http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/381036-lebron-irked-by-dpoy-snub?eref=fromSI Just what the NBA needs: An extra-motivated LeBron James. Memphis center Marc Gasol won the Defensive Player of the Year, finishing 14 first place votes ahead of [James], with Serge Ibaka third. During his first media availability since the announcement, James made his feelings clear. "It sucks," James said. "It sucks. It sucks." James was asked if his candidacy for other awards -- notably the MVP -- hurt his chances. "I don't know," James said. "It definitely sucks, though. Finishing second? Who wants to finish second?" Was this his best defensive season? "Probably," James said. "I mean, I guard everybody on the floor. I don't know if there's one player in NBA history who's guarded one through five (positions)."
He isn't nearly as impactful defensive player as some bigs. His versatility is awesome, but you can't guard 5 players at the same time. He doesn't offer rim protection like Duncan and Garnett, who are still league's best defenders. Gasol, Noah, Hibbert are easily much more impactful than Lebron. I don't think he should be top 5. Also he should defend Durant, Melo for whole game, not Perkins and JR Smith while Battier defends Durant and Melo for majority of the game.
Celtics gave up 108.3 points per 100 possesions with Garnett on the bench. 99.3 points per 100 possesions with him on the court. He led the league in defensive RAPM this season by wide margin with over 8 in last available data I've seen about two weeks ago(owner of RAPM website was hired by NBA team, so there is no RAPM data available for this season). Lebron's RAPM was about 2.5. Garnett wasn't even top 10.
Lol at people who think he is overrated defensively. The guy can shut down a point guard and guard power forwards as effectively as anyone on the floor.
I don't remember him having too big of a defensive impact when playing with us. His best defense maybe his offense. Parsons often get good numbers against Lebron, and the problem is he can't guard Lebron either.
i think lebron is a great defender, no doubt. But even as versatile as he is, he is nowhere as impactfull as a big. Duncan, Gasol, Garnet, noah, ibaka maybe, those guys impact the defensive end way more than him. Duncan finished 6th on the voting, thats ridiculous for a guy anchoring a top 3 defense. He led the league by a wide margin on contesting shots... and he did it at the age of 36, playing 30 mins a game, while blocking 2.7 a game. Even gasol getting it was bad, as he had another teammate who can take credit for memphis being such a good defensive team.
Thought he deserved it last year, but not this year. He spent less time guarding the other team's best player. They really used Battier a lot in the versatile defensive role of guarding 2-4 on the floor.
Duncan is rightfully being discounted due to his limited role as no-longer a full-time player. Tim Duncan played 30 minutes a game, and only in 69 games. 2000 minutes. Contrast that with 2700 for Gasol, who did 35 minutes a game for 80 games.
More to defense than blocks? OKC isn't a top rated D, despite having Westbrook, Sefelosha, and Ibaka who have all been highly regarded defensive players.
LeBron is the best defender in the NBA. Unfortunately for him, he is not a PF or C so he tends to be over looked.
Well Lebron you got an opportunity to show everyone of those voters they were dead wrong. Start playing some Hakeem-like defense for the rest of the playoffs.
