Can Lebron play in the hand checking era?

[Lakers2877]

No. No way a 6'8 260lb athletic freak could play in a era where you can touch a guy while playing defense. He would have been lucky to come off the bench in the D league. Great thread/question OP

[PJR]

He'd do just fine. Just like he's doing now.







The hand check goes on PLENTY. It's called very inconsistently. I've seen Avery Bradley "Derek Harper" guys all the way to the rim.

[9erempiree]

A guy who takes the ball to the hoop most of the time would suck when defenders wouldn't be allowed to sack off of him in order to prevent drives? No zone is a bigger advantage for Lebron than handchecking is a disadvantage.

According to us that watch MJ and Kobe in the hand checking era, they still played zone.

There was the fantastic video showing MJ against zone defense.

[9erempiree]

Yes, 6'8 265 pound pure muscle Lebron James cannot play in the hand checking era

Imagine if Lebron had the ability to hand check. His defense would be even scarier than it is now.

Do you guys realize how dumb you sound?

That's my point he would be ridiculous on defense and would be better as a defensive specialist.

[9erempiree]

If anything, LeBron's numbers skyrockets without the floating zone fortress and 1on1 isolation basketball of the 90s. LMAO at the OP.

They already play zone back in the days. Just go research those MJ vs Kobe threads about defenses where Jordan fans posted those excellent videos about the Knicks' zone defense.

[IncarceratedBob]

Kobestards are on suicide watch when LeBron and Miamis wins their 3rd straight championship.

Until you realize that Kobe already won 3 straight championships...

then won 2 more.

[OJ SIMPSON 2.0]

Lebron would be poop. He has no jumpshot, Centers camp in the paint because no defensive 3 seconds, and silly touch fouls aren't called. Some people say Lebron would Adjust but come on, Lebron is soft. Go ask DJ Augustine.

[GrapeApe]

The hand checking thing is totally overblown. It's not some huge, game altering rule change as some would have have you believe. It's impact is minimal and as someone else mentioned, playoff basketball is basically the same as it was pre rule change. A lot of people who bring up the hand checking rule don't even understand what hand checking is.

[tmacattack33]

If hand checking was allowed, Lebron would be even better compared to the other perimeter players, as the 6'8 250 lb beast would be less affected by a hand check than all of these guys: , Wade, Durant, Westbrook, Kyrie, Carmelo, Harden, Jrue Holiday, D Rose, Kobe, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and much more (pretty much every PG, SG, and SF in the league).

[NumberSix]

If hand checking was allowed, Lebron would be even better compared to the other perimeter players, as the 6'8 250 lb beast would be less affected by a hand check than all of these guys: , Wade, Durant, Westbrook, Kyrie, Carmelo, Harden, Jrue Holiday, D Rose, Kobe, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and much more (pretty much every PG, SG, and SF in the league).

This. If hand checking is such a big deal, then everybody's offensive impact would dip. A guy likes LeBron would dip much less than everybody else though. Making the gap between him and everyone else even bigger.

[PickernRoller]

The correct answer is: Yes he can play.

Would he be as successful as he's today in the hand-checking era? NO. Unless he develops his mid range game to elite status.

Lebron's PnR drive-to-the-basket game would be severely limited and counted for in the hand checking era. Plus back then there were better quality bigs all around playing for NBA teams.

Will he adjust? Unknown.

[LongLiveTheKing]

Jordan said today only Lebron, Tim, Kobe, and Dirk could play in that era.
I know Lebron and TD would not sure about Kobe and Dirk.

[9erempiree]

Jordan said today only Lebron, Tim, Kobe, and Dirk could play in that era.
I know Lebron and TD would not sure about Kobe and Dirk.

Kobe already played in hand checking era.



Go to my thread and please state how many years you've been watching NBA.

[LongLiveTheKing]

Kobe already played in hand checking era.



Go to my thread and please state how many years you've been watching NBA.

Kobe played in the hand-checking era but he didn't do so good.
He averaged
97- 7 points
98- 15 points
99- 20 points
00- 22 points

In 01 they removed some more hand checking and he averaged 28.
Seems like Kobe wouldn't be that good?

[9erempiree]

No. No way a 6'8 260lb athletic freak could play in a era where you can touch a guy while playing defense. He would have been lucky to come off the bench in the D league. Great thread/question OP

Lebron's looks are very deceiving. Did you see how many times he fell to the floor this last year.

Either he's very weak -or- known flopper.

Pick your poison people.