"Don't tell Lebron I said that"

[stormtrooper8]

Lambeer was a bruiser not a thinker.

LeBron was every bit as big as him and he could actually play the sport

LeBron would’ve thrived in a more physical era

 

[BigJay]

MJ as the GOAT is valid, but as LeBron as the GOAT is

MJ for sure a better pure scorer and killer instinct

But LeBron is way more well-rounded

Something else I think folks forget about MJ

 

[stormtrooper8]

Something else I think folks forget about MJ

View attachment 46739

LeBron also an incredible defender for most of his career. Best defender in the league one year (the year they have Marc Gasol DPOY)

MJ better on ball defender but LeBron better off ball

 

[stormtrooper8]

LeBron also an incredible defender for most of his career. Best defender in the league one year (the year they have Marc Gasol DPOY)

MJ better on ball defender but LeBron better off ball

Actually LeBron was best defender in the league multiple years

Awards can be misleading. Hasn’t Gobert won several DPOY awards? And Marcus Smart? lol guys aren’t even close to the best defenders in the league

 

[edawg]

As much as I don't care for LeBron when you see him play up close it is freaky how athletic he is at his size.

 

[BigJay]

Agree LeBron excellent on breakaway defense, etc

Anyone doubting MJ wasn’t one of the best lock-down defenders of all time never saw him play

 

[stormtrooper8]

Agree LeBron excellent on breakaway defense, etc

Anyone doubting MJ wasn’t one of the best lock-down defenders of all time never saw him play

LeBron definitely isn’t a great defender now. I mean he’s old as shit

But he was a tremendous half court defender too. Could play center field and absolutely lock the best player up

Miami LeBron was sensational on defense

 

[stormtrooper8]

LeBron’s game has continued to evolve in many ways

He off set losing a lot of his athleticism by being becoming a much better shooter

His basketball IQ is off the charts

 

[stormtrooper8]

LOL at defense being better in MJ's era

People couldn't shoot as well, and the pace was substantially slower. That's why scoring was lower. We are talking 95 possessions a game was the highest back then. The slowest teams now do at least 105

Just lazy analysis to say defense was better back then. No evidence of that.

LeBron was built to play against the Pistons of that era. Not debatable.

 

[Tanko]

LOL at defense being better in MJ's era

People couldn't shoot as well, and the pace was substantially slower. That's why scoring was lower. We are talking 95 possessions a game was the highest back then. The slowest teams now do at least 105

Just lazy analysis to say defense was better back then. No evidence of that.

LeBron was built to play against the Pistons of that era. Not debatable.

What a joke. Why do you say this?

I can remember seeing interviews on the topic from players today commenting defense today is nothing like defense in Jordan’s era.

 

[stormtrooper8]

MJ would score more today because the game was quicker and he would have more opportunities to, there's more space because people can actually shoot now

Doesn't mean defense is worse -- the game is just different

 

[KVB]

Doesn't mean defense is worse -- the game is just different

That’s the key, it’s different. More physical and less rule enforcement that helps the offense, like today.

Many would say that’s a tougher defensive era, including past players.

Pace and possessions being less back then is, at least partially, a direct result of this defensive difference.

 

[stormtrooper8]

What a joke. Why do you say this?

I can remember seeing interviews on the topic from players today commenting defense today is nothing like defense in Jordan’s era.

I've also seen people in MJ's era say LeBron would've thrived in the 90's more than MJ did. People say shit. Neither played in the other's respective eras, so how would they even know

Each team has 20 more possessions a game now and people are better outside shooters across all positions. You dispute this? I

You really think LeBron would struggle with someone like Lambeer? LOL he's literally the same size as him except 1000x more skilled and athletic. He would've just went right around him

More spacing and a faster pace is going to lead to higher scoring. It's a lot harder to defend when players are more skilled across the board.

 

[Tanko]

I've also seen people in MJ's era say LeBron would've thrived in the 90's more than MJ did. People say shit. Neither played in the other's respective eras, so how would they even know

Each team has 20 more possessions a game now and people are better outside shooters across all positions. You dispute this? I

You really think LeBron would struggle with someone like Lambeer? LOL he's literally the same size as him except 1000x more skilled and athletic. He would've just went right around him

More spacing and a faster pace is going to lead to higher scoring. It's a lot harder to defend when players are more skilled across the board.

Lebron would excel in any era of NBA.

 

[stormtrooper8]

That’s the key, it’s different. More physical and less rule enforcement that helps the offense, like today.

Many would say that’s a touger defensive era, including past players.

Pace and possessions being less back then is, at least partially, a direct result of this defensive difference.

Less rule enforcement definitely made 90s more physical

But that doesn't mean that players were better defenders back then. It's two separate issues.

Offensive skill is incredibly higher nowadays than it was back then. More outside shooting is also going to increase the pace of a game drastically.

The notion that LeBron wouldn't be great in past eras is pretty ridiculous. He was an athletic, physical freak.

You could argue LeBron has been able to play longer more in this era, but in reality a result of LeBron's tremendous work ethic and life habits.

He takes way better care of himself than MJ did

 

[stormtrooper8]

The strongest argument you could say for 90s is that it was more physical because of lack of rule enforcement

That doesn't mean defense is better. It was just a tougher environment to score in