Lebron the terrible defender: NOT

[Pioneer10]

I can think we can officially put this myth to bed. A few games ago he completely shutdown S. Jax in the second half holding him to zero points after Jackson went off for 17 point in the first half against Snow and Sasha.

Today he had 2 huge defensive plays to seal the game against the Nets. Great defense and it came at a crucial time in the game

 

[Karma]

The ability was there, the athletisism was there, the strength was there. However the effort levels were not quite. This past month LeBron has stood up defensively. He is still no "stopper", but has proved he can make stops, especially when needed. Anyone complaining over the past few weeks is spending the entire game just breaking down LeBron. Having Pavlovic next to him over Jones assists greatly too.

 

[Kypus]

The ability was there, the athletisism was there, the strength was there. However the effort levels were not quite. This past month LeBron has stood up defensively. He is still no "stopper", but has proved he can make stops, especially when needed. Anyone complaining over the past few weeks is spending the entire game just breaking down LeBron. Having Pavlovic next to him over Jones assists greatly too.

Yep. But I'm going to go "out on a limb" (not! :chuckles: ) and say the Varejao factor trumps all, including Pavs.

 

[Mac]

What myth? That great close out on R Jeff where he didnt even bother to put his hands up and had a three ball splashed right in his face to bring the Nets back to within one bucket.

Great D.

Pioneer...you are searching and reaching...he hustles now, but his D is still crap. But he is putting effort in, thats half way to the solution, now he just needs to learn how to move his feet and use his size and strength against the offensive player.

 

[aaronr]

Lebron doesn't do it consistently yet, but he's showing more defensively. If he put his mind to it, he could be as good defensively as he is offensively--in other words, another Jordan. But there is no denying that the Cavs are playing much better defensively. Varejao is getting back to his old self, and Sasha is showing that he can hold his own defensively. I thought he did a nice job on Kidd. The Nets are a good team offensively, and we pretty much shut them down tonight. Good times these are.

 

[Mac]

Sasha has always showed signs of being a good defender, he just gets hit with the ticky tack fouls because he is a nobody. If he was Bowen or Kobe, those calls dont go against him.

Give him a couple years of solid D, and he can be very good.

 

[RuanuLaw]

Can Sasha become a rich man's Ira Newble? (you know, good D with scoring?)

 

[Wine and Gold]

The ability was there, the athletisism was there, the strength was there. However the effort levels were not quite. This past month LeBron has stood up defensively. He is still no "stopper", but has proved he can make stops, especially when needed. Anyone complaining over the past few weeks is spending the entire game just breaking down LeBron. Having Pavlovic next to him over Jones assists greatly too.

Precisely. Lebron started off this season much like last season ..giving half hearted efforts on the defensive end, and the team ...as most teams do ...followed the path of their leader.

I posted here, and called him out about how he needed to make a determination as to what kind of player he was going to be... was he going to be Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell ? Was he going to be Pistol Pete Maravich or Jerry West ? Was he going to be Dominique Wilkins or Michael Jordan ? Was he going to be a numbers man, or a true winner. What he needed to do was apply himself more on defense. I always believed he would ...eventually. The light is going on for him, and the effort has increased very noticeably. He's not nearly as close to putting the finishing touches on his defensive game, as he is his offensive game ....but, that is where we are going to see the most dramatic improvement in his game over the next few years. Not if ...but when he does get that defensive package in order, and the effort is brought with consistency ...that is when we will have on our hands likely the best all around player to ever put on a uniform.

With his god given size, speed,jumping ability, and power ...he will be one of the most formidable defensive performers in the game ..one that can compete and defend any position on the floor.

The sky truly is the limit on this kid ....

 

[Pioneer10]

What myth? That great close out on R Jeff where he didnt even bother to put his hands up and had a three ball splashed right in his face to bring the Nets back to within one bucket.

Great D.

Pioneer...you are searching and reaching...he hustles now, but his D is still crap. But he is putting effort in, thats half way to the solution, now he just needs to learn how to move his feet and use his size and strength against the offensive player.

Searching? I can go basically game by game now to find good D from Lebron. You're the one pointing out a single play when this was RJ's stat line: 6-15 fg's and 6 TO's

He guarded RJ tonight who had a poor game. He guarded S. Jax a couple of night ago who had a poor game. Is Lebron all defensive team: NO. But is a average to decent defender: Yep.

 

[KI4MVP]

one play does not make someone a bad defender. LeBron's defense has been great this year. Jefferson was 6-15 tonight (5-13 while LeBron was on the court) and only shoots 31% from the 3 on the season. He doesn't even make 1 a game. Did you ever consider LeBron wants him taking the 3 point shots?

Instead of giving LeBron credit for playing strong defense, you want to pick one play and call him a bad defender? And what about the back to back big defensive plays on Kidd down the stretch that sealed the win.

 

[KI4MVP]

Searching? I can go basically game by game now to find good D from Lebron. You're the one pointing out a single play when this was RJ's stat line: 6-15 fg's and 6 TO's

He guarded RJ tonight who had a poor game. He guarded S. Jax a couple of night ago who had a poor game. Is Lebron all defensive team: NO. But is a average to decent defender: Yep.

Actually, you can make a pretty good case for LeBron getting some all defensive votes this year.

 

[Mac]

Lebrons defense has been great this year? Please tell me you are kidding...

 

[KI4MVP]

His defense has been great - no question about it.

 

[Karma]

LJ4MVP, Mac's comments on how bad LeBron defense is just as exaggerated by you calling his defense great. He was poor at the start of the season, but has picked it up noticably the past month. Right now, noone should complain about it, but at the same time, it ain't were writing home about.

 

[Pioneer10]

LJ4MVP, Mac's comments on how bad LeBron defense is just as exaggerated by you calling his defense great. He was poor at the start of the season, but has picked it up noticably the past month. Right now, noone should complain about it, but at the same time, it ain't were writing home about.

Yep