving him open (Mike Bibby). LeBron should indeed be doing much more to try and break the zone, and I am mind boggled as to why he was so passive this past game. But, I think his athleticism and weight have puck all to do with it. He is still a complete beast, but you definitely must be loving that his mindset is tripping him up.

Nonetheless, Dwyane Wade was doing the exact same thing in games with Boston and especially Chicago. In fact, their were a couple games where I thought he was throwing it, though I know this was not true. He was obviously hurt in Game 4 and 5, and LeBron really does not have that excuse. His only excuse is that I feel he is trying to take whatever openings Miami has been given by Dallas’ defense being completely geared toward stopping him. I for one have no idea what he weighs, but this problem is much more mental than physical.

[HaleParticipant]

 I think people are forgetting Lebron’s first step has never been amazing, it’s his second and third step when he picks up momentum that makes him near impossible to stop.

[Author]

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