From Deep: Guarding King James

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Lots of games, not so many things – from me at least – but it’s 2008 and I’m back in the saddle with some notes, quotes and anecdotes from the weekend. Unfortunately for the Raptors, no antidotes.

Two games, some things, vol 1.25(?)

1. Is it nature or nurture? Chicken or egg? LeBron or the Raptors? Everything’s going along pretty well for Toronto, they’re holding King James to 6-of-19 shooting through three quarters, mostly with one-on-one coverage from a caffeinated Anthony Parker, and then the man with the huge Chosen tattoo across his back simply GOES OFF in the fourth. The first question Chris Bosh was asked afterwards was if there was anything they could have done differently to prevent it. Bosh didn’t hesitative, as I mentioned in my game story: "We could have come off [low-scoring] Devin Brown and make Devin Brown score instead of LeBron," he said afterwards. "[LeBron] made two or three spot-up threes. … Any time we see a guy get hot like that, we have to make someone else score." When I followed up Bosh went on to say that Cleveland was doing just that to him at the other end – rushing a second defender at him on the catch, forcing him to give up the ball early. As a result he only had 11 shots on the game. This would seem to be a criticism of the Raptors tactics and by extension his coach. But before Bosh could get too far along he was back-tracking a little, allowing that trapping someone like LeBron outside the three-point line is a risky proposition in its own right. There is no doubt that James was in large part being James – a 27.4 per cent three-point shooter coming into the game, and 0 per cent to that point in the game, he hit four-of-five in the quarter – but when he goes off like that it raises the question of how much of it was him, and how much of it was opportunities that were made available to him.

2. King James is a big star and all, but some folks are just difficult to impress. Strange moment midway through the first quarter: James is on the sideline near mid-court, waiting to inbound the ball when Heather Riesman and Gerry Schwartz are making their way to their courtside seats. Already seated are Michael Budman and – I’m guessing – his wife. Up pop Mr. and Mrs. Roots as they greet Ms. Indigo and Mr. Onex with hugs and an enthusiastic round of air kisses and handshakes, this being the first Sunday game of the New Year and all. Meanwhile, no more than two feet away, the bestish basketball player on the planet is standing, ready to go to work. No air kisses for him. Not even a glance or a ‘hurry up let’s sit down, we don’t want to miss anything!’ Then again, LeBron didn’t really get rolling until the fourth.

3. Did anyone see Boston-Detroit II on Saturday night? That was manly. What’s 30 x 82? 2460, I think. (it is, I did it on a calculator). That’s how many regular season games there are each year. And while most of those are more intensely contested than a lot of people might think – sitting courtside, I really don’t see too many plays where guys just don’t give it – there are only a small handful where everyone on the floor is giving it and then some. Saturday night’s game was one of them. The Raptors can only aspire to play in games like that, where everyone who cares about the NBA is watching. I’m not sure they ever have.

4. Okay, more LeBron. It’s halftime and the mortals are on the floor trying to keep a sweat on. King James? He’s lounging on the scorer’s table flipping through the Raptors media guide. He’s paying special attention to the page devoted to the Cavaliers. My bet is he’s looking at his own stats from last year and thinking, ‘damn, I’m fine.’ Or, alternatively, he’s looking at the combined production the Cavs got from Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones and thinking, ‘damn, they should just give me their money too!” A few feet away is Randy Mihms, one of his buddies from high school who was recently hired as the Cavaliers player liaison. At this moment this means he’s dressed kind of nice and kind of preppy, and working on his ball-handling at half-court. In other words, he’s getting in more work than LeBron. Then again, LeBron just played 22 of 24 possible minutes and he knows he’s heading for more, so why waste his energy? He chats for a minute with The Swirsk, then he pulls a ball of the ball cart with his right hand -- and right hand only -- and cocks his arm, quarterback style, and starts launching soft corner fades to the rim. He hits the rim twice in five tries, which is more than I could probably do in 50, considering his left-hand never touches the ball.

5. The interesting thing is he tried this at all. Behind the basket are a lot of people, doubtless not really paying attention to LeBron making like Peyton Manning at half-court. Surprisingly of the three balls that miss the rim and bounce into the crowd, none hit any unsuspecting party in the beer.

6. Quick note from Friday’s whipping at the hand of the Detroits. Mitchell is wearing a noteworthy pinstriped number for the benefit of ESPN (I can’t help you with the colour, tragically, I was born without that gene). Rasheed Wallace comes to check-in and looks down at Mitchell and makes like he’s adjusting his tie and bellows: “Sharp!” Something about it was just funny. In part, I think, because whenever Wallace does anything that reveals him to be not absolutely starkers, it’s against type, and thus funny. Sam laughed, but then caught himself, as his team was getting drilled.</div>

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...WBwbbasketball/

 

i think he says it every game... seriously

 

not the consistent we are looking for, maybe he can give that to any combo of Kapono, Delfino and Parker

 

24-20 for LeBron in the fourth. That is horrible. I don't care if you're LeBron, you don't let one player out score your whole team in one quarter. I was embarrassed and I didn't know what to think. He is a superstar and it's hard to stop a guy like LeBron when he's hot.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jan 7 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>24-20 for LeBron in the fourth. That is horrible. I don't care if you're LeBron, you don't let one player out score your whole team in one quarter. I was embarrassed and I didn't know what to think. He is a superstar and it's hard to stop a guy like LeBron when he's hot.</div>
I swear if Andre Iguodala goes off on us Wednesday and wins them the game, i'm gonna be pissed. Your exactly right, one player should not out score a team in a quarter

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jan 7 2008, 08:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jan 7 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>24-20 for LeBron in the fourth. That is horrible. I don't care if you're LeBron, you don't let one player out score your whole team in one quarter. I was embarrassed and I didn't know what to think. He is a superstar and it's hard to stop a guy like LeBron when he's hot.</div>
I swear if Andre Iguodala goes off on us Wednesday and wins them the game, i'm gonna be pissed. Your exactly right, one player should not out score a team in a quarter
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Exactly. Iggy needs to be held down. I really hope Moon can show some good man to man defense. On another note, Iggy is no where near close to be able to completely take over a game like LeBron, but he can still change it. We need to buckle down and play great defense.

 

Iggy can't score like LeBron can, but hes athletic and can do so many things that can frustrate a lot of the Raptors, also having a pass first Andre Miller in the back court isn't good for the Raptors.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jan 7 2008, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Iggy can't score like LeBron can, but hes athletic and can do so many things that can frustrate a lot of the Raptors, also having a pass first Andre Miller in the back court isn't good for the Raptors.</div>

That's a good point. While Iggy is athletic, I'm resting assured that Moon and Delfino along with Bosh will be able to hold Iggy down and not let him have a LeBron-esque performance.

Andre Miller is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. He does so many things well and can make some very good passes. However, he is not a very good 3 point shooter. If Calderon can keep Miller on the perimeter and Bosh or Moon come over to help with the baseline drive and kick we should be fine.

Not to over look, but Dalembert is another player we need to watch. He has burned the Raptors before, and I can see him getting 20 rebounds if Bargnani or Rash don't box him out. Bargnani is much quicker then Dalembert and should be draining 3's because Sammy will be staying down low.

 

Mitchell needs to learn to use double teams against guys like Lebron. Although if its from 3 point range that is a riskier thing to do.

 

Well, double teaming leaves the Cavs 3 point shooters open. And since LeBron is such a good passer, that makes it even risker.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jan 7 2008, 09:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jan 7 2008, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Iggy can't score like LeBron can, but hes athletic and can do so many things that can frustrate a lot of the Raptors, also having a pass first Andre Miller in the back court isn't good for the Raptors.</div>

That's a good point. While Iggy is athletic, I'm resting assured that Moon and Delfino along with Bosh will be able to hold Iggy down and not let him have a LeBron-esque performance.

Andre Miller is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. He does so many things well and can make some very good passes. However, he is not a very good 3 point shooter. If Calderon can keep Miller on the perimeter and Bosh or Moon come over to help with the baseline drive and kick we should be fine.

Not to over look, but Dalembert is another player we need to watch. He has burned the Raptors before, and I can see him getting 20 rebounds if Bargnani or Rash don't box him out. Bargnani is much quicker then Dalembert and should be draining 3's because Sammy will be staying down low.
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I'm not sure Dalembert can get 20 rebounds himself with Bosh in the game, but, Sammy and Reggie Evans together can seriously hurt the Raptors, especially if Bargnani is in the game. Also watch Jason Smith, big man has game and has an outside shot. One last key, watch Giricek, he can get hot

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jan 7 2008, 09:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mitchell needs to learn to use double teams against guys like Lebron. Although if its from 3 point range that is a riskier thing to do.</div>


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jan 7 2008, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, double teaming leaves the Cavs 3 point shooters open. And since LeBron is such a good passer, that makes it even risker.</div>
Damon Jones lives at the 3 Point Line, thats why its hard, not impossible, to double Bron. They also got Boobie and Marshall(when healthy). I agree with Master Shake.

 

Damon Jones has been a Raptor killer since I can remember, so leaving him open is a bad idea. Gibson can shoot it and well, but that night he was off.

We just played a horrible game against LeBron and we should of won.

 

Nice article.

That's the same logic Mitchell probably used while not double-teaming Kobe Bryant a few years back. Its not specifically the lack of double-teaming that pisses me off, its that Smitch seems incapable of making timely in-game adjustments. The first game against Cavs we actually did double James, but he was passing out to open 3 pt. shooters and they were making them. It didn't occur once for him to ease off the doubles and let Lebron get his 2 pt. field goals instead of giving up so many threes. And in this game, it looks like it was the exact opposite, as Lebron was the only Cavs player doing shit against us and Mitchell hung Anthony Parker out to dry. They're always relatively simple moves and Mitchell's inability to make them puts too much pressure on what's been an inconsistent Raptors' offense.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Master Shake @ Jan 7 2008, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Damon Jones has been a Raptor killer since I can remember, so leaving him open is a bad idea. Gibson can shoot it and well, but that night he was off.

We just played a horrible game against LeBron and we should of won.</div>
he won a game against us two year ago when Mo-Pete left him WIDE open

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jan 7 2008, 09:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nice article.

That's the same logic Mitchell probably used while not double-teaming Kobe Bryant a few years back. Its not specifically the lack of double-teaming that pisses me off, its that Smitch seems incapable of making timely in-game adjustments. The first game against Cavs we actually did double James, but he was passing out to open 3 pt. shooters and they were making them. It didn't occur once for him to ease off the doubles and let Lebron get his 2 pt. field goals instead of giving up so many threes. And in this game, it looks like it was the exact opposite, as Lebron was the only Cavs player doing shit against us and Mitchell hung Anthony Parker out to dry. They're always relatively simple moves and Mitchell's inability to make them puts too much pressure on what's been an inconsistent Raptors' offense.</div>

Couldn't have said it any better.