Lebron faced better defenses than Jordan in the playoffs and finals...

[dankok8]

I collected some quick data on their opponents' team DRtg in the playoffs. DRtg measures points allowed per 100 possessions and is the absolute bottom line stat for measuring defense. It's not affected directly by pace, style, physicality etc. Lower DRtg means better defense.




Jordan faced only 1 team with a DRtg under 100. Lebron faced 5 such teams.

Jordan faced only 3 teams (see below) with a DRtg under 102. Lebron faced 11 such teams.



These 2015 Warriors that Lebron just faced have a better DRtg than any team MJ faced in the Finals and 35 out of 37 of Jordan's playoff opponents overall. It's clear that they are way better defensively than say the 1991 Lakers, 1992 Blazers, 1997/1998 Jazz, and especially 1993 Suns that Jordan dominated.

Mind you Jordan struggled mightily against the 1993 Knicks (DRtg 99.7), 1997 Heat (DRtg 100.6) and played merely ok against the 1998 Pacers (DRtg 101.6). These 3 teams were great defensively and MJ shot 40.0%, 38.7%, and 46.7% against them, respectively.

Teams that barely miss the elite sub-102 mark are the 1996 Sonics (DRtg 102.1) and 1997 Hawks (DRtg 102.3) and MJ struggled against them as well.

It's interesting that MJ faced much stronger defenses in the 2nd threepeat from 1996-1998 than the earlier part of his career. Maybe that's a major factor in his supposed decline as well?

[navy]

6/6

[Angel Face]

That's nice and all but 2/6

[sd3035]

The difference is people actually guarded Jordan, the rim guards Lebrick

[Sarcastic]

How many 50+ win teams has Lebron beaten compared to Jordan?

[MP.Trey]

I'm a big LeBron fan but Bad Boy's Pistons and 86-87 Celtics > any team LeBron has or will face defensively.

Bron has faced some really good defensive teams in the Finals though, evidenced by some of LeBron's struggles in 07,11 and this year. Haters love to say LeBron choked but the opposing teams defenses should get just as much credit.

[HOoopCityJones]

How many 50+ win teams has Lebron beaten compared to Jordan?

[kamil]

Get over it. The comparison to MJ has been beaten to death and the chance to surpass MJ has vanished years ago. It's not happening. For all the accomplishments that LeBron* has made, he's had a fcking awful lot of miserable failures.

[dankok8]

Ok so the 50-win teams that Lebron beat:

2007 Pistons
2011 Celtics
2011 Bulls
2013 Pacers
2013 Spurs
2014 Pacers
2015 Bulls
2015 Hawks


With this Hawks team that's 8 of them.

And in the lockout shortened 2011-2012 season, Lebron beat the 42-24 Pacers and 47-19 Thunder both of whose records extrapolate to well over 50 wins in a full season. Therefore Lebron beat 10 teams with 50+ wins not 7 as the post above states. And mind you by the end of his career that number will probably be around at least 15 or so.

Not to mention that out of these 10 teams Lebron beat 5 of them (2007 Pistons, 2011 Bulls, 2012 Thunder, 2014 Pacers, and 2015 Hawks) without homecourt advantage.

[ArbitraryWater]

Ok so the 50-win teams that Lebron beat:

2007 Pistons
2011 Celtics
2011 Bulls
2013 Pacers
2013 Spurs
2014 Pacers
2015 Bulls
2015 Hawks


With this Hawks team that's 8 of them.

And in the lockout shortened 2011-2012 season, Lebron beat the 42-24 Pacers and 47-19 Thunder both of whose records extrapolate to well over 50 wins in a full season. Therefore Lebron beat 10 teams with 50+ wins not 7 as the post above states. And mind you by the end of his career that number will probably be around at least 15 or so.

Not to mention that out of these 10 teams Lebron beat 5 of them (2007 Pistons, 2011 Bulls, 2012 Thunder, 2014 Pacers, and 2015 Hawks) without homecourt advantage.

I've repeatedly said this.. people ignore this. His 50 win team record (a stat I've qute frankly never heard of before than in this LeBron instance) is very normal around ATG's.

[Optimus Prime]

LeBron family constantly taking that L. Your dude carried the Cavs further than expected, yet you're so insecure like your boy that you have to post such ridiculous nonsense.



6/6 > 2*/6

[SHAQisGOAT]

When looking at EVERYTHING, not just some (selected) advanced stats... I doubt it.

Still, not like it's that MUCH of a difference for either side and Jordan had plenty more success, easily better play...

[HylianNightmare]

Where's 3 ball's wall of text?