<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Larry Bird floated around a thinly disguised and illegal zone defense much of the time. Julius Erving corrected positional defense errors with blocked shots. Charles Barkley told youngsters to work on their moves. "They don't pay off on defense in the NBA," Barkley said. So LeBron James is hardly the only player whose superstar reputation rests on what he does when the ball is in his hands. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers' West Coast trip has shown serious flaws in James' defense. Going into Tuesday's final game in Sacramento, not only were the Cavs a team whose best defense is a good offense, but James, the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month in November, is the same way. Michael Jordan leads the list of the greatest players ever for a reason. He was not only the best offensive player of his era, he was the best defensive player, too. You had to go all the way back to Jerry West to find a such a great two-way player on the defensive perimeter. (Centers don't count. They cover less ground, get more shot-block opportunities as the last line of deterrence and don't have to defend in space as much.) James is not yet 21, so there is time. It's unclear whether there is inclination on the entire Cavs team, though. James, as the leader, must set the tone. It was startling to see the Clippers' Corey Maggette get wherever he wanted to go against James in two games. If Maggette doesn't foul out of the game here, the Cavs go 0-2 against the Clippers. I don't want to go overboard with James, when he has had so much assistance in turning opponents loose. Steve "Snapper" Jones of ESPN ripped Damon Jones' Jeff McInnis impression Friday in Seattle. Someone named Flip - not Flip Saunders, Flipper Anderson, or Flip Wilson - but Flip Murray lit the Cavs up like the sky on the Fourth of July. Steve Jones pointed out that Damon Jones and other Cavs went under the screens when the ball was in the hands of dead-eye shooters like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. The Cavs' Jones got some of it back on his own 3-pointers, but let's face it: Nobody was scrambling out to get a hand in a shooter's face on either the Cavs or the Sonics. Some of those 3-pointers for both teams were like long free throws - take a deep breath, make sure your feet are behind the line, check the yardage with the caddie, let 'er fly. (Just joking about the caddie.) No matter how much Cavs coach Mike Brown stresses defense, the lesson doesn't take without effort. To be fair, Brown also did not have his best game. He never made offense/defense substitutions with Jones and Eric Snow in Seattle. Snow takes heat for his shooting woes, but he can defend. Such a move seemed obvious. Both James and Larry Hughes are good at cheating into the passing lanes and getting steals for bust-out dunks. Hughes is a better defender than James, but gambling for steals can leave other opponents open. </div> Source
First off, Michael Jordan was NOT the best defensive player of his era. He was arguably the best perimeter defender of his era (Pippen makes a very good case for this as well), but no one can seriously argue that he was a better defensive player than Hakeem Olajuwon or David Robinson. In general, big men will always be more valuable on the defensive end than perimeter players. I've only gotten to watch a few Cav games this season, but I have noticed the problems with his defense. He'll make some impressive athletic plays now and then, and he's pretty good on the defensive boards, blocking shots, and stealing the ball. But his individual defense isn't very good, particularly for someone as athletically gifted as he is.
Jordan was arguably the best on-ball defender of his time; I don't see much flaw in his logic on that note. You'll never see a center defend a guy from the perimeter all the way to the hoop, etc... Though a center's defense will likely have more of an impact in a given game because more offense is channeled towards his area.
Isn't Hakeem the only player in the history of the league to have 200 steals and blocks in one season? He averaged about 2.5 steals or maybe even 2.6 and 3 block shots. Man that's hella impressive. And Jordan did have a year of averaging 3.1 steals. 2nd to John Stocktons 3.2 steals during one season. I say MJ was one of the top defenders though. Like tied for the top spots with Hakeem and David Robinson. As for James I kinda thought he would get more block shots. Considering his leaping ability and size. Anyways he does have ton of time to improve. Like right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tradebark:</div><div class="quote_post">Jordan was arguably the best on-ball defender of his time; I don't see much flaw in his logic on that note. You'll never see a center defend a guy from the perimeter all the way to the hoop, etc... Though a center's defense will likely have more of an impact in a given game because more offense is channeled towards his area.</div> Exactly. And that's what matters. Just as a player who does more for his team and has a bigger impact on the offensive end is a better offensive player, someone who does more on the defensive end is a better defensive player. Take Olajuwon or Robinson or Ewing or Mutombo away from their respective teams, and the defense will be more greatly affected than the defense of the Bulls without Jordan. Obviously Jordan does things on the defensive end that big men can never dream of doing, but that doesn't mean he's as important to his team's defensive scheme than the great shotblocking and rebounding big men. Anyways, this is a tangent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 30 standing ver:</div><div class="quote_post">Isn't Hakeem the only player in the history of the league to have 200 steals and blocks in one season? He averaged about 2.5 steals or maybe even 2.6 and 3 block shots. Man that's hella impressive. </div> From 89 to 91, Hakeem averaged, per game: 89: 2.6 stl, 3.4 blk 90: 2.1 stl, 4.6 blk 91: 2.2 stl, 3.9 blk For his career, he averaged 2.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per 40 minutes. Even in his last season, at the age of 39, he averaged 2.1 steals and 2.6 blocks per 40 minutes. He's number 1 all time in blocks, and number 8 in steals. As a center.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">From 89 to 91, Hakeem averaged, per game: 89: 2.6 stl, 3.4 blk 90: 2.1 stl, 4.6 blk 91: 2.2 stl, 3.9 blk For his career, he averaged 2.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per 40 minutes. Even in his last season, at the age of 39, he averaged 2.1 steals and 2.6 blocks per 40 minutes. He's number 1 all time in blocks, and number 8 in steals. As a center.</div> Jordan can be considerd the best defensive player of his era, how many centers are always on the defensive lists? alot, how many guard have ever been called DPOY? i'm pretty sure jordan was the only one. Guards are at a disadvantage when it comes to calculating their defense. They don't get the blocked shots that the centers do, but defense is so much more then that. Manute bol avg. 4 blocks a game a few seasons of his career, but he couldn't hold any man down. You can't base defense on blocked shots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Jordan can be considerd the best defensive player of his era, how many centers are always on the defensive lists? alot, how many guard have ever been called DPOY? i'm pretty sure jordan was the only one. Guards are at a disadvantage when it comes to calculating their defense. They don't get the blocked shots that the centers do, but defense is so much more then that. Manute bol avg. 4 blocks a game a few seasons of his career, but he couldn't hold any man down. You can't base defense on blocked shots.</div> I know defense is more than the number of blocks or steals you get. Defense is helping your team shut down the other the team. That's what it boils down to. Who did more in that regard, Jordan or Olajuwon? To me, it's pretty clear.
Lebron does have a lot of time to grow and develop but I also noticed his lack of defense in the games I'd seen. He has time to step it up and I hope he does.
off the subject, but if you consider size into this debate, then dennis rodman had better be up there. at times guarding teams larger 4's and the 5's he held his own, and again, correct me if im wrong, but i do believe rodman won a defensive player of the year award along the way didnt he?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly why Lebron isn't better than Tmac as the best SF in the league</div> wait a min., who said T-mac played good D?
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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting number99:</div><div class="quote_post">wait a min., who said T-mac played good D?</div> Since he stepped up his game in last year's playoffs. And...who said Lebron's D was better than McGrady's?
it's clear i mean he is more on the offense. with all due respect he is young and he has enough time. he sure passes the ball well but he also needs to work on his defense.
