LeBron James is on one of the greatest hot streaks in NBA history right now.
He had 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists last night against Oklahoma City. It was his seventh-straight game with at least 30 points while shooting 58% or better.We are watching LeBron reach his peak, and all week commentators (and even LeBron himself) have been playing up the Michael Jordan-LeBron James comparisons.
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But according to Jordan, LeBron still has one obvious flaw in his game still - he has a tendency to shoot jumpers when he goes left, and drive to the basket when he goes right.
Here's the key passage from ESPN's Wright Thompson's article on Michael Jordan today:
"It has to do with his mechanics and how he loads the ball for release. 'So if I have to guard him,' Jordan says, 'I'm gonna push him left so nine times out of 10, he's gonna shoot a jump shot. If he goes right, he's going to the hole and I can't stop him. So I ain't letting him go right.'
"For the rest of the game, when LeBron gets the ball and starts his move, Jordan will call out some variation of 'drive' or 'shoot.' ... He's answering texts, buried in his phone, when the play-by-play guy announces a LeBron jump shot. Without looking up, Jordan says, 'Left?'"
There's some evidence that Jordan is actually right.
Here's LeBron's shot chart for 2013. He has taken 175 two-point jump shots from the left side of the court, and only 87 two-point jumpers from the right side of the court.
This indicates that LeBron is typically getting to the rim more often when he goes right than when he goes left.
See Also: 17 Examples of Michael Jordan's Insane Competitiveness
It's not "90%" like MJ said, but it's significant.
LeBron shoots 73% when he gets to the rim, and 40% when he takes a two-pointer from the left side of the court. So you absolutely want him to take jump shots.
There isn't much to complain about with LeBron's game. But MJ, always the perfectionist, has found something legitimate.
via Business Insider
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5 Comments
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Didn't know MJ was such a hater. I hope LJ does not change his game because right or left he can't be stopped. By the way I think Majic Johnson is the best ever.
February 16 2013 at 11:16 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySounds like MJ is having a hard time with growing older! Remember Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns? Same thing! JB took it personally if anyone even approached one of his accomplishments. Who cares? MJ and LeBron are NOT going to hook up in a game so it is pure speculation anyhow.
February 16 2013 at 9:49 AM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyNot a true statement about Jim Brown. He actually embraced Walter Payton (and his family) as Payton broke his all-time rushing record.
February 20 2013 at 9:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLeBron is good, but how would he have fared against Bill Russell?
February 16 2013 at 8:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLJ is still in his 20's and his game improves by leeps and bounds every year and in every front of the game.. The guy does not have a flaw.. I think LJ is the best ever; and this is coming from an MJ fan.
February 16 2013 at 6:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply