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LeBron James is a top 10 defender of All Time
A THREAD
This is a combination of Film,Highlights,Stats+Adv Stats
FILM
Over
Narratives
*I understand that some people rank Centers above all, but you’re crazy if you don’t think Pip is a top 3 defender to ever walk on this planet
A THREAD
This is a combination of Film,Highlights,Stats+Adv Stats
FILM
Over
Narratives
*I understand that some people rank Centers above all, but you’re crazy if you don’t think Pip is a top 3 defender to ever walk on this planet
NBA record books:
All-Time Ranking (SF rank)
Regular Season
STLS 13th (2nd)
BLKS 105th (3rd)
DBPM 32nd (2nd)
DefWS 15th (2nd)
Playoffs
STLS 1st (1st)
BLKS 13th (1st)
DBPM 11th (2nd)
DefWS 3rd (1st)
Finals
STLS 2nd (1st)
BLKS 6th (1st)
All-Time Ranking (SF rank)
Regular Season
STLS 13th (2nd)BLKS 105th (3rd)DBPM 32nd (2nd)DefWS 15th (2nd)Playoffs
STLS 1st (1st)BLKS 13th (1st)DBPM 11th (2nd)DefWS 3rd (1st)Finals
STLS 2nd (1st)BLKS 6th (1st)
All-Def Teams: 6
3rd among SFs (Havlicek is #2)
Let’s look at some metrics from 07-08 before he made his 1st DEF team
2007
4th in DefWS
6th in DBPM
12th in STLS (10th in SPG)
Playoffs
Led in-STLS/DefWS
DBPM: 9th
Opponent ORtg w/LBJ ON: 98.9
w/LBJ OFF: 112.9
Difference: -14.0
3rd among SFs (Havlicek is #2)
Let’s look at some metrics from 07-08 before he made his 1st DEF team
2007
4th in DefWS
6th in DBPM
12th in STLS (10th in SPG)
Playoffs
Led in-STLS/DefWS
DBPM: 9th
Opponent ORtg w/LBJ ON: 98.9
w/LBJ OFF: 112.9
Difference: -14.0
2008:
8th in DefWS
6th in DBPM
6th in STLs(10th in SPG)
5th in blocks among SFs
Playoffs:
5th in SPG
6th in DefWS
4th in DBPM
Seems like he deserved to be on an All-Defensive team 1 of the 2 years, at the very LEAST
8th in DefWS
6th in DBPM
6th in STLs(10th in SPG)
5th in blocks among SFs
Playoffs:
5th in SPG
6th in DefWS
4th in DBPM
Seems like he deserved to be on an All-Defensive team 1 of the 2 years, at the very LEAST
2009
CLE Opponents’ ORtg w/LBJ
ON 100.6
OFF 108.8
Diff -8.2
Led CLE in STLS/BLKS
ORL w/Dwight(winner)
ON 101.8
OFF 102.8
Diff -1.0
Here’s how the top SFs from 09 faired vs LBJ (per36)
ON
15.1PPG
46%TS
3.6 AST
3.4 TOV -9.4 +/-
OFF
24.6PPG
60%TS
2.3 AST
1.8 TOV +0.9 +/-
CLE Opponents’ ORtg w/LBJ
ON 100.6
OFF 108.8
Diff -8.2
Led CLE in STLS/BLKS
ORL w/Dwight(winner)
ON 101.8
OFF 102.8
Diff -1.0
Here’s how the top SFs from 09 faired vs LBJ (per36)
ON
15.1PPG
46%TS
3.6 AST
3.4 TOV -9.4 +/-
OFF
24.6PPG
60%TS
2.3 AST
1.8 TOV +0.9 +/-
That list consisted of KD, Pierce, Joe Johnson, Melo, C. Butler & Rudy Gay
Their average dropoff vs Cavs per 36:
-5.8 PPG, -9.3 TS%
With LBJ ON:
-9.5 PPG, -13.5 TS%
It’s hard to find defensive highlights from LeBron pre-Miami but here’s some defense vs Kobe
Their average dropoff vs Cavs per 36:
-5.8 PPG, -9.3 TS%
With LBJ ON:
-9.5 PPG, -13.5 TS%
It’s hard to find defensive highlights from LeBron pre-Miami but here’s some defense vs Kobe
It’s a shame that in 13 Gasol won DPOY, LBJ was the anchor of the MIA Def& dominated the playoffs on that end-winning Game 6&7 of the Finals putting on a DEF clinic
Top 10 DPOY finishes
09: 2nd
10: 4th
11: 9th
12: 4th
13: 2nd
14: 6th
17: 5th
Game 6, w/the season on the line:
Top 10 DPOY finishes
09: 2nd
10: 4th
11: 9th
12: 4th
13: 2nd
14: 6th
17: 5th
Game 6, w/the season on the line:
2014
LBJ had to carry the offensive load more due to Wade’s injuries and you could see the expiration date on MIA
In the playoffs, LBJ would once again turn it up, leading the team in BLKS, STLS in the ECF and Finals but having to exert more on offense due to Wade&Bosh’s output
LBJ had to carry the offensive load more due to Wade’s injuries and you could see the expiration date on MIA
In the playoffs, LBJ would once again turn it up, leading the team in BLKS, STLS in the ECF and Finals but having to exert more on offense due to Wade&Bosh’s output
2015 he had back issues, so his DEF went downhill a bit, we won’t get into the season
In the playoffs though, once again, he brought it
8th in BLKS
3rd in STLS
2nd in DefWS
These are going to be plays from his 2nd stint in CLE:
In the playoffs though, once again, he brought it
8th in BLKS
3rd in STLS
2nd in DefWS
These are going to be plays from his 2nd stint in CLE:
2016
LBJ was starting to take it easier on DEF but had one of the greatest DEF playoff runs in NBA history
Reg Season:
13th in DefWS
11th in DBPM
Playoffs:
STLS-1st (5th in SPG)
BLKS-4th
DefWS-1st
DBPM-5th
Players shot 32% for the playoffs when guarded by LBJ
LBJ was starting to take it easier on DEF but had one of the greatest DEF playoff runs in NBA history
Reg Season:
13th in DefWS
11th in DBPM
Playoffs:
STLS-1st (5th in SPG)
BLKS-4th
DefWS-1st
DBPM-5th
Players shot 32% for the playoffs when guarded by LBJ
LBJ led the 3-1 comeback averaging
3 STEALS & 3 BLOCKS while putting up
36.3 PPG / 11.7 RPG / 9.7 APG
On 51%FG and 42%3PT
& had the greatest defensive play in NBA Finals history
3 STEALS & 3 BLOCKS while putting up
36.3 PPG / 11.7 RPG / 9.7 APG
On 51%FG and 42%3PT
& had the greatest defensive play in NBA Finals history
2017-18
LBJ started saving his legs for the playoffs, where he was still dominate defensively
17 Playoffs
STLS-1st
BLKs-3rd
DefWS-2nd
18 Playoffs
STLS-3rd
BLKS-5th
DefWS-3rd
Cavs failed to surround him with any great defensive players
Still, he was flying all over the court
LBJ started saving his legs for the playoffs, where he was still dominate defensively
17 Playoffs
STLS-1st
BLKs-3rd
DefWS-2nd
18 Playoffs
STLS-3rd
BLKS-5th
DefWS-3rd
Cavs failed to surround him with any great defensive players
Still, he was flying all over the court
2019
Until they faced GSW on Christmas, where LAL was smacking them..LBJ was playing good DEF
The narrative that he doesn’t play DEF was blown out of proportion when he came back from the groin injury too early.Lacked lateral movement & couldn’t guard a fly
19 DEF highlights:
Until they faced GSW on Christmas, where LAL was smacking them..LBJ was playing good DEF
The narrative that he doesn’t play DEF was blown out of proportion when he came back from the groin injury too early.Lacked lateral movement & couldn’t guard a fly
19 DEF highlights:
2020
Stats from this season b4 COVID
(League rank)
Def rtg: 105.5(24th)
DefWS 3.5(7th)
DBPM: 1.7(18th)
DRPM: 1.97(4th)
Defensive RAPTOR: 93th
—
Opponent ORtg w/LBJ
ON 105.0
OFF 115.5
Diff -10.5
(Incl. bubble)
That differential is > than ANYONE that made All-Def this season
Stats from this season b4 COVID
(League rank)
Def rtg: 105.5(24th)
DefWS 3.5(7th)
DBPM: 1.7(18th)
DRPM: 1.97(4th)
Defensive RAPTOR: 93th
—
Opponent ORtg w/LBJ
ON 105.0
OFF 115.5
Diff -10.5
(Incl. bubble)
That differential is > than ANYONE that made All-Def this season
