LeBron & Rio Lead Heat's Charge
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Based on their performance Monday night, the Miami Heat no longer fear the deer when it comes to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat disposed of the Bucks without any problems and they did it on the broad shoulders of LeBron James.
LeBron went for 35 points Monday night and hit more than 70 percent of his shots during the game. He was especially deadly in the post, where no one on the Bucks could even come close to stopping James.
It's the latest example of how much LeBron's summer of work on his post game has really pushed him over the top.
LeBron spent the summer working with NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon on his post game and the results have been better than the Heat could have hoped for this season.
According to ESPN.com, of NBA players with at least 75 post-ups this season, LeBron is shooting better than anyone in the NBA.
For the season, LeBron is shooting 55.4 percent in the post, which is nearly three percent better than the next closest player, Carl Landry.
This season, LeBron is averaging 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.
But it's not just LeBron that's powering the Heat's lineup. Once overlooked point guard Mario Chalmers is also having a career year from behind the three-point line.
Chalmers leads the Heat with 54 three-point shots made this season and is shooting better than 45 percent from behind the arc. He's doing this while averaging nearly 30 minutes a game, thanks to the improved play of rookie Norris Cole off the bench.
Chalmers missed a game with an injured wrist, but once he returned to the lineup, he hasn't missed a beat. Chalmers credits LeBron for his improved shooting.
"I'm just moving without the ball and finding various spaces," Chalmers told CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald. "I know what LeBron is going to do. I know where his vision is going to be."
The vision for everyone on the Heat is on the postseason right now. The Heat are 22-7 on the season and are just one-half game behind the Chicago Bulls for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
If the rest of the Heat continue to step up their game the way LeBron and Rio have this season, there's no one in the league that can stop the Heat from hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.
