To sum up the Cavs-Magic series, Lebron averaged 38.5/8.3/8 on 48.7% shooting, including 41.2/8.6/8.2 on 50% shooting over the first five games, which would have been enough to win the series if any of his teammates had shown up. What did they have to do? Play a modicum of defense and hit some wide-open shots.
Defense: In four losses, the Cavs gave up 106.3 points per game on 48.8% shooting, including 42.3% from three(at 11 3-pointers per game) in six games, compared to the Magic's season averages of 101 points on 45.6%/38.2% shooting. Fail.
Hitting wide open shots: In four losses, Lebron's teammates (steamers) shot 41.8% from the field including 29.5% from three. Particularly pitiful were the shooting performances in Games 1 and 4, a one- and two-point loss, respectively. In Game 1, the steamers shot 39.7% from the field and 26.3% from three (5-19), wasting Lebron's 49-6-8, 20-30, 3-6, 6-10 performance. In Game 4, the steamers shot a somewhat low but respectable 44.8% from the field, but a very low and unrespectable 16.7% from three (2-12), wasting Lebron's 44-12-7.
Obviously, the numbers don't always tell the whole story, but let me assure you that in this case, they do not lie. The steamers had lots of open shots and falled to hit them. They also failed to offer any resistance to Orlando's offense.
What a waste of one of the best individual performances ever.
2 comments:
What the heck is a modicum? I can guess from context, but...geez....
Any thoughts on Bron skipping out on his mates & the media after Game 6?
-DBT Fan #1
Here's a hint: It comes from the Latin neuter of "modicus", from "modus."
Lebron should have stayed and congratulated the Magic and talked to the media. I wasn't angry when it happened, partly because I left the tv in disgust over how the series went and therefore didn’t see Lebron leaving, and I'm still not angry. It's good to show humility after a tough loss but Lebron wasn't really humbled. Without exaggeration, for most of six games, he played basketball as well as it’s ever been played, but his inept teammates took the Eastern Conference trophy out of his hands and into the Magic's hands, to the MVP chants of Magic fans for Dwight freakin' Howard (who played great, but c'mon).
For comparison, we all know Michael Jordan’s teammates weren’t good enough his first few years in the league and they kept him from winning a championship, right? I can’t find the box scores for the Bulls’ losing playoffs series in 1988-90 (they didn’t have a chance before 1988 and didn’t lose after 1990), but I can find the overall playoff stats for Jordan during each year. In 1988, he averaged 36.3/7.1/4.7 in 42.7 minutes. In 1989: 34.8/7/7.6 in 42.2 minutes. In 1990: 36.7/7.2/6.8 in 42.1 minutes. Total for 1988-90: 35.8/7.1/6.7 in 42.3 minutes. During 14 playoff games this season, Lebron averaged 35.3/9.1/7.3 in only 41.4 minutes*. Pretty similar, huh? Well, keep in mind that games were played at a much faster pace in the late 80’s than now. In 1988-90, the average NBA team averaged 108.2, 109.2 and 107 points per game. In 2009, the average was 100. The teams Jordan faced in the playoffs gave up 103.9 points per game in the regular season during that span. The Pistons, Hawks, and Magic gave up 95.1 points per game, weighing the number of games played against each team. Now I admit I’m not one of those Hollinger-like numbers gurus, so I don’t know how valid an idea this gives you of what Lebron would have done against Jordan’s defense, but 35.3 points and 7.3 assists against 95.1 ppg defense, equate to 38.6 points and 8 assists against 103.9 points per game defense. 39/9/8. And no Finals.
*Including only 41:14 in Game 1, a one-point loss in which Lebron had a 49-6-8 on 20-30 shooting and his steamer teammates shot 23-58. For the game, the Cavs outscored the Magic +7 when Lebron was playing and were outscored by eight during the 7 minute stretch Lebron sat out. This raises some questions: Why would Lebron sit out when he’s on fire, not just Lebron, not just a guy on fire, but Lebron-on-fire? Both Delonte West and Steamer Williams played more minutes- 41:41, and 46:36, respectively, combining for 10-32 shooting. The best player in the world was playing at his peak and when he sat down, his team was outscored by over a point per minute, and yet he didn’t play more than in a close regular season game? I fully admit that coaching is a very complicated chess match and that Coach Brown understands things that I don’t, but wouldn’t it seem like a good idea to play Lebron as much as possible in the eastern conference finals? What was coach Brown saving him for?
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