Behind the Bets

I Once was a Lebron James Hater

I once was a Lebron James hater. I saw a guy who had all the potential in the world but was too laid back to take full advantage of it. As a (not-so skilled) white guy who grew up wanting to play in the NBA, it seems insulting when a 6’9 freak of nature doesn’t fully commit to the game. As a kid, I rejected my dad’s favorite NBA player (Larry Bird) and opted to pull for Magic Johnson instead. This was a time when Larry Bird was every white guy’s favorite player simply because he was the one white dude that worked hard enough to compete on a high-level with all of the more talented black guys. Why did I choose to pull for Magic over Larry? I liked his game more. I loved the no-look passes, the hook-shots, and the way he ran a fast-break. He played a beautiful brand of basketball.

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Note: Team Pages will consist of a video breakdown, a value meter, and a team assessment.

These will updated weekly.

Eastern Conference Previews

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Western Conference Previews

Northwest

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What is wrong with Lebron James and the Miami Heat?

I see a lot of people blaming Lebron James for the Heat’s struggles; I see a lot of people blaming Dwayne Wade too. And the rest (and apparently Wade too) are blaming Coach Spoelstra for their troubles. So, who is to blame and what is wrong with this team?  I blame Lebron, Wade, and Bosh for thinking this little experiment would work out. Their salaries increase every single year, and subsequently leave the Heat with little room for cap space flexibility. When 3 players that demand big bucks join forces you are going to be left with pretty average role players and a thin bench. That is just part of it.

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How Well Some of the Best NBA Players Shot the Basketball

As the league has gotten better and better so has our way of judging the performances of the players. Before I can get too in depth, it is important that you understand a couple of new terms we have been forced to create. eFG% (Effective Field Goal Percentage) is a term that accounts for the 3-point shot. Basketball-Reference defines it as:

Effective Field Goal Percentage; the formula is (FG + 0.5 * 3P) / FGA. This statistic adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal. For example, suppose Player A goes 4 for 10 with 2 threes, while Player B goes 5 for 10 with 0 threes. Each player would have 10 points from field goals, and thus would have the same effective field goal percentage (50%).

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Did Lebron James choke?

 I am not a fan of Lebron James at all. I have always found myself a little put off by his antics. But in these NBA Finals, I found myself feeling let down by his lack of energy on the court. I don’t get any joy rooting against someone who looks like they would rather not even be in the game. I pulled against Jordan for years, but enjoyed it because I could always count on him bringing that same competitive fire to the court. I knew the game meant something to him; I knew he would feel the pain of losing after the game, and that was what made it so sweet when he rarely lost. But Lebron saw the bright lights of the Finals and quietly ducked into an alley to escape the pressure.

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