Hb31187 wrote: Maybe I dont watch the Cavs games close enough...But it seems to me LBJ usually doesnt guard the other teams best player? (Melo and Pierce would be the exception ive seen). I understand he has all the tools to be a lockdown defender and hes great off ball at getting blocks and steals. But KD is right with him in blocks and steals and averages more defensive rebounds and hes called a terrible defender. So is LBJ kinda just getting the accolade of 1st team all defense because hes LBJ and hes the best player in basketball...or because hes actually one of the best 5 defenders in the NBA?

No its because all the cav's fans see lebron get blocks from behind and so they go crazy and get excited. They think that makes him a great defender.

If hes really that good on D, then yes shutting down the other teams superstar would help them win. And You cant compare a Center to someone who could guard positions 1-3 and some 4's. And nobody is THAT good on D that theyre NEVER in foul trouble like LBJ. Hes purposely put on non factors on offense so he doesnt get in foul trouble(which is smart, gives them the best chance to win with LBJ on the court). But your teams 1st team all defensive player shouldnt be guarding option #2 or 3. Just my opinion

Lebron isnt the greatest on ball defender he is a great help defender

Over his short career LeBron's defensive skills have improved every season.....I have no issues with him being first team. From what I've noticed....in crunch time he is guarding the other teams best player.

LeBron is needed way more on the offensive end, thus he cannot be the stopper and scorer. He will get worn down in 7 game series chasing around the scorers and then turning around having to put up 30 every night.

He is put on non offensive threats for 2 reasons.
1) Keep him fresh for offense
2) Let's him roam on defense as he is one of the best help defenders in the game.

You cannot have LeBron do every major thing in games, he just won't have the energy during big series. Now, he'll guard the main guys in end of the game scenarios.

That article is painful to read. I like his point, but jeez dude.....enough with the obscure references and big words that 95% of NBA fans don't understand. You're writing for Yahoo! Sports, not The New Yorker.

Here's some words he used IN A SPORTS EDITORIAL ARTICLE:
née
evangelized
quipped
constructs
post-pace-adjustment-era
practitioner
salvific
micky-ficky

Now I'm not the kinda person that complains about overly verbose people and/or writers, but when I'm reading an article about if LeBron James is the best player in the NBA. I'd like it as simple and to the point as possible. Please keep all pirate references, comic book references, and cartoon references at home.

Anyways, Kenny Smith is on drugs.

Does Durant play like a PG like Lebron does sometimes? if not, you cant really compare assists into the equation i think.

2quik4u wrote: Lebron isnt the greatest on ball defender he is a great help defender

which was pretty apparent when Rose went right by him several times in game 3.

Glory Days wrote: Does Durant play like a PG like Lebron does sometimes? if not, you cant really compare assists into the equation i think.

Even though Durant may not have the offense go through him like Lebron, 2.8 assists is pretty poor for a player of Durant's caliber. Kobe, who gets labeled as a ball hog, has averaged almost 5 assists per game throughout his career. Shaq has averaged 2.6 assists throughout his career. Unless Durant can prove he can facilitate others, he will just be another elite scorer.

2quik4u wrote:

wes_mantooth wrote: Durant doesn't play a lick of defense, but I agree that he can average more rebounds and points that Lebron. He is not well rounded at all though.

Lebron wasnt that good of a defender his first 3 years in the league

Very true, in fact Lebron never played much defense in high school...he played a one man zone. Lots of highlight plays, but very poor technique....he has come a long way.

Durant does not get nearly the touches LeBron does either. That's one of the reasons his assists are so low. When he gets it...he shoots it.

He's already surpassed Kobe as the second best player in the game, but its going to be a lot harder to top the King as the best in basketball.

Also, Lebron isn't a "great" help side defender, he's the BEST help side defender in the league. His on the balls skills are above average due to his size and quickness, and he's one of the few, if not the only, player to be able to guard all 5 positions. That is why he's a top 5 defender and deserving of any defensive accolades he gets.

Footwedge wrote: Durant does not get nearly the touches LeBron does either. That's one of the reasons his assists are so low. When he gets it...he shoots it.

I don't think anybody expects him to average as many assists as Lebron, but you would think the "soon to be" best player in the league could at least average one assist per quarter.

We all cant forget Kobe..we all know as much as some of us would hate to admit that kobe could shoot a jump shot in your damn eye but Lebron would block any guys shot to the stands, Durant is good but come on now its all about the King

elbuckeye28 wrote:

Footwedge wrote: Durant does not get nearly the touches LeBron does either. That's one of the reasons his assists are so low. When he gets it...he shoots it.

I don't think anybody expects him to average as many assists as Lebron, but you would think the "soon to be" best player in the league could at least average one assist per quarter.

Especially when drawing as much defensive attention as he does.

I'm about to end this debate. Evan Turner will be better than both in 3 years

mallymal614 wrote: I'm about to end this debate. Evan Turner will be better than both in 3 years

Turner will be a great NBA player IMO. Nowhere near the greatest, but great.

CWebb and Chuck both laughed at Kenny when he said this.. I did the same.

Durantula is a great player and will be the 2nd best for a while, but LeBron is the best until he falls off.

There is more to the game of basketball than just scoring, which KD isn't better than LeBron at either...

sleeper wrote: He's already surpassed Kobe as the second best player in the game, but its going to be a lot harder to top the King as the best in basketball.

Also, Lebron isn't a "great" help side defender, he's the BEST help side defender in the league. His on the balls skills are above average due to his size and quickness, and he's one of the few, if not the only, player to be able to guard all 5 positions. That is why he's a top 5 defender and deserving of any defensive accolades he gets.

Best help side defender int he league is pure opinion. Theres no way to prove whos best among the top. Hes one of the best.

LTrain23 wrote: CWebb and Chuck both laughed at Kenny when he said this.. I did the same.

Durantula is a great player and will be the 2nd best for a while, but LeBron is the best until he falls off.

There is more to the game of basketball than just scoring, which KD isn't better than LeBron at either...

lol he has the same amount of scoring titles as king james

Hb31187 wrote:

sleeper wrote: He's already surpassed Kobe as the second best player in the game, but its going to be a lot harder to top the King as the best in basketball.

Also, Lebron isn't a "great" help side defender, he's the BEST help side defender in the league. His on the balls skills are above average due to his size and quickness, and he's one of the few, if not the only, player to be able to guard all 5 positions. That is why he's a top 5 defender and deserving of any defensive accolades he gets.

Best help side defender int he league is pure opinion. Theres no way to prove whos best among the top. Hes one of the best.

It's easy to say anything defensive is pure opinion too. Blocks and steals don't necessarily tell the whole story.

Hb31187 wrote:

LTrain23 wrote: CWebb and Chuck both laughed at Kenny when he said this.. I did the same.

Durantula is a great player and will be the 2nd best for a while, but LeBron is the best until he falls off.

There is more to the game of basketball than just scoring, which KD isn't better than LeBron at either...

lol he has the same amount of scoring titles as king james

and he did it sooner and younger than Lebron did.

Glory Days wrote:

Hb31187 wrote:

LTrain23 wrote: CWebb and Chuck both laughed at Kenny when he said this.. I did the same.

Durantula is a great player and will be the 2nd best for a while, but LeBron is the best until he falls off.

There is more to the game of basketball than just scoring, which KD isn't better than LeBron at either...

lol he has the same amount of scoring titles as king james

and he did it sooner and younger than Lebron did.

LOL.

When LeBron was 21, he averaged 31.4 PPG, to go a long with 7 rebounds and 6.6 assists. That was his 3rd year in the league.. 31.4 PPG...

A couple years later, LeBron averaged 30/8/7..

This year, LeBron averages 29.7/8.6/7.3.. His 8.6 APG were the MOST EVER by a forward.

LeBrons PER #'s are ALWAYS ridiculous.. Top in the league every season.

Seriously, LeBron could have had 3 scoring titles by now, but again, what do scoring titles get you? It means absolutely nothing in the big picture..

KD will never accomplish the things LeBron has. KD can score, no doubt, but his overall game isn't and never will be as polished as LeBrons.

And don't even get me started on the playoffs. KD has played well, but he has also struggled pretty badly at times during his first postseason..

LeBron fucked around and got a triple-double during his playoff debut and grabbed the 3rd highest scoring average in his playoff debut behind Wilt and Kareem..

Seriously, some people just don't realize how GREAT LeBron is. They try to make comments based on shock value.

Durant is a very good player, he's not on LeBron's level though.

However, the team around KD is VERY good and will be for sometime. Russell Westbrook, Ibaka, James Harden, and Jeff Green are all good players and in Westbrooks case, the argument could be made that he makes that team go.

LTrain23 wrote: LOL.

When LeBron was 21, he averaged 31.4 PPG, to go a long with 7 rebounds and 6.6 assists. That was his 3rd year in the league.. 31.4 PPG...

A couple years later, LeBron averaged 30/8/7..

This year, LeBron averages 29.7/8.6/7.3.. His 8.6 APG were the MOST EVER by a forward.

LeBrons PER #'s are ALWAYS ridiculous.. Top in the league every season.

Seriously, LeBron could have had 3 scoring titles by now, but again, what do scoring titles get you? It means absolutely nothing in the big picture..

KD will never accomplish the things LeBron has. KD can score, no doubt, but his overall game isn't and never will be as polished as LeBrons.

And don't even get me started on the playoffs. KD has played well, but he has also struggled pretty badly at times during his first postseason..

LeBron fucked around and got a triple-double during his playoff debut and grabbed the 3rd highest scoring average in his playoff debut behind Wilt and Kareem..

Seriously, some people just don't realize how GREAT LeBron is. They try to make comments based on shock value.

Durant is a very good player, he's not on LeBron's level though.

However, the team around KD is VERY good and will be for sometime. Russell Westbrook, Ibaka, James Harden, and Jeff Green are all good players and in Westbrooks case, the argument could be made that he makes that team go.

Jordan didn't get 6 titles because of his scoring. He had an all around game, something durant doesn't. Durant will be like dominque wilkins. Great scorer and that's about it.

Lebron will flirt with averaging 30 ,10, and 10 during a season before his career is over something durant cannot do.

Hmm, I didn't know they awarded the NBA title to whoever wins the scoring title. Why do they have the playoffs then?