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JPSeraph · 04-25-2006, 08:54 PM

game 1: (12-27, 1-4, 7-11)32pts, 11reb, 11ast, 4to, 3pf

game 2: (7-25, 1-6, 11-15)26pts, 9reb, 2ast, 10to, 5pf

What made the difference?

Game One LeBron seems to frustrate every adjustment Washington makes to contain him: passing to open teammates, penetrating and scoring. Game Two LeBron's passes all find their way to unprepared teammates, guys in Wizards jerseys, or the stands and he seems reluctant to take it to the hole except on breaks.

Was it the heavy contact he took on his first few drives to the hoop? Does he just need a better midrange jumper for when Washington sags off of him? Was he rattled mentally?

Kudos to Drew Gooden, fantastic game. Too bad it was all in vain, but it's the second playoff series I remember him really stepping up with big games.

**remy23** · 04-25-2006, 09:24 PM

LeBron just simply played like crap. That was one of his worst games as a professional period. He was even missing lay ups, one which was wide open. When you're dealing with that, you just have to make it through the day and come back stronger. His passing was horrible too. I guess it's like a quarterback who tosses a few interceptions and doesn't have it going.

LeBron's jumper is fine. Today was one game, not an overall reflection of his skills and his touch of the outside.

futuristxen · 04-25-2006, 09:36 PM

I've never seen him play worse. And he still put up good numbers.

He just mentally was never in the game. Actually I guess he's played worse, like against the Pacers a few times. It's just like he forgot how to play his game from game 1 to game 2.

**Benedict_Boozer** · 04-25-2006, 09:36 PM

In retrospect, I think those hard fouls took him out of his rhtyhym. If you recall he had 9 of the teams first 19 pts, he was rolling along and then almost immediately after that he just completely lost his confidence.

He has responded well to hard fouls in the past, so I don't think it's a case of being intimidated, but he needs to maintain his confidence when his shot is off. When Lebron has a bad shooting game, it's never like a 9-23 type game, it's like 5-15 or 7-25 or whatever. It just seems to build on itself.

What's really key, and the measure for all great players, is how he bounces back in game 3.

Morongk22 · 04-25-2006, 10:09 PM

I think fatigue might have played a factor on Lebron....i don't care who you are or what your age is playing 91 of 96 minutes on 2 days rest will effect anyone...not only physically but mentally as well.

One on One · 04-25-2006, 10:19 PM

I think he was expecting regular season calls which aren't going to come. He can probably adjust, but he is definitely going to have to hit jumpers as he will keep getting banged around when he drives to the basket.

JPSeraph · 04-25-2006, 10:33 PM

Remy, don't you think LeBron's midrange jumper is too inconsistent to be 'fine'? I see the same problem with Dwyane Wade as well. When they can't get to the basket, hitting from midrange becomes an issue.

I think LeBron has shown us a great game and a terrible game. Maybe it's all out of his system and he can get back to leading the Cavs to the next round!

**t1no** · 04-26-2006, 12:33 AM

He wasn't very good at adjusting and Mike Brown didn't do anything either, he pretty much sucked the whole game.

**remy23** · 04-26-2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPSeraph

Remy, don't you think LeBron's midrange jumper is too inconsistent to be 'fine'? I see the same problem with Dwyane Wade as well. When they can't get to the basket, hitting from midrange becomes an issue.

I think LeBron has shown us a great game and a terrible game. Maybe it's all out of his system and he can get back to leading the Cavs to the next round!

LeBron's worked on his bank shot from midrange and occasionally busts it out. He probably should have gone glass, especially on the wings. Maybe LeBron will use it next game. LeBron has had several games this year where he scored around 30 points, on good percentage and had most of those makes come from the outside. Sometimes, LeBron falls in love with the jumper when it's connecting and doesn't come inside as much as he should.

This series will be war. I want to see LeBron in the second round but I have a feeling this series is going 7 games.

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