LeBron James mentioned his clutch, game-tying basket was the results of particular 'layup packages' he practices

• LeBron James hit a game-tying layup with .8 seconds left to power extra time towards the Grizzlies.
• James needed to loft the layup to almost the highest of the backboard to keep away from having it blocked by Jaren Jackson Jr.
• James mentioned he has tiered “layup packages” he works on that assist him decide the peak he wants on sure pictures.

LeBron James got here by within the clutch but once more for the Los Angeles Lakers.

This time, it was a game-tying layup with .8 seconds to power extra time towards the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers — thanks, partly, to extra clutch performs from James in extra time — received the 117-111 win to take a 3-1 sequence lead.

With the Grizzlies main 104-102 with 6.7 seconds left, James caught the ball close to half court docket. He drove to his proper, previous Grizzlies forward-center Xavier Tillman, and lofted a right-handed layup that went up and over Defensive Participant of the 12 months Jaren Jackson Jr. The ball dropped by with .8 seconds left to tie the sport.

—NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2023

One other angle confirmed simply how excessive James needed to loft the ball to keep away from Jackson’s assist protection.

In his postgame press convention, James was requested if that was the best he had ever needed to shoot a layup to be able to keep away from a block. James defined that he works on particular “layup packages” that embrace totally different heights, only for moments like final night time. 

“Nicely, I work on totally different layup packages,” James advised reporters. “Tier one is absolutely only a layup, simply beneath the rim the place you lay it off the glass. Tier two is the center of the glass or the center of the sq.. After which tier three is excessive of the sq. … We work on these, relying on the shot-blocker. 

“I’ve had moments the place I have been capable of scoop these excessive layups.” 

James had beforehand talked about this “tiered” system to ESPN’s Zach Lowe whereas breaking down a few of his most iconic baskets. When James was proven a high-off-the-glass layup he made within the 2018 Finals, he advised Lowe, “That is a Tier three!”

James is understood for scrutinizing minor particulars of the sport, similar to whether or not his teammates prefer to catch the basketball with the seams. On Monday, his layup tiers helped transfer the Lakers to inside one win of advancing within the playoffs.