LeBron James Is Indestructible

For all the many things LeBron James is praised for, from his ability to set up his teammates to his capacity to take over a game, his most underappreciated quality may be his most obvious: He's always there.

Since entering the league in 2003, James has never sat out for more than 15 percent of a season (regular and playoffs combined). Among players of his caliber, past and present, that's unprecedented. Stephen Curry had ankle issues at the start of his career; both Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant experienced late-season injuries that forced them to miss the playoffs in, respectively, 2000 and 20131; and Michael Jordan broke his foot in his sophomore season. Then there's James. He's never missed a playoff game, and even though he has the sixth-most regular-season minutes of all time among players at the same point in their careers (within their first 14 years in the league), the most severe injuries he's incurred are a sore back and knee and some untimely cramps.

Quantifying a player's durability is a bit tricky because the NBA doesn't keep track of games missed due to injury, which leaves us no way to distinguish physical issues from other reasons for missing games, such as paternity leave or regular rest. The best we can do, then, is to look at the number of games a player appeared in as a portion of the number of games they could have appeared in. The higher the percentage of possible games played, the more durable the player is.2

This year, James appeared in 74 out of a possible 82 games during the regular season and has played in all 12 of the Cavaliers' playoff games — that's a 91 percent appearance rate. By itself, that statistic is unremarkable. But when you put it in context — James has played in at least 85 percent of his teams' games in every season of his career — you see something special.

Here's James compared to the five inactive players with the highest career win share since 1980.3

The only other past superstars who've played in a higher percentage of their teams' total games are Karl Malone and John Stockton. (It's fitting that a player nicknamed "The Mailman" appeared in 100 percent of potential games 10 different times in his career.) But even they had their injuries. In Malone's case, he tweaked his right knee in his final season and missed nearly half of the regular season. (To be fair to Malone, he was eight years older than James and five seasons deeper into his career.) Meanwhile, Stockton injured his MCL in 1997, forcing him to sit out the first 18 games of that year.4

He's been equally great when compared to the five other active players with the highest career win share.

Truth is, James has been even healthier than those numbers would suggest, because potential games played is a conservative estimate of durability. Some of the games James missed weren't because he was injured, but rather because a coach decided to rest him for meaningless games at the end of a regular season. (A philosophy that Malone is happy to remind people didn't exist in his day.)
All this is even more impressive considering the bruising style of basketball James is known for. Among active players, no one has gone to the free-throw line more than James. It's almost unbelievable that a player who plays such physical ball has stayed so healthy since, as we've seen in this year's playoffs with Blake Griffin, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Isaiah Thomas, it only takes one misstep to end someone's season.

Score Off The Down Screen Like Kevin Durant

Dr. Dish is back at it again with another amazing Drill of the Week! This week we are focusing on scoring from the mid-level down screen. Recently we broke down scoring using the flare screen action. Its very important to have some quick scoring moves when utilizing the down screen or pin down option.

The Golden State Warriors have mastered the down screen action and have continued to perplex teams with it. They have the incredible ability to make the correct reads off the down screen. In the video below we will break down 3 quick and effective ways to score off the down screen. Through diligent work on these basketball drills, players can become automatic when catching the ball off of the action.

In these basketball drills, we have the Dr. Dish All-Star pulled away from the basket at the top of the key to deliver game-like passes. There's no other shooting machine in the world designed for game-scenario passing!

Hesitation Dribble Into Running Floater

The first move we will break down is the hesitation dribble into the floater. Oftentimes the screener's man will help to prevent the curl action from happening. The defender will step out and try to deter the player from curling and will buy time for his teammate to recover back. One quick way to combat this is to use the hesitation dribble. When you catch the pass off the down screen you want to take a hard dribble as if you are retreating from the hoop. This will fool the screen defender into thinking he has done his job. As soon as you see that defender release, you want to take one more hard dribble towards the hoop and float it over that same defender. Your defender will be trailing you or will be on your hip. Make sure to protect the basketball with your body when attacking and focus on executing the floater. The key is staying patient and reading the defense.

Turn Around Fade-Away Jumper

The second move is one of my personal favorites. The turn around fade away jumper is more of an advanced move, but with proper technique and practice it can be a terrific way to score off the down screen. One important piece to this move is coming off the screen hard. You want your defender to try and fight through the screen because this will lead them to be off balance. You want to set them up with a hard dribble as if you are curling the screen and then spin back off the defender, pushing off on your back foot for a fade away shot. You only need a second of separation for the move to work, so its important to focus on the shot after doing the move.

Quick Change of Direction to Running Fade-Away Shot

The last move I will break down is probably the most difficult. This move requires great footwork, burst, and technique. Once again you want to come off the down screen hard so that you defender tries to fight through the screen. As soon as you catch the basketball of the down screen, you are going to do a quick behind the back towards the direction you just came from. At this point the number one option is to score at the rim, but if your defender gets back to you or the help side steps in you can use the running fade-away jumper. Kevin Durant does an amazing job selling the hard dribble to the hoop. This gets his defender off balance once again and allows him to create separation for the shot. This is a difficult shot because you are moving in one direction and fading to another.

These are all effective options out of the down screen/pin down action but ONLY if worked on diligently. It's essential to work at game speed with any basketball drills that you use. Focus on the your balance, footwork, and reading your defender and there's no doubt that you'll improve. Here at Dr. Dish basketball we train hard, train smart, and train with a purpose!

Expect Kristaps Porzingis to continue shooting three-pointers

Young Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game as a rookie last season. Despite his height and position, he took a lot of three-pointers, hitting 81-of-243 (33.3%). Normally you don’t want a forward who is taller than most of the league’s centers to shoot many outside shots at all, let alone lots of three-pointers. Unless, of course, he can make them. On that note, here’s the New York Daily News reporting:

Expect even more three-pointers from Kristaps Porzingis this season

Given the green light by Phil Jackson, Kristaps Porzingis is heading into the season unafraid of releasing a pull-up 3-pointer.

The 7-3 Latvian demonstrated the shot in transition during a training-camp scrimmage Thursday, finding open looks as the trailer early in the shot clock. The Knicks hope to get these type of looks more often this season with quicker guards and a faster-paced offense.

“I think that’s a high percentage shot for me. Last year Phil Jackson, he told me that he likes that shot,” said Porzingis, who was left with a bloody nose during the scrimmage after being clocked under the basket. “I wasn’t so sure about it at first. It was early in the offense. I didn’t know if it was the best shot. But once we saw the percentages he said it’s a pretty good look if I get that. The bigs a lot of times, they’re giving me that space, then just take that shot. Once he said that I have his confidence in me and it was just let it go. I’ll probably do the same thing this year.”

4 Teams That Could Beat The USA's Basketball Team

The United States remains the undisputed champion of international basketball, but it might not be as easy in Tokyo in 2020.

The 2016 Rio Olympics taught us that even when USA Basketball sends its B-team, the rest of the world still isn't particularly close. Without LeBron James, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and many others, the U.S. still won the gold medal game by 30 points over Serbia. There were tight games and uninspiring stretches along the way, but the final result was never in real doubt because of Team USA's overwhelming talent advantage.

That could change by the time the U.S. is going for its fourth straight gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The United States will still have the greatest and deepest pool of players to choose from, but there is some serious young talent emerging around the world. The 2016 NBA Draft was the best example of this, as 10 of the first 16 players selected were born outside of the U.S.

There appear to be four countries in particular that could have some legit star power by the time the 2020 games arrive. With apologies to Spain, Serbia, Lithuania, Greece and Germany, here are the biggest threats to U.S. basketball supremacy.

4. France

 


Who's probably back: Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, Nando de Colo, Thomas Heurtel, Joffrey Lauvergne

Who's probably out: Tony Parker, Boris Diaw

The next French team will have a distinctly different feel after the departure of Tony Parker, who announced his retirement from international competition last week. Parker has been the face of French basketball for the last decade, but it's possible the next generation could have even more success.

France should bring back a strong veteran core, led by Gobert's towering defensive presence. Nando de Colo (who would be 33) and Thomas Heurtel (who would be 31) could still provide offensive firepower in the backcourt, while Nicolas Batum provides two-way stability on the wing should he return at age 31 in the 2020 games.

France also has some exciting young players. Five French players were selected in the 2016 draft covering all five positions. Another wave of French-born talent is coming in the 2017 NBA Draft, with point guard Frank Ntilikina gaining hype as a potential top-10 selection and 7'2 center Jonathan Jeanne also currently projected as a first rounder.

The biggest addition of all should be Evan Fournier, who was strangely left off France's 2016 team in Rio because he skipped a preliminary tournament.

3. Croatia


Who's probably back: Bojan Bogdanović, Dario Saric, Mario Hezonja, Darko Planinić

Who's probably gone: Roko Ukić and/or Krunoslav Simon, who will each be 35 years old.

Let's recognize that Bojan Bogdanović is a star in international play. His 25.3 points per game were four more than any other player at the Rio Olympics. He'll be 31 in 2020 and should still have one more good run left in him. And by that time, Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja should be coming into their own in the NBA.

Saric and Hezonja might be the next great international duo. Saric played well as a 22-year-old in this tournament and has rare talents as a playmaking four. Hezonja has outstanding potential as a shooter and scorer and at 21 years old is only starting to scratch the surface. They will be ready to roll in Tokyo.

Dragan Bender is on his way, too. It's incredible to think Bender will still only be 22 years old for the 2020 games, but the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft was outstanding for Croatia in junior competitions and should have already carved out an NBA role by then. Croatia also has Ivica Zubac and Ante Zizic, a pair of 19-year-old centers who were selected in the 2016 NBA Draft.

2. Australia


Who's probably back: Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Aron Baynes, Joe Ingles

Who's probably gone: Andrew Bogut, David Andersen

The Aussies watched their first Olympic medal slip through their hands in heartbreaking fashion in Rio, but a bright future should help alleviate the sting of the final minute against Spain. The Australians already have a quality system put in place by a good coach in Andrej Lemanis. They should have Patty Mills (Rio's second-leading scorer) and Matthew Dellavedova entrenched in the backcourt. They have a veteran shooter on the wing in Joe Ingles and a steady defensive anchor in the front court in Aron Baynes. Even without Andrew Bogut, that's the solid base.

The reason Australia's basketball future is so exciting is because of who is joining them. It starts with Ben Simmons, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and possibly Australia's first NBA superstar. Point guard Dante Exum, the fifth pick in 2014, could be a very good NBA player in his own right by then. There's also the great unknown that is Thon Maker.

There also seems to be quality Australian players entering the college ranks every year. Deng Adel is expected to be a breakout player for Louisville as a sophomore, while Isaac Humphries should crack Kentucky's loaded frontcourt rotation. Another name to remember is Harry Froling, a 6'9 stretch forward set to debut for SMU this season.

1. Canada


Canada hasn't qualified for the Olympics since 2000, but it's impossible to ignore the young talent base that's been accumulating for our neighbor to the north. Since 2011, there have been 10 first-round draft picks from Canada, with seven selected in the lottery. That includes two No. 1 overall picks on distinctly different career paths at the moment.

While time is running out for Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins looks like a future All-Star as he enters his third NBA season. With Wiggins holding down the wing, Canada should also have go-to offensive options in the backcourt and front court. Trey Lyles is a 6'10 forward coming off a promising rookie year for the Jazz, while Jamal Murray comes to the Nuggets as the No. 7 pick in the draft after a great offensive season at Kentucky.

Canada also has a group of solid young veterans who have already realized their potential in the NBA. Point guard Cory Joseph has turned into a great defender for the Raptors, the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk has proven to be a capable shooter in the front court and Tristan Thompson is already one of the NBA's best rebounders. Each will only be 29 years old in 2020.

The wildcard here could be R.J. Barrett, currently the top-ranked high school sophomore in the world. He was born in 2000 and would be 20 years old in Tokyo. We're all so old.

It would require a massive jump for Canada to go from a non-qualifier to an Olympic contender in just four years, but the talent is there. Team USA remains on top of the world, but they can't get too comfortable.

Why LeBron James is Nike's for life

LeBron James has said in the past that he is tired of being compared to Michael Jordan, but the new deal he signed on Monday means that he may well be seen as stepping into Jordan’s shoes, or more specifically, his Air Jordans.

James has just signed a lifetime deal with Nike, which will potentially earn the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar more than $60m (£40m) a year. Like Jordan, James has been working with the company since his youth, signing his first $90m deal with them when he was just out of high school after a bidding war between Nike, Adidas and Reebok.

“I’m just grateful that Nike and [Nike co-founder] Phil Knight and everyone over there just believed in a skinny 18-year-old kid from Akron, Ohio,” James told reporters on Monday.

So what does a contract for life involve and who gets them? Karl Lagerfeld is said to be so important to Chanel that he has one with the label. Ditto Annie Leibovitz, whose contract with Vanity Fair publisher Condé Nast is supposedly worth $5m a year. Jordan, who first signed a deal in 1984, has been working successfully with Nike for 12 years since his retirement. His Air Jordan line sold $2.5bn worth of shoes in 2012, and Jordan is thought to earn $100m a year thanks to the range. David Beckham, meanwhile, will make more than $160m from the lifetime contract with Adidas that he signed in 2003.

David Abrutyn, an executive vice president at the media marketing agency Bruin Sports Capital, says that the deal reflects James’s importance to the company. “They are very purposefully defining that they have done a lifetime deal with LeBron and I think that speaks volumes about what he means for their business,” he says. “I’m sure if you talked to the people at Nike they would tell you that of the thousands of athletes they represent, more than a few of them have asked for a lifetime deal.” He says that it is likely to be Nike’s biggest deal since its “de facto” lifetime contract with Jordan.

The world of sponsorship hasn’t always been plain sailing for Nike, whose shareholders were reported to have lost tens of millions of dollars after standing by Tiger Woods during his infidelity scandal. Lance Armstrong and Oscar Pistorius, who lost their Nike sponsorship in 2012 and 2013 respectively, have also caused headaches for the company.

Despite this, Abrutyn thinks that Nike envisages this deal being successful, perhaps even to the grave. “As with Jordan, what you’re seeing here is a reflection of the business that LeBron helped drive,” he says. In other words, nice work if you can get it.