is james as good of a defender as they say he is?

[ginomvp]

All I hear from espn is how james is gonna shut down parker. Imho he is a great weakside defender and not so much of a great on ball defender. What do yall think?

[manufan10]

If I were the Heat, I wouldn't risk putting LeBron on Parker too much. LeBron would be run through so many screens that it could effect his offense, imo.

[ironman2886]

All I hear from espn is how james is gonna shut down parker. Imho he is a great weakside defender and not so much of a great on ball defender. What do yall think?
"All I hear." Who is saying that on ESPN? I haven't heard any writer or analyst say such thing. I do hear that Lebron should guard Parker in certain times of the games though. Thing is, all the picks and running around could possibly hinder Lebron's output. I'm looking forward to watching Wade chase around Danny Green. Stephen A. Smith(biggest Heat homer) said that could hurt Wade. Lebron and Wade have no problems guarding isolation plays(Pacer offense,) but the Heat havent seen all the ball movement and screens that the Spurs are going to execute.

[bklynspursfan]

I don't think so. Definitely think he gets a little overrated on that end. He's good, not consistently great. Definitely didn't deserve all defense 1st team or to be 2nd in DPOY voting. People love his chase down blocks though

[SA210]

No

[ffadicted]

LMAO @ thinking lebron will guard parker, what. No

[DespЏrado]

I keep reading that Lebron shut Derrick Rose down in the bulls series a year ago. So I guess it makes sense to at least attempt to put Lebron on Parker to see if his length bothers him. The problem with that thinking is how many screens Parker puts his defender through and how Parker is the best small guy in the world fighting amongst the trees.

[Raven]

i thought he deserved DPOY last year, but this year his D has been spotty at best, he just didn't care that much. I think it's pretty stupid to put Lebron on Parker, since they have Chalmers to do just that, otherwise they would be better off not having him on the court at all.

[Raven]

I keep reading that Lebron shut Derrick Rose down in the bulls series a year ago. So I guess it makes sense to at least attempt to put Lebron on Parker to see if his length bothers him. The problem with that thinking is how many screens Parker puts his defender through and how Parker is the best small guy in the world fighting amongst the trees.

yeah, Rose was basically ISOing all the time, here he would have to fight through a thousand screens, it's just a totally different dynamic.

[ginomvp]

What irritates me is that they all say that its a forgone conclusion that james can shut parker when he wants.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

I don't think his 1-on-1 defense is as good as some people are saying, but his help defense and his ability to switch for an extended period of time make him one of the best defenders in the NBA imo.

[LakerHater]

he'll Get Tired Chasing Tony!

[dbreiden83080]

All I hear from espn is how james is gonna shut down parker. Imho he is a great weakside defender and not so much of a great on ball defender. What do yall think?

Rondo torched them in the ECF last year he had 44 points in one loss.. I don't recall James on Rondo a whole lot I doubt they want James chasing Tony all over the floor. He will probably guard him in the 4th some..

[dbreiden83080]

I keep reading that Lebron shut Derrick Rose down in the bulls series a year ago. So I guess it makes sense to at least attempt to put Lebron on Parker to see if his length bothers him. The problem with that thinking is how many screens Parker puts his defender through and how Parker is the best small guy in the world fighting amongst the trees.

Exactly Parker is not going at Lebron 1 on 1 like Rose tried to do. Lebron sets up to check Tony and here comes Tim with the screen and they can run 2 or 3 screens in one possession to free him up or swing the ball to find shooters.... Spurs ball movement is the key to everything.. Pacers had success when they moved the ball, when they let the clock run down and played 1 on 1 they got owned. Heat defense has to be moved around as much as possible..

[hooperflash]

No. Now feel free to shit on me "KANG"....

[mercos]

Lebron is highly overrated as a defender. Don't get me wrong, he is very good, but he is not the best (or second best) perimeter defender in the league. Furthermore, individual defenders are irrelevant when it comes to guarding Tony Parker. He just tore apart arguably the best defensive back court in the league. It takes very good team defense to stop Parker due to his extensive use of the pick and roll. Miami happens to be very good at defending the pick and roll with their aggressive double teams, and that has me more worried than Lebron's individual defense.

[BatManu20]

Yes he is, when he wants to be. When he sets his mind to it, he's the best overall defender in the league. Can guard 4 positions. But I doubt they ask him to guard Tony unless it's the 4th cause they don't want him tire out.

[DPG21920]

LMAO @ thinking lebron will guard parker, what. No

He will. You will 100% for sure see Lebron on Parker at times unless Chalmers/Cole shut him down and they don't need it. Lebron will be on TP especially in key moments/stretches in the 4th.

[DespЏrado]

He will. You will 100% for sure see Lebron on Parker at times unless Chalmers/Cole shut him down and they don't need it. Lebron will be on TP especially in key moments/stretches in the 4th.

That might be the key to the series actually. If Parker can punish them for even attempting to put Lebron on him, the Spurs can win the series. If Spo uses that as his go to move to close out games, and Parker repeatedly scores on that matchup, the one or two games that could effect would be the difference in the series. If any PG can punish that matchup it is quite possibly Parker.

[Raven]

Actually, Tony only has problems when he can't go the rim cause the rim protection is too much, that's not Miami's case by any means.

[hater]

Chalmers is decent enough defender and even that little shit Cole and Batier for stretches.

to answer op no I don't think Lebron is as good defender as touted by media. just as I don't think he's as good post player. He is athletic and great help defender no doubt. but not a great individual defender

I just hope Battier doesn't give problems like Tefolosha did last year.

[jjktkk]

I keep reading that Lebron shut Derrick Rose down in the bulls series a year ago. So I guess it makes sense to at least attempt to put Lebron on Parker to see if his length bothers him. The problem with that thinking is how many screens Parker puts his defender through and how Parker is the best small guy in the world fighting amongst the trees.

This. James got exhuasted fighting thru screens and chasing around Jason Terry in the finals two years ago. James will guard tp at times, but he will wear down if he has to guard Tony for long streches at a time imo.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

I'm sure we'll see Lebron on TP at some point. The Heat are going to treat him like any other star guard and throw a lot of different looks at him, but for all the reasons noted it's not likely as anything more than a short term curveball unless it's looking like the only thing that's worked against Tony after a few games. Where Lebron worries me is attacking passing lanes. He sometimes gets criticized for gambling too much but thinking back on how badly the Spurs got punished making ill advised or lazy passes against the Warriors that's where I start getting concerned.

[HarlemHeat37]

:lol Lebron anchored an elite defense every year since the merger of the 3 Kings, tbh..

He's easily as good as he's hyped to be, and he's the best individual perimeter defender in the league when his team needs a critical stop..overall, he's easily the best overall perimeter defender..

Lebron won't guard Parker until critical moments of the game, tbh..he's not a specialist like Bruce or Avery Bradley or Tony Allen, it would be foolish for Miami to have him running through screens all game and wasting his energy..Lebron is the best perimeter anchor in the NBA, he quarterbacks Miami's defense all game, they're going to have him guarding Leonard and daring Kawhi to beat them at times, tbh..

They will only use Lebron against Parker if Tony is hot, or if they need a critical stop in the 4th..when that's the case, throw Kawhi in the post, where he has had an elite efficiency all year, especially against guards..

[HarlemHeat37]

Miami is going to be throwing a lot of traps and swarming against Parker, and Norris Cole will see a lot of playing time against him IMO..

[pad300]

Chalmers is decent enough defender and even that little shit Cole and Batier for stretches.

to answer op no I don't think Lebron is as good defender as touted by media. just as I don't think he's as good post player. He is athletic and great help defender no doubt. but not a great individual defender

I just hope Battier doesn't give problems like Tefolosha did last year.

Battier is nowhere near as quick laterally (now that he's gotten old)...

[chrhawk]

:lol Lebron anchored an elite defense every year since the merger of the 3 Kings, tbh..

He's easily as good as he's hyped to be, and he's the best individual perimeter defender in the league when his team needs a critical stop..overall, he's easily the best overall perimeter defender..

Lebron won't guard Parker until critical moments of the game, tbh..he's not a specialist like Bruce or Avery Bradley or Tony Allen, it would be foolish for Miami to have him running through screens all game and wasting his energy..Lebron is the best perimeter anchor in the NBA, he quarterbacks Miami's defense all game, they're going to have him guarding Leonard and daring Kawhi to beat them at times, tbh..

They will only use Lebron against Parker if Tony is hot, or if they need a critical stop in the 4th..when that's the case, throw Kawhi in the post, where he has had an elite efficiency all year, especially against guards..

This. the Heat defense is all built around the athleticism of James. I don't think the league has ever seen anybody that can cover as much ground and as fast as LeBron tbh.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Battier is nowhere near as quick laterally (now that he's gotten old)...

Definitely. Tony would light up Battier pretty badly. My only worry in that matchup would be Battier throwing a cheap shot or two in there.

[HarlemHeat37]

:lmao Battier?:lmao against Tony Parker?:lol only hater, tbh..

[EVAY]

They will throw doubles and traps and get in the passing lanes and try to get the ball out of Tony's hands. That is their best shot.

Plus, when TP goes to the rim Bosh and Wade and James will all try to block from behind (and they will be successful unless our bigs block out for TP).

[daheatin4]

Spurs fans are suppose to be smart..:lol

Of course he is.

[pikkiwoki]

Kawhi blew right past him 1 on 1 in the 3rd Q (7:55) for a dunk.

Manu blew past him in the 4th (4:55) and got to the paint, though Birdman did rotate over and contest to forced a Manu miss.

Even Danny "Little Dribbler" Green blew past him in the 3rd (2:05), which led to that Neal 3.


Great off ball defender, helpside defender, recovering, position defender, jumping passing lanes, etc. Good on ball defender if he's guarding guys at his position. But I don't know if he can guard Parker on ball and chase him through all those screens.

[Tuddy]

He got burnt several times by kawhi off the dribble then didn't recognise tp had Cole isolated that time in transition and didn't help

[jhuan16]

He is not a bad defender, most of the time he stay on his man and help out his team mate a lot. LeBron definitely had the size and athletic ability to become a good defender. However I doubt any coach in the NBA would give him the assignment to guard the opposite team's best player for 40 minutes straight. Because that will just fuck up he's offensive game which is most important asset to the Heats. Wade can barely make any play nowadays they really need LeBron to carry their team in the playoff.