In March 2000, LeBron James played what until then was the most important game of his life: the state championship game at Ohio State.
The lanky freshman made 10 of 12 shots, had nine rebounds and scored 25 points, more than hinting that he could be headed for big things. However, the decisive player of the game was a fellow freshman named Dru Joyce, who hit seven three-pointers. His shooting display broke the opponent's zone defense, the first of many ideas to try to stop James.
Luke Kennard was 3 years old at the time. Fifteen years later, he surpassed James' Ohio high school scoring mark. Kennard hitting five 3-pointers and scoring 27 points in the Lakers' Game 1 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday was a reminder that 26 years later, history hasn't changed much.
Over the decades, the faces have changed, but the devastating strategy can still work wonders. When the stakes are high, give James the ball, spread the floor, and win with James running the offense and the snipers cutting around him.
It's a playoff lesson that has spanned nearly two decades of James' illustrious career.
The list of players who changed playoff games with barrages of 3-pointers against James is long: Damon Jones, Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Matthew Dellavedova, JR Smith, Kyle Korver, Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Check out the scores and highlights: Even that 2000 game is on YouTube. Most of these shots were generated by James' assists, or his hockey assists, or screens or the mere attention of drawing multiple defenders.
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Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers: Game Highlights
It's similar to what happened in Game 1 on Saturday, when James once again became the ultimate facilitator, dishing out eight of his 13 assists in the first quarter.
“He showed great leadership throughout,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of James. “We talked all week about being connected offensively and trusting the pass. He guided us.”
One of the biggest lessons from the NBA's first playoff weekend is a quarter-century old. Give James a shooter (or three) and the ball, and his team can still win big games the old-fashioned way.
Here's a look at some other lessons we learned as the eight playoff series began:
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Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Game Highlights
The Cavs unveiled a new defensive strategy… and it worked
The Cleveland Cavaliers struggled defensively for much of the second half of the season. In addition to their injuries, which prevented them from developing any rhythm (coach Kenny Atkinson used 24 different players and 41 starting lineups), their 15th-ranked defense was a concern entering the playoffs.
However, in their Game 1 victory against the Toronto Raptors, the Cavs revealed a solid and disciplined game plan that targeted the Raptors' leading scorer, Brandon Ingram.
During the regular season, Ingram averaged 20 shots per game against the Cavs, his third most against any team in the East, as he was clearly the Raptors' preferred option when playing Cleveland.
On Saturday, the Cavs, starting top defender Dean Wade, shadowed Ingram from the start of possessions. It ended with just nine shots and one in the second half. He got to the free throw line 10 times, but the Cavaliers not only prevented him from scoring, they made it difficult for him to even do so.
It didn't help Toronto that starting point guard Immanuel Quickley was out with a right hamstring injury, and the Cavs lightly covered replacement Jamal Shead, who hit five 3-pointers. But the Cavs were delighted that he took two more shots than Ingram.
“They tried to deny me the ball every time I hit the ground,” Ingram said. “Obviously, they knew most of the things we've been running all year… We've got to figure out how to make adjustments next game, and let that not be too effective.”
The Cavs also slowed the pace, something that will be part of their game plan throughout their playoff run. Cleveland is already one of the slowest teams in the league (James Harden is a big factor) and Toronto managed just three fast-break points.
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Thunder beats Suns in Game 1
The Thunder take a 1-0 series lead after a dominant win over the Suns.
Lose the turnover game in OKC and it's over
The Thunder had to win two Game 7s last year on their way to the title, but that obscures how dominant they were at home last spring.
Their average margin of victory at home during the Western Conference playoffs last year was 29 points. Including the playoffs and NBA Cup, they are 149-40 over the last two seasons, despite significant injuries.
And after beating the Suns by 35 points in Game 1 on Sunday, the Thunder's average margin of victory in first-round games at home over the past two years is… 35 points.
Oklahoma City was terrifying on Sunday. The Suns were fatigued after playing a third game in three cities in six days against the rested Thunder, but the efficiency of their performance illustrated what it would take to beat them four times in a series.
The most important statistic of the weekend might have been that the Thunder outscored the Suns 34-2 in points off turnovers. That might seem like a byproduct of a routine blowout, but it's a measuring stick for the Thunder's level of play.
They are built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his half-court dominance. But his philosophy is summed up in those points derived from turnovers. The Thunder are built and programmed to win the possession game. That's why they jump passing lanes, obsessively try to take care of the ball and recruit athletes with long arms.
get the ball. Whether it's a rebound, a steal, a fumble or a deflection, it doesn't matter.
Watching the Thunder go through 11 players in the first half, all of them falling into mostly perfect defensive rotations, generating eight steals and a handful more deflections, and score 21 points off turnovers in just 24 minutes was humbling, for the Suns and anyone who dared to watch the contest.
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Jalen Suggs picks up Cade Cunningham's pocket and throws a transition jam
Jalen Suggs steals the ball from Cade Cunningham and scores for the Magic.
The Pistons' weaknesses were exposed
Throughout the regular season, the Pistons continued to hear qualified praise.
They are so hard, both physically and mentally, but They have a limited ability to generate offense. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren should be on every NBA Awards ballot after their spectacular two-way play throughout the season. but It's hard to win big with mediocre three-point shooting.
Detroit was the only one of eight home teams to lose in its Game 1 over the weekend, and the Magic carried their impressive play-in victory momentum into Sunday's victory. Cunningham looked like the first-team All-NBA player most likely to be named, as he scored 39 points and valiantly tried to lead his team to victory.
Cunningham took 27 shots and only one of his teammates had double-digit attempts: Tobais Harris, who was a disappointing 5 of 15. Duren, who had been an offensive force down the stretch of the season, managed just four shots and was outplayed by Magic center Wendell Carter.
The Pistons were just 4 of 16 from Cunningham, and their bench was also 4 of 16 combined. The Pistons were just 10 of 32 on 3-pointers, even one shy of their season average of 11 per game, which ranked 28th in the league.
The Pistons, a 60-win team, are good enough to adjust to Game 2, but on a day when the Thunder, Spurs and Celtics were looking for their seeding, the traits that made them look vulnerable for months were evident.
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Wemby falls 35 in playoff debut as Spurs win Game 1
Victor Wembanyama drops 35 points and the Spurs win Game 1 over the Trail Blazers.
Victor Wembanyama does not fear this moment or any other.
The 22-year-old came out with 12 points in the first quarter of his first playoff game and scored 21 of his 35 points in the first half of the Spurs' Game 1 victory over the Blazers. His overall stat line was more vulgar than his ridiculous standard; He only managed five rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
How does this compare to some of the recent bigs' first playoff games? In short: pretty good.
James' first playoff game was also very impressive, with a triple double of 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in an 11-point victory. But that kind of result, and leading his team to victory, is not the norm.
Kevin Durant scored 24 points in his debut, but was just 7 of 24 in a loss. Stephen Curry scored 19 and 9 assists also in a loss. Luka Doncic was exceptional in his first playoff game in Dallas, scoring 42 points with 7 rebounds and nine assists, but the Mavs also lost. Kobe Bryant only played 46 seconds in his first playoff game as a little-used rookie. In Bryant's first playoff start, in his third season as a Wembanyama, he scored 17 points and made the game-winning free throws.
Shaquille O'Neal, to whom some have compared Wembanyama for his early dominance at the center position, had 24 points and 19 rebounds in his first playoff game. Also a loss.
