INDEPENDENCE: There was a time last season when LeBron James was the worst jump shooter in the NBA. The numbers backed it up.
Toward the end of December, NBA.com numbers guru John Schuhmann determined James and Kobe Bryant were shooting the two lowest percentages outside the paint of anyone in the league.
It didn’t take long for that stat to get back to James, who spent most of last season attacking the paint and living at the rim more than any other year. The fact remains, however, that James’ 31-percent from the 3-point line was his lowest since his rookie year. James spent time in the gym over the summer trying to fix his broken jumper.
“Always just try to hone in on what needs to be better, ways I can continue to improve,” he said. “We’re a team that likes to get up and down, spread the floor. And if I can knock down a few jumpers per game, it helps spread the floor.”
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue noticed James’ shooting improve as the season progressed. He shot a more respectable 34 percent from the 3-point line in the postseason, including an excellent 37 percent in the Finals. He made at least one 3-pointer in his last 11 postseason games, including all seven in the NBA Finals.
“I thought early on [last season], he took a lot of step-back 3s, which are tough shots,” Lue said. “I thought once he started shooting the ball in rhythm and catching and shooting in rhythm, he shot it a lot better. We know he can make shots, so he has to step up and shoot it every time with confidence.”
James hasn’t worked with a shooting coach since early in his career, when former Cavs assistant Chris Jent helped him extensively with his mechanics. James worked with Cavs assistants Damon Jones and Phil Handy over the summer, but primarily prefers to work out problems on his own.
James made the only 3-pointer he has attempted through two preseason games. He is expected to get the night off — along with all of the team’s other regulars — when the Cavs play at the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
“I know what needs to be done to get my shot in form, to get my game in form,” James said. “I learned a lot from Chris Jent and, at this point, I know when I’m not shooting the ball well what needs to be done to help my shot.
“It’s not saying that I can’t achieve anything by myself, I don’t want that to get misconstrued. But as far as the mental, I know how to change my shot or what needs to be done to just be in a better rhythm.”
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.