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LeBron- overrated defender?

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by ferrari77, Jun 12, 2013.

  1. ferrari77

    ferrari77 Contributing Member

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    Not my thoughts but I was having a discussion with someone and the person mentioned(after yesterdays game) that LBJ was an overrated one on one defender and not as good as Kobe or DWade was a few years ago.

    After shaking my head incredulously and bringing out the numbers to prove LeBron is not overrated defensively and apart from his ability to defend all 5 positions, his one on one defense is quite good and he takes fewer defensive plays off than DWade and Kobe,(and is less of a gambler than both) I wanted to ask y'all on CF for your thoughts.

    The person that mentioned that to me is crazy right? No way in H-E-double hockey sticks is he overrated defensively. :confused:
     
  2. IBTL

    IBTL Member

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    he is a good defender.

    if you are looking for something I submit that he has 0 outside game.
     
  3. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
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    He is a one of the best off the ball and transition defenders ever imo.

    1 on 1...yea he is overrated, i see people beating him off the dribble all the time.
     
  4. tinywang

    tinywang Contributing Member

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  5. mrm32

    mrm32 Member

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    If he didn't have to carry the offensive load that he has for his whole career he may be a better one on one defender. Takes too much energy to be able to lock someone down and still contribute 28, 7, and 7 for a whole game.
     
  6. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    IMO, LeBron is definitely not overrated as a defender.
     
  7. pmac

    pmac Contributing Member

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    He's a great wing defender but perimeter defense is overrated.
     
  8. rocketfaithful

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    I agree that one on one he is not a great defender. for example, Paul George dominated him.
     
  9. zeeshan2

    zeeshan2 Member

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    He can't boxout to save his life
     
  10. RedEyesKirby

    RedEyesKirby Member

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    Look, if he can play this kind of defense while going that kind of offense. Then I can guarantee that he'll be a top notch defense when he focuses on it.
     
  11. Pull_Up_3

    Pull_Up_3 Member

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    hes a good help defender

    but an average on ball defender. In b4 lelayup nuthuggers saying otherwise
     
  12. oldgunrules

    oldgunrules Member

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    Like some posters said, LeBron can defend all 5 positions, just not the good ones :)
     
  13. rocketsfeeva

    rocketsfeeva Member

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    but Lebron's supposed to be an athletic freak of nature :p
     
  14. jgreen91

    jgreen91 Member

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    You're a known LeBron hater, you're opinions aren't very valid.
     
  15. cjtaylorpt

    cjtaylorpt Member

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    He is the best defender against Derrick Rose and did it by matching foot by foot as opposed to just body to body. Add the fact that the very next game he could guard P. Gasol and then Tony Parker and then Kevin Durant. ADD that he is lethal in the passing lanes and you are always watching your back on break away opportunities with him trailing. I'd say he is rated appropriately.
     
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  16. dharocks

    dharocks Contributing Member

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    He's a better than average on-ball perimeter defender, suggesting otherwise is just stupid. He's not a dominant one.

    Neither were Kobe or Wade though. I'd honestly only say that of Pippen, Artest, Payton and MJ, in the last 20 years or so.
     
  17. Someguy1229

    Someguy1229 Member

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    Yes, he is overrated because he gets a highlight block every once in a while. His one-on-one defense is really poor. He gets blown by all the time.
     
  18. CCorn

    CCorn Member

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    For a superstar offensive player, he does fairly well.

    Signed, a lebron hater.
     
  19. Classic

    Classic Member

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    He's pretty good.

    Signed,

    [​IMG]
     
  20. Jontro

    Jontro Member

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    LerBon will show the world he is on Chuck Hayes' level defensively.
     

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