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The Most UNDERRATED Season of LeBron’s CAREER... 2014... explained.
THREAD
THREAD
When talking about LeBron’s best seasons, 2014 is often overlooked.
Why? Well, two main reasons...
One, Durant won MVP. LeBron’s regular season is often overlooked.
Two, the Heat lost the Finals in 5 games. So LeBron’s postseason is often overlooked.
Why? Well, two main reasons...
One, Durant won MVP. LeBron’s regular season is often overlooked.
Two, the Heat lost the Finals in 5 games. So LeBron’s postseason is often overlooked.
LeBron brought the team to 54 wins, the #5 ranked offense, and the #11 ranked defense.
He led them to the East’s 2nd seed, only behind the 56-win Pacers.
LeBron was shouldering a load he had never shouldered in Miami before.
He led them to the East’s 2nd seed, only behind the 56-win Pacers.
LeBron was shouldering a load he had never shouldered in Miami before.
Now, the Heat were not BAD by any means, but it was undoubtedly the worst Heat team since 2010.
Wade, who averaged 19-5-5-2 on 54.5% FG, missed 29 games due to injuries.
Bosh was LeBron’s next best scorer, averaging just over 16 PPG.
No other Heats averaged double figures.
Wade, who averaged 19-5-5-2 on 54.5% FG, missed 29 games due to injuries.
Bosh was LeBron’s next best scorer, averaging just over 16 PPG.
No other Heats averaged double figures.
LeBron, averaging 27-7-6-1.6-0.3, came second in MVP voting (behind Durant) and 6th in DPOY voting.
He was an All NBA First Team member and All Defensive 2nd Team member.
He played a total of 767 minutes, the 2nd most minutes he’s played since 2009 (only behind 2018).
He was an All NBA First Team member and All Defensive 2nd Team member.
He played a total of 767 minutes, the 2nd most minutes he’s played since 2009 (only behind 2018).
It was the most efficient season of his career.
• 56.7% FG (career high)
• 62.2% 2PT (career high)
• 37.9% 3PT (2nd highest in career)
• 64.9 TS% (career high)
• 61.0 eFG% (career high)
He had a PER of 29.3.. 5th highest of his career, only behind his four MVP seasons.
• 56.7% FG (career high)
• 62.2% 2PT (career high)
• 37.9% 3PT (2nd highest in career)
• 64.9 TS% (career high)
• 61.0 eFG% (career high)
He had a PER of 29.3.. 5th highest of his career, only behind his four MVP seasons.
He had an offensive rating of 121... third highest of his career, tied with 2010, and only behind ‘09 and ‘13.
He totaled 15.9 win shares... again, third highest of his career only behind ‘09 and ‘13.
He led the league with a BPM of 8.9.
He totaled 15.9 win shares... again, third highest of his career only behind ‘09 and ‘13.
He led the league with a BPM of 8.9.
LeBron had the most efficient season of his career while averaging 27.1 PPG, was one of the league’s absolute best defenders, and played some of the most minutes he had ever played.
The season wasn’t over, though.
Like usual, Bron would have to step it up in the playoffs.
The season wasn’t over, though.
Like usual, Bron would have to step it up in the playoffs.
In the ECFR, LeBron and the Heat would face the 7th seeded Hornets.
The Hornets, despite only winning 43 games, boasted the league’s 5th best defense and held their opponents to the 4th fewest points in the league.
The Hornets, despite only winning 43 games, boasted the league’s 5th best defense and held their opponents to the 4th fewest points in the league.
LeBron would go on to average:
• 30.0 PPG (led both teams)
• 8.0 RPG (led all teammates)
• 6.0 APG (led all teammates)
• 2.0 APG (led all teammates)
(55.7% FG / 35.0% 3PT / 79.5% FT)
(67.1 TS% / 60.7 eFG%)
He led them to a 4-0 sweep.
The Heat would face the Nets next.
• 30.0 PPG (led both teams)
• 8.0 RPG (led all teammates)
• 6.0 APG (led all teammates)
• 2.0 APG (led all teammates)
(55.7% FG / 35.0% 3PT / 79.5% FT)
(67.1 TS% / 60.7 eFG%)
He led them to a 4-0 sweep.
The Heat would face the Nets next.
In the ECSF vs the Nets, Bron averaged:
• 30.0 PPG (led both teams)
• 6.4 RPG (led all teammates)
• 3.6 APG
• 1.2 SPG
• 0.6 BPG
(57.0% FG / 38.1% 3PT / 81.5% FT)
(68.3 TS% / 61.6 eFG%)
He also led the team in FG% and 3PT%.
• 30.0 PPG (led both teams)
• 6.4 RPG (led all teammates)
• 3.6 APG
• 1.2 SPG
• 0.6 BPG
(57.0% FG / 38.1% 3PT / 81.5% FT)
(68.3 TS% / 61.6 eFG%)
He also led the team in FG% and 3PT%.
In a 102-96 game 4 win, Bron put up:
> 49 PTS
> 6 REBS
> 2 ASTS
> 3 STLS
> 16/24 FG (66.7%)
> 3/6 3PT (50.0%)
He led the Heat to a 4-1 series victory.
The Heat were on to face Pacers in the ECF.
> 49 PTS
> 6 REBS
> 2 ASTS
> 3 STLS
> 16/24 FG (66.7%)
> 3/6 3PT (50.0%)
He led the Heat to a 4-1 series victory.
The Heat were on to face Pacers in the ECF.
Don’t let anybody tell you the Pacers were no comp...
They won 56 games and were the #1 defense in the league.
Up until the ECF, PG was averaging 22-9-3-2 on 57.5 TS%, and the team was BUILT to STOP opponents.
They were probably LeBron’s best comp in the East this decade.
They won 56 games and were the #1 defense in the league.
Up until the ECF, PG was averaging 22-9-3-2 on 57.5 TS%, and the team was BUILT to STOP opponents.
They were probably LeBron’s best comp in the East this decade.
Bron would be slowed down, but not stopped. He put up averages of:
• 22.8 PPG (led all teammates)
• 6.3 RPG
• 5.5 APG (led all teammates)
• 1.8 SPG (led all teammates)
• 0.8 BPG (led all teammates)
He shot 55.9% from the field, 33.3% from the arch, and 81.8% from the line.
• 22.8 PPG (led all teammates)
• 6.3 RPG
• 5.5 APG (led all teammates)
• 1.8 SPG (led all teammates)
• 0.8 BPG (led all teammates)
He shot 55.9% from the field, 33.3% from the arch, and 81.8% from the line.
In the Finals, the Heat would face the Spurs... a team who won 62 games... a team who was the league’s 7th best offense and 3rd best defense... a team who was seeking revenge from 2013.
It would be one of LeBron’s most daunting Finals matchups yet.
It would be one of LeBron’s most daunting Finals matchups yet.
The Spurs SMACKED the Heat in five games. The games weren’t close, either. The Spurs won the series by a total of 70 points.
Kawhi won FMVP for being great in the last 3 games and “shutting down LeBron”, but here’s what LeBron did...
Kawhi won FMVP for being great in the last 3 games and “shutting down LeBron”, but here’s what LeBron did...
• 28.2 PPG (led both teams)
• 7.8 RPG (led all teammates)
• 4.0 APG (led all teammates)
• 2.0 SPG (led all teammates)
• 0.4 BPG (led all teammates)
• 57.1% FG (led all teammates)
• 51.9% 3PT (led all teammates)
• 79.3% FT
That’s 28-8-4-2 on 57/52/79 splits.
• 7.8 RPG (led all teammates)
• 4.0 APG (led all teammates)
• 2.0 SPG (led all teammates)
• 0.4 BPG (led all teammates)
• 57.1% FG (led all teammates)
• 51.9% 3PT (led all teammates)
• 79.3% FT
That’s 28-8-4-2 on 57/52/79 splits.
He led his team in all five major categories while also being by far the most efficient player on the team.
His next best teammate, Wade, averaged just 15.2 PPG on 44/33/69 splits.
Bron averaged more pts, rebs, asts, stls, blks, FG%, 3PT%, and FT% than his next best teammate.
His next best teammate, Wade, averaged just 15.2 PPG on 44/33/69 splits.
Bron averaged more pts, rebs, asts, stls, blks, FG%, 3PT%, and FT% than his next best teammate.
That PS, Bron averaged 27-7-5-1.8-0.6 on insane efficiency:
• 56.5% FG (2nd highest of career)
• 40.7% 3PT (career high)
• 80.6% FT (career high)
• 66.8 TS% (career high)
• 61.6 eFG% (2nd highest of career)
He also boasted a 31.1 PER, 12 highest PER of ALL TIME.
• 56.5% FG (2nd highest of career)
• 40.7% 3PT (career high)
• 80.6% FT (career high)
• 66.8 TS% (career high)
• 61.6 eFG% (2nd highest of career)
He also boasted a 31.1 PER, 12 highest PER of ALL TIME.
Despite facing the #5 defense, #3 defense, and #1 defense, LeBron only had... and yes this is right... THREE GAMES shooting below 50% FG.
He had the 3rd highest ORTG of his playoff career (124) and was still an absolute monster on the defensive end.
He had the 3rd highest ORTG of his playoff career (124) and was still an absolute monster on the defensive end.
In this postseason, Bron led the entire team in PPG, RPG, APG, and SPG, while also leading them in FG%, 3PT% (for volume), TS%, eFG%, and, crazy enough, was third in FT%.
He had a BPM of +10.3.
The next best Heat (that played all games) was Bosh, with a BPM of +2.1.
He had a BPM of +10.3.
The next best Heat (that played all games) was Bosh, with a BPM of +2.1.
He also led the team in OWS, DWS, TWS, WS/48, OBPM, DBPM, BPM, VORP, and despite averaging by far the most PPG and APG with the highest USG%, was SIXTH in turnover %.
His PER of 31.1 was 12.6 higher than that of any other teammate.
His PER of 31.1 was 12.6 higher than that of any other teammate.
LeBron’s postseason run was absolutely incredible... one of the very best runs of his entire career.
It gets overlooked because he had minimal help in the Finals, leading to the Heat’s eventual downfall.
Imagine how we’d look at 2014 Bron if he had just a little more help...
It gets overlooked because he had minimal help in the Finals, leading to the Heat’s eventual downfall.
Imagine how we’d look at 2014 Bron if he had just a little more help...
