The Lakers lost 99-116 to the Grizzlies and failed to complete the G5 cut. James, who shot 5-of-17 from the field and 1-of-9 from three-point range, commented after the game that his performance was "like." In the first 5 games of the series, James shot 6 of 36 from three-point range, shooting only 16.7%, which is not as good as the Grizzlies' Dillon (21.6%)! What happened to his three-pointer? In this issue of "Data Don't Lie", let's talk about James's three-pointer.
How bad is James' three-pointer?
Looking at the shooting chart of James in this game, his three-pointers are mainly focused on the front, except for a three-point shot at a 90-degree angle, everything else is iron.
So far in the playoffs, James has only shot 16.7% from three-point range, how bad is it? Let's start with 63 players who have made at least 20 three-point attempts in this season's playoffs, and James ranks 62nd in three-point shooting, only slightly higher than the Kings' Huert (16%).
From James' own playoff career, his current shooting percentage is also the worst. The worst playoffs were 22.7 percent in 2014-15, but this season's playoffs fell below 20 percent. James has played in the playoffs for the Lakers in the last two times, and he has been consistent with three points, 37% in 2019-20 and 37.5% in 2020-21, and he may not have expected to be able to do this this year.
How does it compare to the regular season?
In the 2022-23 season, James shot 32.1% from three-point range in the regular season, which is already the worst since the 2015-16 season, but he did not expect that the playoffs shooting percentage was almost half of the regular season. Where is James' three-point regression compared to the regular season?
High-level statistics show that in the 55 games he has played in the regular season this season, James has shot 39.2 percent (38 of 97) from three-point range in wide open space (defenders at least 6 feet away), which means that he still has a lot of confidence when he has a good chance from the outside. However, in these five playoff games, James' three-point shooting percentage is 0% (0 of 8).
When in the average open (defenders are 4-6 feet away), James' playoff three-point shooting percentage (22.2%) is also 10 percentage points lower than in the regular season (32.9%).
In addition, the data also shows that James' shooting percentage is declining in both three-point shooting methods. In the regular season this season, James shot 34.9 percent from three-point range and 31.6 percent from the field while dribbling himself, compared to 18.2 percent and 14.3 percent in the playoffs.
Why did James suddenly lose accuracy?
The reason for James' sudden inaccuracy in the playoffs may be twofold, one is that the Grizzlies' tough style of play has brought a lot of consumption to James, who is 38 years old after all. Lakers coach Hamm said that the Grizzlies have achieved unlimited defensive changes for James, Dillon, Tillman, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will all defend James, and they are all very capable defenders. These defenses emphasize physical confrontation, and while James is not afraid of these confrontations, they also affect his feel.
Another reason may be that James's body is not in 100% condition. Lakers reporter Harrison Faigen reported that James has coughed and sniffled at the press conferences of recent games, and it is not yet certain whether he is physically sick. The G6 battle will start on April 29, Beijing time, and it remains to be seen whether James can usher in a rebound.