PROOF LeBron is still a top 5 defender (Cavs #1 Rim Protector/Perimeter Defender)

[Im Still Ballin]

Opponents' shooting percentages against Cavs players compared to what they shot in the regular season this year:

Shump: +8.6%; opponents are shooting 8.6% better against Shumomthan they did against all opponents in the regular season; (+3.4% from three)

JR: +7.1%, (-3% from three)

Delly: +6.5% (+6.2% from three)

Kyrie: +4.6% (+4.7% from three).

Love: +3.4% (+6.6% from three)

TT: +3% (-2.9% from three)

Jefferson: -1% (-9.1% from three)

Frye: -3.9% (+4.1% from three)

LEBRON: -12.4 (-9.7% from three, -24.8% from less than 6 feet)

Before tonight's game, the [COLOR="Blue"]Cavs DRting with LeBron off court during the playoffs was[/COLOR] [COLOR="Red"]114.7[/COLOR] which would be equivalent to the [COLOR="Magenta"]worst defense ever.[/COLOR]

During the regular season, [COLOR="Red"]with James on court, the Cavs' DRtg was equivalent to the 3rd best in the NBA[/COLOR] and [COLOR="Blue"]with him off court, the 15th best.[/COLOR]

RIM PROTECTOR (#1)

Field Goals Defended at Rim %: (Opponent FG% when defended by said individual)

Tristan Thompson: 53.3% (6.0 contests a game)
Kevin Love: 68.9% (7.4 contests a game)
LeBron James: 45.2% (3.1 contests a game)
Channing Frye: 62.5% (2.7 contests a game)

PERIMETER DEFENDER (#1)

The usual field goal percent of the shooter that the player is defending
LeBron - 44.8%
Kawhi - 44.9%
Defense Dashboard
2pt FGs - Players shot 8.2% worse than their average when defended by LeBron
2pt FGs - Players shot 7.3% worse than their average when defended by Kawhi
3pt FGs - Players shots 2.7% worse than their average when defended by LeBron
3pt FGs - Players shot 1.3% worse than their average when defended by Kawhi
Overall - Players shot 7.4% worse than their average when defended by LeBron on 8.4 Defended FGs Per Game
Overall - Players shot 5.7% worse than their average when defended by Kawhi on 9.4 Defended FGs Per Game
Play type
When they were the closest isolation defender
LeBron - 69 possessions, .59 points per possession allowed, 28.8% eFG
Kawhi - 61 possessions, .69 points per possession allowed, 31% eFG
When they were the closest defender to the PnR ball handler
LeBron - 144 possessions, .66 ppp allowed, 37.1 eFG
Kawhi - 243 possessions, .65 ppp allowed, 35.8 eFG
When they were the roll man defender
LeBron - 10 possessions, .7 ppp, 38.9 eFG
Kawhi - 30 possessions, .5 ppp, 27.8 eFG
Post defense
LeBron - 43 possessions, .77 ppp, 40 eFG
Kawhi - 31 possessions, .77 ppp, 41.7 eFG
On spot up shooters
LeBron - 210 possessions, .8 ppp, 41.6 eFG
Kawhi - 200 possessions, .88 ppp, 43.6 eFG
Hand-offs
LeBron - 43 possessions, .49 ppp, 33.9 eFG
Leonard - 58 possessions, .72 ppp, 39.5 eFG
Off screens
LeBron - 78 possessions, .74 ppp, 40.8 eFG
Kawhi - 96 possessions, 1.05 ppp, 51.2 eFG


Averaging 2.4 steals a game in the playoffs

[scuzzy]

Solid work OP


Your work never goes unnoticed

[Ben Simmons]

Lebron has been solid on defense this year

[Im Still Ballin]

So essentially

LeBron is the best perimeter defender, rim protector, scorer and facilitator for his team

[Leftimage]

should have made 2nd team imo. I think unfortunately his reputation for engaging in "chill mode" during the rs hurts him. Though if you watched him closely this season, you'll know he was very involved and aggressive defensively throughout the season. His presence on the court made a huge diff on D.

I think career-wise Lebron is actually slightly underrated as a defender. I still don't know of another player who can shut down any player at will. Has Lebron ever been switched off an assignment cause he was getting abused? Not once in his career to my knowledge... and he's not even known for his 1-on-1 D. AND he can guard all positions quite adequately.

[nashwade]

just saying, Lebron only starts to shoot generously when his team is up 20

"no pressure shooting"

[ballinhun8]

Sources???




And why do you always include Kawhi in these numbers? You're just like 3ball now but at least he provides references and sources.

[Im Still Ballin]

elite

[Gileraracer]

Thanks for the made up stats. Everyone knows he's overrated on defense

[JebronLames]

Another one for the ISH collection. Lebron has been the best defensive and offensive player in this year's playoffs. Sick!

[aj1987]

Sources???

And why do you always include Kawhi in these numbers? You're just like 3ball now but at least he provides references and sources.

They're all on NBA.com. They do player tracking on the defensive end as well.

For instance, in these PO's, LeBron has been holding his defensive assignment to 33.1% , whereas that players average against all other defenders is 45.1%. That's a negative 12%.

http://stats.nba.com/league/player/d...r=-1&CF=GP*G*8

This also not an outlier as LeBron has played 13 games in the PO's and on average has been contesting 9.5 shots a game.

To put that in perspective, Timmy was at -13.8% on 7.7 defended shots a game. Green is at -10% on 18.6.

Kyrie and Love are at 6.3% and 3.9% on 9.4 and 13.8 attempts a game respectively.

[ImKobe]

These Playoff stats are worthless considering the teams they have been playing against

Who is Lebron going up against? Demarre Carrol?


He's a good defender and his defensive stats look great but considering that most games have been blowout wins, I'm not that impressed.

Let's see if he does this against Durant. KD averaged 30 ppg on 54% shooting against Lebron the last time they met in the Playoffs.

[aj1987]

These Playoff stats are worthless considering the teams they have been playing against

Who is Lebron going up against? Demarre Carrol?


He's a good defender and his defensive stats look great but considering that most games have been blowout wins, I'm not that impressed.

Let's see if he does this against Durant. KD averaged 30 ppg on 54% shooting against Lebron the last time they met in the Playoffs.

Why do you Kobe stans even talk basketball. It's obvious that you guys don't actually watch basketball outside the games that Kobe plays. Shane Battier was guarding KD in the '12 Finals.

LeBron in the RS:

Vs GSW - -20.6% on 11 defended FGA's a game.
Vs OKC - -14.7% on 15 defended FGA's a game.
Vs SAS - -30.7% on 5.5 defended FGA's a game.
Vs LAC - -24.2% on 9.5 defended FGA's a game.

Heck, even last season with ZERO help in the Finals and while being the sole offense generator for the Cavs, LeBron was -0.9% on 10.4 defended FGA's a game.

[PP34Deuce]

With the exception of Kawhi and Iggy. He still makes guys nervous defensively.

Derozan's eyes lit up when he matched up with JR smith trying to take him off the dribble. When Lebron was on him, he passed it out or tried to shake free.

The one issue I see with Love moving forward is they both are strictly 4's at this stage.

Love is a stretch 4 that can rebound.
Lebron is an athletic physical post player that can set up the offense.

Lebron is no longer a 3. This offseason he has to work on his shot. Does he realize if he had a respectable jumper, he could probably get more easy dunks?

[stalkerforlife]

Being left off the ALL-D team got you guys shook, huh?

LOL.