How good was Lebron James this year?

by NittanyCub on May 31, 2009 1:49 AM CDT Comment 37 comments

I've actually watched a couple of Cavs games this year. Not because I'm a fan of the Cavaliers, but moreso a fan of Lebron James. Seeing that tonight was his last game, I thought it'd be interesting to see a couple of his stats from the regular season, as well as the playoffs; and, well, what this all means to me.

A look at everyone's favorite statistic, +/-, from this year, from here

1. James (103, 45 per48)

2. Bryant

3. Gasol

4. Williams

5. Fisher

A pretty crappy stat to measure individual player value, even when extended into the whole season, believe it or not. Mo Williams and Derek Fisher topping the league in anything, except for most mediocre player, kind of proves that. As a corollary to this stat, lets look at a more critical stat, Roland Rating:

1. James (23.5)

2. Wade(17.9)

3. Paul(17.7)

4. Bryant (12.6)

5. Roy (12.5)

Well then, how many points did they make on the charity line?

1. James (594)

2. Wade (590)

3. Bosh (504)

4. Howard (504)

5. Harris (496)

Pretty good company in that one. Well then, how do they, more specifically James, all compare in the paint? Here are the Inside shot FG% from this season

1. Iguodala (.721)

2. James (.717)

3. Collison (.713)

4. Dampier (.699)

5. O'Neal (.683)

Well, he must be a lollygagger on defense then, right? He was 14th in the league for defensive rebounds, at 507. Also, he was 2nd in defensive win shares at 6.3, only behind Howard at 7.6. at a 99 Drtg. He must be a ballhog then, right? Well, kind of, with his USG% at 33.8, but he also is 9th in the league in AST% at 38.0. How is he in offense, then? Offensive rating this year:

1. Gasol (125.6)

2. Paul (124.4)

3. Calderon(123.0)

...

6. James (121.7)

Offensive win shares:

1. James (13.3)

2. Paul (12.8)

3. Roy(10.2)

4. Wade (10.2)

5. Gasol (10.1)

And my favorite stat, PER:

1. James (31.7[!!!])

2. Wade (30.4)

3. Paul (30.0)

4. Howard (25.4)

5. Duncan (that's a little surprising, I thought he'd be a lot lower) (24.4)

One stat most telling of Lebron James limit as a player is his 2pt FG%, which is at an abysmal 37.5%. Not to mention that he already has one of the historically highest PER without a good 2PFG%, but if he ever figures out how to shoot a mid-range jumper, it will be bad news for his opponents.

So, what does this all mean? Nothing really as a Bulls fan, unfortunately. The likelihood of this Chicago team getting James is slim to none since they already have someone just as good(cheap shot, I know), but more of a basketball fan standpoint: Lebron James is really, really, good at basketball, and will most likely continue to get better.

edit: I forgot his PER from these playoffs. Barring tonight's game, it's at 38.9. Blasphemy, you say? Nope, it's honestly a 38.9. I've done a quick search, and I can't find one player who has remotely touched this type of efficiency in the playoffs. Not Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Bryant, or O'Neal come even close to this. Ridiculous.

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Best player on the Planet.

I think he’s clearly passed Kobe. Kobe might still be better in the clutch but after looking at those numbers he does so many more things for a team. It’s scary.

You put Lebron on team as talented as the Lakers and you might have a Dynasty. Put Kobe on Cleveland you have a lottery team.

by SoulEater7 on May 31, 2009 1:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i dont know.

if you went to a parallel universe and told me kobe and the cavs won 40 games in 2009, i would not be that surprised.

by TheMoon on May 31, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's gotta win one b4 he can pass kobe

Derrick Rose once pissed in a soda can …we now call that Red Bull.

by Belize on May 31, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly.

thus kobe has to win 5 before he can pass bob horry.

by TheMoon on May 31, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

pwnd

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on May 31, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jordan has to come back and win 4 more

before he even gets close to Russel. Championships are the only true measure of a player’s value.

by Basketball Smurf on May 31, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that maybe a better comparison

I just don’t doubt superstars at this point. I don’t care whos the best though doesn’t matter to me care about the teams more.
But to me its still kind of tough because I suppose I don’t see the point to yet. But I know the Cavs really aren’t that talented but they work well with Lebron kind of like the Hornets and Paul. They have a lot of specialists to me and make sure to have the team disciplined but I’m not sure if this team isn’t as talented as the Lakers a few years ago. Not to mention the Lakers were in a tougher conference. And the Cavs have had vets along with young players who have been strictly being taught to commit to defense I think. I just think that recipe especially in the East can lead to overachieving.
And I think experience did play a factor in both of their recent series.

by Camry on Jun 1, 2009 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Double owned

Man Lebron bypassed kobe LAST SEASON. I live in cali so i see every laker game played because i just love to watch Bball. But i rarely see kobe do anything to totally dominate games the way MJ used to like daily. But so many of the King’s games have given me that amazement i used to see when the bulls used to kick ass. And besides kobe has yet to be the MAIN MAN during his championship title runs. Give Credit where credit is due. Lakers couldn’t have won those titles without SHAQ but they could’ve won them WITHOUT Kobe. I mean he did it with D Wade like the next year. LBJ best player on PLANET.

by AFireInside661 on Jun 1, 2009 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats not fair

Kobe helped close out games and had big games and series in those runs. Why discredit it almost completely.
If we’re talking about him and MJ then yeah I’d say he’d have to have been the clear best player.
But for whos the best right now I don’t think its that easy. Everyone puts Kobe in a bad light for just about everything he does it seems the opposite for Lebron.

Kobes series vs the Suns that went 7 games he “quit and couldn’t help his teammates get better”. For Lebron vs the Magic he was “tired and it was his teams fault.”

Honestly thought they both have MJs qualities but I don’t get that from watching Lebron. Hes great as someone whos not a big fan he doesn’t do that for me.
Kobe right now is playing more of a mental game since hes getting up there in age and experience. I don’t think of MJ every time I see them though they seem like 2 separate parts of him.

by Camry on Jun 1, 2009 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

crack is bad

no way Bron passed Kobe yet..and he wont till he wins one. Till then , he can be charles barkley

Derrick Rose once pissed in a soda can …we now call that Red Bull.

by Belize on Jun 2, 2009 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sir charles was better than kobe.

by TheMoon on Jun 2, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ehhh

different positions/different time, no?

Derrick Rose once pissed in a soda can …we now call that Red Bull.

by Belize on Jun 3, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thing is

its fair to me I think Kobe and Lebron are both close. So I don’t mind someone needing to see Lebron win a ring for them to think he has passed Kobe.

by Camry on Jun 2, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, what?

Kobe’s been worse than LeBron for a while now. Replace Kobe with LeBron on the Lakers and they’d be steamrolling people right now … not being dragged to 7 games against the Rockets.

Three things you must know:
-"Ben Gordon is a bundle of muscle and clutch. That's all he's made of. Drink BG7 energy drink, you'll grow a pair of balls on your balls."
-Pau Gasol: The defense of a seven foot ladder paired with the post presence of Manute Bol.
-Joakim Noah is better than you.

by Prevenge on Jun 4, 2009 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

coby's put his time in to get respect over a great 6 yr campaign by lebron

Derrick Rose once pissed in a soda can …we now call that Red Bull.

by Belize on Jun 5, 2009 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno because

the situation of a team plays a factor to me.

by Camry on May 31, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I especially loved

his post game interview…

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, majoyenrac, Bullshooter and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light!

by piccolomair on May 31, 2009 2:55 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

He was absolutely incredible

Best year anyone’s had since MJ retired. My God, he averaged 38 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists a game in the Orlando series – and people are blaming him for Cleveland losing!

Why resort to name calling?
-Dionysus2.0

because I wish to insult you personally
-your friendly BullsBlogger

by Big D on May 31, 2009 9:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Shaq's 2000 season was a little better

He averaged 30 points a game even though he shot 52% from the free throw line, that’s ridiculous. Also, kinda like James now, it was so hard to ref Shaq because he was so huge, he was almost impossible to stop. Plus, he only got better in the playoffs.

But, I’d agree LeBron’s season is the most dominant by a perimeter player since MJ, and the most jaw-dropping since Kobe in 2006.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on May 31, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lebron...

is like Shaquille O’Neal; the fact that he isn’t called for 6 charges a game and that he can take 3.5 steps whenever he pleases, makes it so he can have some pretty inflated numbers.

I am not a huge Kobe fan, but at least he is making some skilled moves. When Lebron wins a championship, his usage rate will be considerably lower.

by McCabe on May 31, 2009 2:53 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Because he has better teammates and won't have to do as much to carry them, right?

And thus, his team will be better???

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett

by tyger1147 on May 31, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nail meet head.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on May 31, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but isn't that the problem with judging a guy by PER alone

I mean, McCabe makes an obvious point. But its not a point that guys at ESPN will concede. The 3 highest PERs this season come from guys who play with teammates who are (1) clearly not as good as they are, and (2) are totally dependent on the main guys to set up their opportunities.

That is one of many reasons why I think Hollinger’s game of anoiting the player with the highest per as the best is foolish. If you have a stud player (Kobe or Howard) playing with other stud players (Gasol, Odom, Turk, Lewis) than that main stud players numbers will drop. They just won’t have the same opportunities or responsibilites. I believe Lebron is the best player in the NBA. But there is no way he puts up those type of numbers playing with the Lakers. In LA there are too many guys who need the ball and can create on their own. In Cleveland, there was one other guy who could create – Mo Williams – and he was a complete after thought until this year.

by Basketball Smurf on May 31, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

PER works just fine at the top. It works better there than anywhere else.

Kobe had 32.2% USG, which as significantly different than Lebron’s 33.8%. Bryant has just never been that efficient becuase his game is so centered around taking difficult jumpers. Howard despite his overall success is still a limited player, and his opportunities are held down by his skills more than his teammates.. It’s really not that hard to see James putting up similar PER on a more talented team. Paul’s game is built around ruthless efficiency, and better teammates certainly aren’t going to lower that efficiency. Wade would be affected the most out of the three because of his extreme USG%, but not by a ton.

But, those three weren’t just the top three by a little. Each of their PER could have been 4 points lower and they still would have placed in the top 3. Those three were also the top 3 in basketball value’s 2 year APM as well. They’re the best three players in the NBA, and certainly the three players capable of doing the most with the least. And likely also the players who could do the most with more. PER is far from the perfect statistic, but it works as well as any statistic for identifying the very best players.

by Scotter on May 31, 2009 10:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

SCREW THE PER, WHERE'S THE RING?!!

Lebrons performance this year has been mvp worthy but not ‘best player in the league’ worthy. From jump street he’s been compared to Jordan. To me, he seems more like a combination of two hall of famers: The size and athleticism of Dr. J and the passing ability of Magic Johnson. Like Magic he’s a pass first player. He doesn’t take over the scoring until he absolutely has to. If he hopes to win a title with this Cavs team he will have to score a lot more because his teamates just aren’t giving him much help. Don’t be surprised if he gets his first ring elsewhere. Don’t be surprised if ‘elsewhere’ turns out to be Chicago.

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on May 31, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"He doesn't score enough"

He averaged 35 points per game in the playoffs, this isn’t the same LeBron who passing up game-winners to Donyell Marshall.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's not necessarily true

Jordan led the league in PER during their 1st 3-peat, Larry Bird likewise led the league in PER in 1986 on what might have been the most talented team in NBA history, Shaq was the league leader during the Lakers’ title run as well.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Jun 1, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MY POINT OZZIE...

is that the team around him is so mediocre; he might have to increase his scoring load even MORE just to get them to the finals, let alone win the title.

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jun 1, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's not necessarily true

The team around Lebron is so mediocre; he might have to increase his scoring output that much more just to get them through the playoffs and win the title as well.

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jun 1, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

To get the Cavaliers to beat anybody LeBron would have to make four clones of himself and put himself in a cryogenic freezer

24 years later … can you say dynasty?

by Prevenge on Jun 2, 2009 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Attack of the Clones!

"...Lies, damned lies, and statistics."

by Teri on Jun 2, 2009 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How good was Lebron this year? Not quite good enough. :)

In all seriousness, he was marvelous, fantastic, pick a positive adjective and he was it. A season for the ages and all that.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 1, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

how good was LeBron

good enough to beat Detroit and Atlanta. Thats it

by Winston23 on Jun 1, 2009 6:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just think about this.

when oscar robertson averaged his triple double (30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 11.4 APG), his team averaged 124.7 possessions per 48 minutes. lebron this year averaged 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.2 APG in less than 90 possessions per game. what would his stats look like with an extra 30 possessions per game?!?! not to mention the fact that he was on the bench in the 4th many many games. I’m honestly not a fan of lebron, but i have to give credit where credit is due, the man had one of the best years in nba history. and thats a fact.

by masputo on Jun 3, 2009 4:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs