DO NOT ANGER LEBRON

 

 

 

Can you imagine seeing LeBron look at you like that on the basketball court while you're between him and the basket?  Jesus Christmas.  He's fun to watch when he realizes he can do anything he wants on the court and nobody can stop him.

Great Stats

Slow day up in da club, but here are a few nuggets to chew on.  They're wild, for different reasons. 

Up first:

 

Safe to say Bron might just be turning the corner on all the naysayers.  Small sample size, sure.  But completely absurd numbers.  Near impossible to play better basketball.

 

 

And then, in a tweet sure to drive Chuck to the brink of insanity...

Just something else to further the Westbrook/Durant cohabitation talk.  Regardless of how good Westbrook is, he should not be taking more shots per game than Durant.  Sure there will be nights RussRuss is the hot hand, but over a season?  Unacceptable.  It also speaks to the shooting efficiency of the OKC duo.  For example, last night in a loss to the Spurs, KSmoov shot 9/13, while RussRuss clocked in at 11/27.  TWICE AS MANY SHOTS?!  That just flat-out does not make sense.  That is the type of performance that can derail Title hopes in the postseason.  If the Thunder want any chance of even reaching the Finals, Ksmoov needs to be in the drivers seat, and Scott Brooks needs to make that clear.  But I don't know if a) he can muster the cajones to tell Russ that, and b) what kind of tantrum Russ would throw at hearing it.  Should OKC flame out before the Finals, there's going to be a lot of speculation about RussRuss, and whether the Harden trade was a move they'll live to regret.

BronBron Done Did It Again

What more can you say?  Marquee matchup right before the All Star Break.  Finals rematch, with 2 of the 3 best records in the league.  Bron vs KSmoov.  And Bron steals the show yet again.  39 points, 12 boards, 7 assists, 2 steals.  Shot only 58%, missing out on continuing his 60% streak because he took a long 3 pointer with a minute left in the game as the shot clock wore down.  No way Durant would have taken that shot, lest his stats get affected. 

The Heat came out hard and put up a double-digit lead in the first quarter, stretching it to 23 points in the third.  Durant overcame a nasty fall and rough shooting start to finish with 40, and eventually (kind of) made a game of it in the 4th quarter, but no dice.  Every time the Thunder got close, LeBron answered.  Whether it was a long 3 right in Smoovs grill, dish to a teammate for a wide open 3, or throwing down a viscious dunk off the inbounds, Bron was all on his own tonight.  Completely owned the game, making it 6 straight wins vs Smoov and da fellas, dating back to those fateful summer nights in South Beach.  Miami has won 7 straight overall, and built a 4-game cushion over NY at the top of the East. 

I was really hoping Durant would win the MVP this year, partially because I like him and he completely deserves it, and partially so people would be off LeBron's back a bit.  But right now, unfortunately for Smoov, I don't know how you'd pick anyone but Bron.  You never know, but this could become the usual.

BronBron goin off

First, let's start with those highlights from yesterdays matchup against the Lakers.  Tight game up until the 4th quarter, where LA started turning the ball over, Miami got running, and Bron put up a couple ridiculous dunks.  Just completely ran away with the game.  That finishes a week that saw Miami handily beat Houston, the Clippers and Lakers in succession.  At 8-2 in their past 10, on a 5 game streak, Miami is starting to round into form coming up on the All Star break.  The biggest reason for that?  Yup, LeBron.

As has been widely reported, in his last 5 games he's averaging 31 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.5 steals, while shooting 71% from the field, and 77% from three.  Those are video game numbers.  At least 30ppg on 60% shooting for 5 games has happened two other times in NBA history, and not for 30 years.  It's almost impossible to be playing better basketball than that.  The game against OKC on Thursday should be great. 

Also, this is awesome:

Reggie Evans is Not Impressed

Today, Reggie Evans (he of career averages of 4pts and 7rebounds) took time in an interview to state that he was unimpressed with LeBron and his sidekicks winning the title last year.  "It doesn't prove nothing. That was a lockout season." He went on to say "LeBron is no different from Joe Johnson or Andray Blatche. No different." 

I guess there's not much reason to spend time debating the comments of a player who has averaged about 19mpg for 7 different teams over the years.  We could talk about the fact that LeBron is 16-0 lately against the team formerly known as New Jersey, or that the Heat have beat the Nets by a combined 43 points, or that he has at least 20 points in 19 straight games against NJ.  Instead, let's just watch that game last year where BronBron scored 17 straight in the 4th to beat NJ. 




Also, saying it "doesn't count" because it was a lockout year?  Please. 

Bron being Bron

Last night, as the Heat were busy routing the Pistons, a lucky fan had the chance to take a heave from halfcourt for 75 large.  If you're like me, you probably figured that guy didn't have much of a chance.  After he absolutely drained the shot (with somewhat unorthodox form), BronBron ran out of the team huddle to bear hug and tackle him.  Is Bron a douche?  Maybe.  But he seems like he's genuinely a pretty nice dude, and that's just a cool moment.  That was the best moment of that guys life, 100%.

Fanning out on Steph Curry

GOD DAMN!  That is as good of a pass as you can make in basketball, simple as that.  Curry is having a breakout year, coincidentally in the same season he has kept his ankles in one piece.  Last night he led the Warriors over the Clippers, who were tied for the best record in the L at tipoff.  The win put Golden State up 3-1 in the season series against the Clips, and are the only team to have been LAC twice.  Putting up 21, 7 & 4 and putting up some ridiculous highlights, he should be headed for the All Star game and looking like a dangerous team to see in the playoffs.  Steph, next time you're bored, come over to da club.  Got a VIP table and some champagne on ice with your name on it. 

Oooooh Child

The Heat came to LA and took down the Lakers, who played a surprisingly tough game.  Obviously this season, beating the Lakers in LA isn't as glamorous as it usually is, but they came out with something to prove and still couldn't get it done.  Because of LeBron.  There's a lot of highlights to go with his 39/8/7/3, but nothing is better than this pass.  Splitting 3 defenders (and Kobe, bringing up the rear.  Nice D!) for a very fashionable dunk.  Unreal vision

BronBron setting more records

In a blowout of the Warriors, yaboi LeBron became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and also got his 5,000th assist.  Those are both pretty big milestones, so let's get some perspective on this. 

• While the youngest to reach 20k points, he was the 8th-fastest.  However, he is second on the list of games needed to reach 20k points & 5k assists, behind only Oscar Robertson. 
• He is one of only 11 players in the 20k points/5k rebounds/5k assists club.
• Earlier this season, Chris Paul became the youngest, and 5th-fastest to reach 5k assists, needing 510 games.  LeBron took 726.
• With his expanded rebound rate, you can easily see him reaching 20/10/5, which would put him in company with only Kareem, Malone, and Garnett. 
• Since 2007, LeBron has led the league in combined Pts/Asts/Rebs every year except one, in which he came in second to Kevin Love 41.4 to 41.3
• In the win last night, Bron got 25pts/10ast/7reb.  In the last 10 years, he has had 49 games where he reached at least those numbers.  Next on the list?  Kobe with 12
• He is second in the league with 14 20pt/10reb games this year, behind David Lee at 16
• And for a few predictions: If LeBron can average 22pts/5assts per game for the next 10 years, he would finish as the NBAs leading scorer, and 7th all-time on the assists list (being the only forward in the top 25)
• LeBron's career totals will almost certainly flirt with 30k pts/10k reb/10k asts/2k stls/1k blks.  Should he get there, he'd be the only one in da club

You may not like him, but at least appreciate you're watching one of the 5 best players to ever pick up a basketball, possibly even the best. 

(Some stats thanks to ESPN and Chris Palmer)