I think his D is perhaps the things that stops him from being the best player in the league. It's pretty ok, but isn't godly like LeBron's can be, particularly late in games.
Throughout this year's playoffs, POP has made it a point to attack the other team's best offensive player. We saw he did it against Dirk Lillard, and now KD. If KD gets caught in switches with either Duncan or Diaw, the Spurs are going to attack that defense. Also, Doc Rivers taught us how terrible KD's post-game is, which why Manu and sometimes Green did a great job on KD tonight.
I think his D is perhaps the things that stops him from being the best player in the league. It's pretty ok, but isn't godly like LeBron's can be, particularly late in games.
lebron's defense is so overrated, eventhough he's a good defensive player
durant's defense is average and we need to go hard on him
also make westbrook chase loops
LeBron's defense is entirely overated in the regular season and vs teams.
Against good teams he generally brings it and his versatility is legit as .
The reason Lebron's defense is considered "good" is because he's the darling of the NBA, and refs swallow the whistle when he's playing defense, where other players would be scared to pick up that 5th foul or foul out.
Despite people thinking Duncan played poorly, he wore out Durrant when Durrant played the 4. That's something that's going to hurt Thunder's small ball line up.
how could one think he played poorly? look at his stats![]()
See the grades thread. I agree Duncan had a great game. Some on Spurstalk don't agree.
Lebron can legitimately defend positions 1-5.
Against the Spurs he could defend Parker, Manu, Kawhi, Splitter or Duncan and be the best defender on the floor. I'm not sure how that's "overrated." He has to bear most of the load on the offensive end, so it doesn't make sense for him to kill himself on defense for 48 minutes. But for a quarter or two, there isn't a better defensive player in the league.
He can defend, doesn't mean he can defend succesfully
ISO Joe was ting on him in large streches, he obviously can't shut down David West or Hibbert
Yeah, he can defend, but not shut down players completely
Only Hibbert can completely shut down Hibbert, as was demonstrated in the first round.![]()
what 5 can he guard?
He defended Duncan well for a few possessions during the finals. He can also defend Splitter.
Do those count?
Durant.
But seriously he weighs around 260 and has a low center of gravity. He might not contest a lot of shots when defending the post but he doesn't get backed down easily.
When I say that he's capable of defending, I mean successfully.
Joe Johnson was hitting re ed fadeaway prayers. When the Nets needed a basket and Johnson had the ball, Lebron made him look stupid.
Lebron on Derrick Rose a few years ago during the postseason is good example of him completely shutting down a premier player not at his position.
huge stretch, it was basically because he Rose can't hit it from outside. Lebron couldn't guard westchuck, paul or curry.
It's a stretch to say that he can defend Duncan imo. And defending Splitter does not count.
It's not a stretch that he DID defend Duncan and Rose. You wanted examples. I gave you examples.
You're full blown re ed if you don't think he can defend Curry or Westbrook. Danny Green is athletic enough to defend those players, but Bron isn't?Bron's fist step is still one the quickest and most powerful in the league.
As far as Curry goes, I don't even feel the need to comment further.
With Westbrook, he'd just shut down the driving lane and force that frog-looking freak to shoot contested jumpshots.
I disagree that LeBron's defense is overrated. The guy is routinely asked to guard the other team's best player night in and night out. It's true that he picks his spots, and might not always give 100% on defense, and yes, he gets superstar treatment on both sides of the court, but to say he's not a good defender is just silly. And compared to Durant, he's a God on defense.
It's okay to hate LeBron while acknowledging his strengths tbh.
belinelli defended against westbrook on a possession yesterday, does that make him capable of defending westbrook?
none said what you just pointed out.
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