What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot?

K

keysersoze

Star
Registered
(reposting from main board in case you sports heads missed it- see thread there for more comments/thoughts:
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=276729 )
What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot?

Without Kobe or LeBron, the Cavs & Lakers are almost the same ( Lakers are better with Gasol+Bynum) which leads me to wonder how/why the Cavs (Hawks too) took the Celtics to a Game 7. However, unlike the Hawks Game 7 where they were blow out and their lead scorer Joe Johnson had only 16 points - LeBron had 45 points, the majority of them being close range or drives to the basket and Pierce had 41 with most of them being good solid shots.

Everyone talks about how Kobe is the world's best player & its clear that Pierce is an effective shooter/scorer who comes up big in important games but what if over the next year or two, LeBron developed a perimeter/jumpshot equal to Pierce or Kobe's jumpshot?

Look at the current stats for each player:

act_kobe_bryant.jpg

Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 LAL 82 82 38.9 0.459 0.361 0.840 1.1 5.2 6.3 5.4 1.8 0.5 3.13 2.80 28.3
Click to expand...


act_paul_pierce.jpg

Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 BOS 80 80 35.9 0.464 0.392 0.843 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.4 2.76 2.50 19.6
Click to expand...

act_lebron_james.jpg

Season Team G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 CLE 75 74 40.4 0.484 0.315 0.712 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.40 2.20 30.0
Click to expand...


Its clear that Pierce & Kobe are better shooters in 3 pointers and foul shooting and the only reason LeBron has a higher field goal percentage than Kobe is because of his drives/dunks to the basket where as Kobe is willing to maneuver for a more jumper. The comparison to Pierce for LeBron is more difficult since Pierce had more chances to pass the ball to Allen or KG and not have to be the only offensive option for his team where as LeBron & Kobe are really their teams central offensive options.

I really think that if LeBron developed a good perimeter/jumpshot equal to at least someone like Paul Pierce (almost same height, position, & style) if not Kobe, then he would be averaging at least 33-34 ppg, probably be the world's best player & make his team so much better by creating constant double teams.

The real question is can LeBron improve his shooting to that level? I think he's got the time to do so and should at least try - he can at least begin by improving his free throw percentage by another .100% points - that alone would be another 3 points per game!

Thoughts?
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

LeBron needs a post game.
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

developing/improving a perimeter game is never a bad thing at any stage of a player's career, but at this point, i'd like to see lebron james improve his FT% first.

get it up into the 80s to take advantage of the offense-friendly rules and the nightly muggings he can look forward to (due to his size) throughout his career.

as his athleticism begins to wane, then he can focus harder on a back to the basket mid-range game and deeper perimeter game as his penetration declines.
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

I didn't know that Bron almost pulled a 30-8-8 this season...damn yo...

I'd like to see his range improve a bit, because if so, he'd be the one of the most feared players in the league...His basketball IQ is probably among the highest in the league and is the closest thing to Magic Johnson, which is a great thing for the NBA.

And I agree with cranrab about getting his FT% to 80 or above.
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

One player don't win titles. Whether he got a jay or not.

His game is plenty good enough already. He should work on developing CHEMISTRY with others. That's how the great ones "make other players better". They LEARN how to do so
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

RunawaySlave said:
His game is plenty good enough already. He should work on developing CHEMISTRY with others. That's how the great ones "make other players better". They LEARN how to do so
Click to expand...

I don't know if chemistry is the right word to use about LeBron...Maybe he needs to have more confidence in his teammates...But still, with that current roster, hes still the most skilled player on the team when it comes to scoring, and it's not even close. I mean, who on that roster other than him has the potential to score 17 to 20 PPG?

If the Cavs can get that (especially in the post), then they'd be a real threat
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

Lebron isn't going to be the next jordan I don't think thats his mindset he's going to be like a hybrid of jordan and magic
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

brickwall92 said:
Lebron isn't going to be the next jordan I don't think thats his mindset he's going to be like a hybrid of jordan and magic
Click to expand...

He's more like Magic than Jordan, though...

My question is, as a 6-9 240-lb. player, who does he guard? The SF or the PF?
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

tp2001 said:
He's more like Magic than Jordan, though...

My question is, as a 6-9 240-lb. player, who does he guard? The SF or the PF?
Click to expand...


He's supposed to possess the quickness of a PG
(pause for effect)







:rolleyes:

so he should be able to guard other small forwards and a few SGs

Also, while he might need one other player to handle some scoring, I think he does have one or two players that can average 15-19 PPG in Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West (if given the opportunity). It all depends on the tempo that they play at. If they persist to play that grind it out shit, of course no one will score except the cat taking 20+ shots per game. Because no one will take enough shots or develop a flow for shooting. But I think they've traded away more scorers than we care to remember. Even Drew Gooden proved he can fill it up when he got to Chicago


Anyway, scoring is not that difficult if you play the right way. Magic had Michael Cooper scoring in double figures. Rambis too. Isiah had guys like Salley and Rodman averaging 10, 12 PPG as well.
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

Lebron's list of things to do include but are not limited to:

Improve your free throw percentage.....they are called free throws for a reason.

Develop a better outside game, all great leapers are eventually neutralized driving to the basket, the great players develop a jumper and simply kill you from the outside when you decide to pack it in on D.

Develop a low block, back to the basket game.

Improve your handles.

Reduce the number of charges you commit per game (the calls aren't always gonna go ya way, there is nothing wrong with finessing a defender sometimes).
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

Blu Diablo said:
Lebron's list of things to do include but are not limited to:

Improve your free throw percentage.....they are called free throws for a reason.

Develop a better outside game, all great leapers are eventually neutralized driving to the basket, the great players develop a jumper and simply kill you from the outside when you decide to pack it in on D.

Develop a low block, back to the basket game.

Improve your handles.

Reduce the number of charges you commit per game (the calls aren't always gonna go ya way, there is nothing wrong with finessing a defender sometimes).
Click to expand...

couple things wrong with your points...

Lebron has great ball handling skills for his size..and strangely enough, he doesn't committ that many charges..
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

eewwll said:
Same shit I said. If he had 20 percent of the post game of MJ :eek:
Click to expand...


Required summer things for Lebron to learn should be:
MJ's fade-away jumper.
Larry Johnson's up and under move.
Improve free throw percentage.

But it should be MANDATORY study tapes of Kevin McHale in his prime..:yes:
 
Re: What If LeBron Developed A Perimeter/Jump-Shot Equal to Kobe or Pierce's Jumpshot

Rollie_Fingaz said:
Required summer things for Lebron to learn should be:
MJ's fade-away jumper.
Larry Johnson's up and under move.
Improve free throw percentage.

But it should be MANDATORY study tapes of Kevin McHale in his prime..:yes:
Click to expand...

Mchale maybe be the most under appreciated player ever. dude had zero athletic ability but he would kill u in the post on offense and defense. i would rate him higher then hakeem in the post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top