http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/217432.html
Marty Mac's World: James could use a reliable jumper
By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2
There's much talk these days about how good Cleveland's LeBron James is -- or isn't. To a great many folks, James either is on the way to becoming the next Michael Jordan (which James is not) or he's more hype than substance (also not).
The answer is somewhere in between.
James is one of the league's best players with four years of NBA experience at age 22. That hardly means he is a finished project. Two games into the NBA Finals, the major flaw in James' game is clear.
His inability to make 15- to 20-foot jumpers is the greatest weakness in his vast array of skills. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, there is not much else he's incapable of doing on a basketball court. He's a perimeter-oriented player who runs, dribbles, rebounds and passes better than most players who have played the game.
Yet it's the inconsistent midrange jump shot, combined with his comparative lack of experience, that prevents James from being the player he likely will become. Four years' experience doesn't make him a neophyte, but it also doesn't classify him as a hard-core veteran.
This is only his second playoff experience, and to end up in the Finals -- despite a number of circumstances such as an extremely fortunate playoff draw -- ensures James an accelerated curve. Even if the Cavaliers get swept by the vastly more experienced San Antonio Spurs, James will be better off for having gone against the league's most aggressive and focused defense.
On the growth curve, James is at the same place as was Jordan and former Los Angeles Lakers star and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. The final piece to their respective offensive résumés was the addition of a jumper they not only could make but could rely upon with games on the line.
Undoubtedly, James, who coincidentally wears the same number (23) as did Jordan, has watched tape of the legendary guard win game after game with his jump shot in front of defenses designed to prevent him from getting to the basket. Just watching the Spurs attempt to defend James, one sees the entire defense react whenever he gets the ball. When he receives on the wing, Spurs defenders on the other side of the lane slide over to prepare for James' inevitable assault on the basket.
If only visually, when James looks at the defense, he sees two, maybe three defenders in his path to the hoop.
With a consistent midrange jumper, James no longer will feel he has to maneuver to the basket. He can just rise over a usually smaller defender and believe his jumper will fall.
Oh, yes, it won't hurt his growth to have a few more perimeter shooters on Cleveland's roster. In fact, the Cavaliers couldn't go wrong by hiring Pete Carril as a consultant to add more movement to an offense as stagnant as these gas prices we're paying.
Paris and 'Muss'? Who'd have thought?
Not once in the one-year Kings coaching career of Eric Musselman did the thought of including him in a paragraph with Paris Hilton come to mind. Then again, never was anyone made aware either of them had "medical conditions" that seemed not to restrict them from doing much of anything until it was time to do time.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Marty Mac's World: James could use a reliable jumper
By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2
There's much talk these days about how good Cleveland's LeBron James is -- or isn't. To a great many folks, James either is on the way to becoming the next Michael Jordan (which James is not) or he's more hype than substance (also not).
The answer is somewhere in between.
James is one of the league's best players with four years of NBA experience at age 22. That hardly means he is a finished project. Two games into the NBA Finals, the major flaw in James' game is clear.
His inability to make 15- to 20-foot jumpers is the greatest weakness in his vast array of skills. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, there is not much else he's incapable of doing on a basketball court. He's a perimeter-oriented player who runs, dribbles, rebounds and passes better than most players who have played the game.
Yet it's the inconsistent midrange jump shot, combined with his comparative lack of experience, that prevents James from being the player he likely will become. Four years' experience doesn't make him a neophyte, but it also doesn't classify him as a hard-core veteran.
This is only his second playoff experience, and to end up in the Finals -- despite a number of circumstances such as an extremely fortunate playoff draw -- ensures James an accelerated curve. Even if the Cavaliers get swept by the vastly more experienced San Antonio Spurs, James will be better off for having gone against the league's most aggressive and focused defense.
On the growth curve, James is at the same place as was Jordan and former Los Angeles Lakers star and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. The final piece to their respective offensive résumés was the addition of a jumper they not only could make but could rely upon with games on the line.
Undoubtedly, James, who coincidentally wears the same number (23) as did Jordan, has watched tape of the legendary guard win game after game with his jump shot in front of defenses designed to prevent him from getting to the basket. Just watching the Spurs attempt to defend James, one sees the entire defense react whenever he gets the ball. When he receives on the wing, Spurs defenders on the other side of the lane slide over to prepare for James' inevitable assault on the basket.
If only visually, when James looks at the defense, he sees two, maybe three defenders in his path to the hoop.
With a consistent midrange jumper, James no longer will feel he has to maneuver to the basket. He can just rise over a usually smaller defender and believe his jumper will fall.
Oh, yes, it won't hurt his growth to have a few more perimeter shooters on Cleveland's roster. In fact, the Cavaliers couldn't go wrong by hiring Pete Carril as a consultant to add more movement to an offense as stagnant as these gas prices we're paying.
Paris and 'Muss'? Who'd have thought?
Not once in the one-year Kings coaching career of Eric Musselman did the thought of including him in a paragraph with Paris Hilton come to mind. Then again, never was anyone made aware either of them had "medical conditions" that seemed not to restrict them from doing much of anything until it was time to do time.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
