LeBron James - Off Ball Movement 15/16

One of the things LeBron has consistently done throughout his career is the 45 cut or "kill cut". To prove it, the first clip is from Christmas day in LA 2009. Everything that comes after is from the 2015/16 season. Now what happens on this play is a teammate will drive, normally along the baseline, and LeBron times his run from the top or the wing and sprints straight at the rim. LeBron streaking down the lane is hard to miss, so he can often just catch and finish. There are times you’ll see them hide this action until he sets or receives a back screen. As with all screens, when it’s done well, it creates an opening, and for LeBron, that often results in two points.
I don’t think it’s in this video, but Cleveland also utilizes LeBron in UCLA action, whether he’s the one coming up top initiating or setting the screen at the high post, and then turning right around for the lob or seal. The point of all this action is obvious: LeBron can catch the ball with all the momentum. He might take a dribble, he might not, but he’s exploding to the rim.

The next sequence is the baseline backdoor cut, which is pretty basic. Nothing complex about it. Based on what I’ve seen, it’s probably Dwyane Wade’s favorite off-ball movement: to prowl along the baseline for quick drop-offs or putbacks. (Starts at about 3:02)

What follows is similar to the baseline prowl, but you’ll see LeBron getting a cross screen or back screen. A cross screen is where a player on the low block gets a screen coming to the opposite block, it’s done so that a post player can establish DEEP position. Sometimes the defense will decide to switch, sometimes they’ll go with it, but the initial defender will chase to recover, either way, LeBron will bury his man; you can imagine how effective it would be for the Cavs. Actually, you don’t have to imagine, you can watch a few clips in this video. (Starts at about 4:08)

The video then goes to one of the oldest and most basic plays in the game: the give and go. I don’t think this one needs to be explained, but there’s that mili-second of relaxation when the man you’re defending gives the ball up, it’s just natural to have that happen, but at the NBA level, that’s all it takes to get burned. (5:17) I was going to keep these plays separated in their sequences, but I like the dive/middle cut so much that I put a lot of this action from their championship playoff run as the capper.

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