LeBron James is a unique player, not just in regard to his skill set, but also in regard to the numbers he puts up. Few players through the years have been able to match the combination of points, rebounds and assists that James records on a nightly basis. And even fewer have been able to do it while scoring so efficiently.
In his second postseason with the Heat, with Chris Bosh having missed half of the team’s 12 games, James has increased his scoring and rebounding to numbers reminiscent of his days in Cleveland. Through Game 1 of the conference finals, James is averaging 29.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
Those numbers have only been achieved three other times in NBA history. And James is responsible for two of those other occurrences, in 2009 and 2010, his last two seasons with the Cavs.
Oscar Robertson is responsible for the other one, averaging 31.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists over 12 games in the 1963 postseason. But if you throw in one more qualifier — 50 percent shooting — Robertson, who shot 47 percent that year, drops out. And all you’re left with is three James postseasons.
For James, the difference between last postseason and this one is more than just Bosh’s absence. Right after Game 1 of the first round, when Bosh was still very healthy, James explained.
“I’m a different player this year,” he said. “I’m a different person this year.”
The difference is a comfort level with his teammates and with the Heat’s system. And it helps that the Heat aren’t under the microscope quite as much as they were in their first year together.
“There was more pressure felt last year,” James said.