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

[pad300]

Chalmers is decent enough defender and even that little 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]

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]

Battier? against Tony Parker? 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..

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 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.