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Reading: Phil Handy Reveals How LeBron James Plays Different In The Playoffs Than The Regular Seasons: “After Game 3 Of The First Round, I Had To Apologize To LeBron.”
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Home > NBA News & Media > Phil Handy Reveals How LeBron James Plays Different In The Playoffs Than The Regular Seasons: “After Game 3 Of The First Round, I Had To Apologize To LeBron.”

Phil Handy Reveals How LeBron James Plays Different In The Playoffs Than The Regular Seasons: “After Game 3 Of The First Round, I Had To Apologize To LeBron.”

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Aug 8, 2022
3 Min Read
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Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Love him or hate him, LeBron James is one of the greatest playoff performers in the history of basketball. He went to 10 NBA Finals in his career because of his incredible ability to ensure his teams could win 7-game playoff battles when they are pushed to it. He went to 8 consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2018 and returned to that platform in 2020 to win his 4th championship.

In LeBron’s late career, certain habits he has on the court have come to the forefront. In the regular season, LeBron is often criticized for his lack of effort, especially on the defensive end of the ball. However, those concerns instantly go away in the Playoffs as LeBron effortlessly leads his team through to the NBA Finals. 

Current Lakers assistant coach and former Cavs coach Phil Handy saw the low effort with which LeBron played in the Playoffs and internally criticized LBJ during the 2014-15 regular season before seeing how LeBron switched his play style in the playoffs. 

“Bron’s first year back to Cleveland, I think 2014, that was my second year coaching in Cleveland. I didn’t know ‘Bron, he came back to Cleveland and I went through the season like ‘this dude don’t play hard each time’. I was saying that to myself and this was like Year 14 for ‘Bron. The playoffs started, and I had never been around ‘Bron at the playoffs before. Man, that Zero Dark 23 thing he says. This is a true story, after Game 3 of the playoffs, I went to him and apologized. I was like ‘I’m apologizing to you, man, because I was clowning you in the regular season’. He’s like ‘PH, I been in the league very long. This is how I wrap myself up. I have to go through the regular season making sure that when the playoff start, I am at my optimal, I am at my apex.’  That gear that he went to? I was blown away.”

LeBron has gone through his entire career, proving he has another level he can unlock in the Playoffs. He is the stat-record holder in various categories for the NBA Playoffs and has left an inarguable legacy as the best playoff player of this generation. 

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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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