Lebron's 2015 Finals Performance Over Exaggerated

This 2015 Finals performance by Lebron James has to be the most over exaggerated and media hyped performances in the history of the sport. Sure he had a lot of pressure and expectation on him, and his numbers looked good but that's only half of it.
Lebron averaged 35.8 ppg off of only 39.8% from the field, an average of 13 makes off 33 attempts. Can you imagine if Kobe or Westbrook did this and lost? The media would scrutinise them until the end of time.

The media then said that his minutes were off the charts and he should be expected to fall off. Well that isnt necessarily the case as seen here:

Lebron averaged 42.2 MPG over the playoffs over only 20 games.
Compare this with some greats:
Oscar Rob and Wilt both over 48MPG in 1965
Allen Iverson 2005, 47.6 MPG,
Kareem 1974, 47.3 MPG,
Gilbert Arenas 47.33 MPG, 2006
Shawn Marion, 2003, 47 MPG
Kobe, 2006 44.86 MPG
Iguodala 2009, 44.83 MPG
Derrick Rose 2009, 44.71 MPG

There are many more, in fact he is not even in the top 244 minutes per games played in playoffs in history!

How about in the Finals?
Lebron averaged 45.7 MPG over those 6 games

Compared to:
Kobe, 2001, 46.8 MPG
Iverson, 2001, 47.4 MPG
Kobe, 2004 46.2 MPG

and more

Support Cast Comparison

What about his supporting cast? Seen as one of the worst of all time. Well was it really?

Here we see the dominance of Mozgov and Tristan Thompson:

Let's compare to some other teams. I know some may seem quite crazy but this is what the media has led you to believe. 

2009 Lakers

I would like to discredit everybody saying Bynum was a beast when Lakers won the title, because it is incorrect. 

in 2009 Finals when Lakers won the championship v Orlando, Bynum averaged 18 mpg, 6ppg and 4rpg. If you are saying he was a major factor, thats just silly.
In contrast Tristan Thompson in the finals averaged 10ppg 13rpg and 1bpg. Clearly a more dominant player

Secondly Lamar Odom, he averaged 13.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg in 34mpg. Compared to Mozgov who averaged 14ppg and 7.5 rpg in only 28mpg

Next Ariza, he averaged 11,0 ppg and 6rpg in 37.6 mpg, JR averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 33,6 mpg

Dellavedova averaged 7.5 ppg 2.7 rpg 2.7 apg to Derek Fisher's 11ppg 3.0 rpg and 1.8apg

So overall we see that the only real advantage lakers had was the difference of DFish to Delly and Pau Gasol, but TT was much more dominant than Bynum and Mozgov actually out statted Pau in per 36mpg. 

2010 Lakers

How about in 2010 I hear you ask? When Lakers beat the Celtics?

Pau Gasol: 18.6 ppg 11.6 rpg in 42 mpg
Timofey Mozgov: 14 ppg 7.5 rpg in just 28.3 mpg

Metta: 10.6 ppg 4.6 rpg in 36mpg
JR: 11.5 ppg 4.3 rpg in 33.6 mpg

D Fish: 8ppg 3rpg 2apg in 30.6mpg
Delly: 7.5 ppg 2.7rpg 2.7apg in 31.8mpg

Lamar: 7.6ppg and 6.6 rpg in 27 mpg
Tristan Thompson: 10ppg and 13rpg in 41mpg

Bynum: 7.4ppg and 5.1 rpg in 25mpg
Shumpert: 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 36mpg

Now can we stop overhyping Lebron?

2011 Mavericks

So we all know how the 2011 series went, Lebron brick city, but have a look at this. Come on now, you aren't telling me Jason terry and 37 year old Jason Kidd should've run the Heat out of their building?

Tyson Chandler: 9.7 ppg 8.8 rpg in 37 mpg
Tristan Thompson: 10ppg and 13rpg

Jason Terry: 18ppg 2rpg
JR: 11.5 ppg 4.3 rpg

Jason Kidd: 7.7 ppg 4.5 rpg 6.3 apg in 37mpg
Delly: 7.5 ppg 2.7rpg 2.7apg in 31.8mpg

Shawn Marion: 13.7 ppg 6.3 rpg
Timofey Mozgov: 14 ppg 7.5 rpg in just 28.3 mpg

JJ Barea: 8.8 ppg 3.2 apg
Shumpert: 6.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg

2001 76ers

Allen Iverson I would say had a better Finals series in 2001, taking a game off that Lakers team, than Lebron did in 2015. 

Both historically bad in efficiency, both seemingly leading their team to the finals. Iverson tiny in comparison to Lebron physically

Iverson came up against an incredible Shaq-Kobe team and took a game, Lebron came up against an inexperienced Warriors team and took 2 games. Lets look more in depth at the stats

Lebron: 35.8 ppg on 39.8% shooting, 13.3 Rpg, 8,8 Apg, 3.5 TO
Iverson: 35.6 ppg on 40.7% shooting, 5.6 rpg, 3.8 apg and 1.8 spg, 2.2 TO

Also everyone was sooking about how many mins lebron played. He played 45.7 MPG compared to Iverson's 47.4 MPG.

Mutombo: 16.8 ppg 12.2 RPG
TT: 10 ppg 13 RPG

Eric Snow: 12.6 ppg, 6apg, 4,4 rpg
JR Smith: 11,5 ppg, 4,3 RPG

Aaron Mckie: 8ppg, 6apg
Delly: 7.5 ppg 2.7 apg

Tyrone Hill: 6.6 ppg 6.6 rpg
Mozgov: 14 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Matt Geiger: 5.2 ppg
Shumpert: 6.5 ppg 3.8 rpg, 1.8 spg

Taking into consideration that Iverson came up against a superior opponent, and that LBJ had Kyrie in game one with a 23/7/6/4 game and still lost who do you think did better?

1994 Rockets

Hakeem the dream, compare this 1994 cast that he won with v Lebron 2015. Please tell me who is an all star for Hakeem 

Vernon Maxwell 36.5% FG, 13.4 PPG 3RPG 3APG
Mozgov 55% FG, 14 PPG 7.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Robert Horry 32.4% FG, 10.3 PPG 6RPG 3.7 APG
JR Smith 31% FG, 11.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG

Sam Cassell 10 PPG, 3RPG, 3 APG
Delly 7.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG

Otis Thorpe 9.3 PPG 11.3 RPG
Tristan Thompson 10 PPG, 13 RPG, 1BPG

Kenny Smith 5.6 PPG 1.4 RPG 3.1 APG
Shumpert 6.5 PPG 3.8 RPG 1.8 SPG

2003 Spurs

This is an interesting comparison, one I had no idea about and totally didnt expect until it was brought to my attention
The 2003 SPURS! Can you believe it. Tim Duncan may have actually had a worse support cast than 2015 LBJ.
Tony was only 20 years old and Robinson was on the way out 37 years old. Lets have a look

Tony Parker 39% FG, 14 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.2 RPG
Mozgov 55% FG, 14 PPG 7.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Stephen Jackson 38% FG 10.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG
JR Smith 31% FG, 11.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG

Malik Rose 7.7 PPG 3.8 RPG 0.7 APG
Delly 7.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG

David Robinson 10.8 PPG 7.3 RPG 1.8 BPG
Tristan Thompson 10 PPG, 13 RPG, 1BPG

Manu Ginobili 34% FG 8.7 PPG 4.5 RPG
Shumpert 6.5 PPG 3.8 RPG 1.8 SPG

Noticibly the FG% of Manu, Tony and Jackson were all quite low. Can we really say LBJs cast was that much worse than Duncan's here?

So overall we have found that Lebron's minutes weren't anything special, and his support cast wasn't THAT bad. We haven't even taken into consideration that Lebron had Kyrie and Love in the reg season and Kyrie for the playoffs, whereas the teams above made it on their own. 

Another case of media hype I guess

Who Had the Worse Support Cast

2015 Cavaliers

2001 76ers

2009/2010 Lakers

1994 Rockets

2003 Spurs

Poll Maker

Lebron: Will He Leave for LakerLand or Return Home Back to Ohio?

"I got a goal, and it's a huge goal, and that's to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland, and I won't stop until I get it."

Lebron James said these famous words but the question remains will he live up to it? I think he will, he has an Early Termination Option for his contract with the Heat and he will use it to return to Cleveland in the 2014 summer and team up with Kyrie Irving and Andrew Bynum. He has shifted teams once before showing that he is a ring chaser and that was to team up with Wade and Bosh and not much else. It makes sense for him to go to Cleveland he would be with a Kyrie Irving who would be entering his prime and probably a top 5 player in the NBA in a few years, an Andrew Bynum who when healthy is the best offensive center in the game and not to mention Anthony Bennett, Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller, Tristan Thompson who are all about to enter their prime! Not to mention it would partner him up with his good pal Anderson Varejao and former coach Mike Brown. In Cleveland who knows how many rings he could end up with, my guess is more than 6. He would be turning 30 next year and about to enter the later part of his career why not do that with people who are about to enter their prime? It makes no sense for him to stay with an ageing Dwayne Wade or Ray Allen, a disappointing Chris Bosh and other veterans that are just there to make up the cap space. Yes he would be hated in Miami and around the league but the Cavaliers fans will love him again, how quickly one forgets after their home hero brings a few championship rings to the franchise. 

 

The Return?

The other option is to team up with Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony in Lakerland. If the three wanted this to happen they would take a pay cut and Steve Nash is still signed giving them four superstars. However Nash is nearing retirement, Kobe is coming of an achilles tear, although I wouldn’t count him out to contribute up until 40, and Carmelo is about the same age as Lebron. The age factor plus the chemistry issues that would entail make this hard to see working. Even if they could all get on the same page they could possibly win 2-3 rings together providing they all stay healthy and aren’t affected by age too much. Then again how would they fill out the rest of the roster?

Could this happen?

Would Nick Young, Wes Johnson, Chris Kaman and Jordan Farmar take a pay cut to stay with the Lakers as they have done this year? They have stated in their press conferences that they are just happy to be a Laker and if this is true and they do stay in LA to play with these three then you have an unstoppable team.

Either way I believe Lebron will not be in Miami next season because there is nothing left in Miami. Wade is injury prone and at the tail end of his career, Ray Allen too. Chris Bosh has shown that he cant always be counted on ala game seven with a grand total of zero points and the role players Chris Anderson, Haslem, Battier are all old and not really ideal counterparts. The Lakers Fans and media would put too much pressure on Lebron and he wouldn’t want it not to mention the chemistry issues with Nash, Kobe and Carmelo all looking to have the ball. Cavaliers have a bright future and he would be the hometown hero bringing the first ever ring to the franchise and putting his legacy on the team whereas Miami has always been Wade’s home and the Lakers Kobe’s. It would give Lebron a chance to have something of his own and make his own history if he went back to Cleveland.

Who WIll Lebron be Playing for in the 2014-15 Season?

Miami Heat

Cleveland Cavaliers

Los Angeles Lakers

www.poll-maker.com