Best defender: Lebron vs. Jordan vs. Kobe

[Electric Slide]

who was the best?

[LongLiveTheKing]

Jordan
Lebron
Kobe

[Wavy Crockett]

LeBron - Mediocre on ball defender, plays passing lanes poorly, amazing help defender

Jordan - Great on ball defender, passing lane hawk, great length to contest and recover, most balanced of all 3

Kobe - Never really thought he was that great of a defender honestly, especially during the latter parts of his career and how he conserves his energy for offensive, he's obviously a capable man defender when he REALLY wants to, Frobe gambles alot on passing lanes also

[Fresh Kid]

jordan.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Kobe - Very good on ball defender (when he's hyped), not consistent effort though, absolutely lazy team / help / roation defender.

LeBron - Amazing team / rotation / help defender, mediocre on ball defender (good at times when he tries)

MJ - Amazing on ball defense (consistent effort too), amazing anticipation skills, 2nd best of the three when it comes to consistent team defense with help and rotations. Overall, the best defender of the three.

If I'm ranking their defensive impact:

Jordan
LeBron
Kobe

[plowking]

Lebron is one of the best man to man defenders ever. Seriously.
I think its the only thing people still bag on his game because their isn't some metric to gauge it on to show hes the best, and you can always point fingers and claim otherwise whenever someone beats him on any instance.

There is a reason he switches on to the best player late in games. Because he is one of the best man defenders. Its no accident that Rose shoots 6%, and other charts showing Melo shot poorly when Lebron played on him pop up. You can cite that the whole team is helping and its team defense, but if that was the case, those numbers would be like that when the other defenders are on him as well like Battier and others.

The only position Lebron struggles guarding man to man is his own; SF.

[imdaman99]

Lebron is one of the best man to man defenders ever. Seriously.
I think its the only thing people still bag on his game because their isn't some metric to gauge it on to show hes the best, and you can always point fingers and claim otherwise whenever someone beats him on any instance.

There is a reason he switches on to the best player late in games. Because he is one of the best man defenders. Its no accident that Rose shoots 6%, and other charts showing Melo shot poorly when Lebron played on him pop up. You can cite that the whole team is helping and its team defense, but if that was the case, those numbers would be like that when the other defenders are on him as well like Battier and others.

The only position Lebron struggles guarding man to man is his own; SF.
dude, lebron often doesnt even guard the durants or the melos. he leaves it up to the battiers on his team to do it while he locks up kendrick perkins. the more lebron has to do on offense, the less likely he is to cover someone that will make him work on defense.

[SamuraiSWISH]

LeBron faces up Derrick Rose for limited stretches in 4th quarters when he's the only known option on earth for the Bulls to score (playing both guard spots) ... the entire Heat team zones up on his drive, shades and shadows his every move knowing there is no other play maker ... forcing him into uncomfortable step back jumpers over a man 8 inches taller than him.

And apparently that's absolutely shutting down.

Meanwhile the very next series, LeBron guards an inferior offensive player, Jason Terry, and given the Mavericks superior offensive weapons the Heat can't shadow, shade, and zone up on Terry ... putting him alone on an island with LeBron to truly go one v one and LeBron gets obliterated.

LeBron defends a bum legged Tony Parker, and oh my god ... he's a lock down defender. Please. As I said, LeBron is a pretty good man defender when he tries. In comparison to MJ and Kobe? He's clearly inferior to both in that regard.

[plowking]

dude, lebron often doesnt even guard the durants or the melos. he leaves it up to the battiers on his team to do it while he locks up kendrick perkins. the more lebron has to do on offense, the less likely he is to cover someone that will make him work on defense.

That is what Battier is there to do. Then again, when Battier isn't on the court, Lebron is guarding those guys. He probably guards both of them 20+mpg.

Its funny, even in the Spurs series, when Tony was going off even with the supposed injury he had, people were saying "doesn't look injured! Hes playing even better". Then, all of a sudden, Lebron plays him, limits his game completely, and hes injured.

He'll never get his credit as a man to man defender from most like you, though past players, and those playing in the league definitely realize it. Its funny, his help D always gets overrated, while his man to man is underrated severely.

[BigMic]

Do you see this star, yes this one ? This is Jordan. :bowdown:
Kobe is the ISS, and LeBron a Space Shuttle :roll:

[jdm_dc_fan]

What's the point of putting Kobe in the mix? Serious question.

[SamuraiSWISH]

What's the point of putting Kobe in the mix? Serious question.
He's a perennial all team defender. Even if 3 - 4 of those were earned via reputation and not off actual play ... he's an all time great defender. He's one hell of a man defender when he's focused or hyped up to be.

[plowking]

LeBron faces up Derrick Rose for limited stretches in 4th quarters when he's the only known option on earth for the Bulls to score (playing both guard spots) ... the entire Heat team zones up on his drive, shades and shadows his every move knowing there is no other play maker ... forcing him into uncomfortable step back jumpers over a man 8 inches taller than him.

And apparently that's absolutely shutting down.

Of course, for the whole game everything is working, but suddenly something changes late in the game. :rolleyes: The rest of the Bulls players can't even dribble or hit the ring, right? :rolleyes:
Load of shit.


Meanwhile the very next series, LeBron guards an inferior offensive player, Jason Terry, and given the Mavericks superior offensive weapons the Heat can't shadow, shade, and zone up on Terry ... putting him alone on an island with LeBron to truly go one v one and LeBron gets obliterated.

Yeah, I'm sure that was it. It wasn't the other shit that was circulating around the series at the time. The fact that everything was going wrong for him at that point, and the fact it was the worst basketball hes ever played in his life?


LeBron defends a bum legged Tony Parker, and oh my god ... he's a lock down defender. Please. As I said, LeBron is a pretty good man defender when he tries. In comparison to MJ and Kobe? He's clearly inferior to both in that regard.

There is always excuses isn't there? You won't accept any when things go wrong for him, but when he does shut someone down, there is always something.
Then you'll find a few plays, a few games where he had trouble with a matchup and blow it out of proportion.

[sportjames23]

Do you see this star, yes this one ? This is Jordan. :bowdown:
Kobe is the ISS, and LeBron a Space Shuttle :roll:


What this man said.

[sportjames23]

LeBron faces up Derrick Rose for limited stretches in 4th quarters when he's the only known option on earth for the Bulls to score (playing both guard spots) ... the entire Heat team zones up on his drive, shades and shadows his every move knowing there is no other play maker ... forcing him into uncomfortable step back jumpers over a man 8 inches taller than him.

And apparently that's absolutely shutting down.

Meanwhile the very next series, LeBron guards an inferior offensive player, Jason Terry, and given the Mavericks superior offensive weapons the Heat can't shadow, shade, and zone up on Terry ... putting him alone on an island with LeBron to truly go one v one and LeBron gets obliterated.

LeBron defends a bum legged Tony Parker, and oh my god ... he's a lock down defender. Please. As I said, LeBron is a pretty good man defender when he tries. In comparison to MJ and Kobe? He's clearly inferior to both in that regard.

And what this man said, too.

[imdaman99]

That is what Battier is there to do. Then again, when Battier isn't on the court, Lebron is guarding those guys. He probably guards both of them 20+mpg.

Its funny, even in the Spurs series, when Tony was going off even with the supposed injury he had, people were saying "doesn't look injured! Hes playing even better". Then, all of a sudden, Lebron plays him, limits his game completely, and hes injured.

He'll never get his credit as a man to man defender from most like you, though past players, and those playing in the league definitely realize it. Its funny, his help D always gets overrated, while his man to man is underrated severely.
You're absolutely right, he shut down Parker and I was really disappointed in the way TP played. But he hit the game clincher in game 1 on Lebron and also hit some huge shots on Lebron in game 6, which could have/should have been the series clincher. But yeah, for the most part Parker was shit. But so was Ginobli, who was guarding him? Wade. I think Wade is a better man to man defender than Lebron, but he has lost a step (or injuries) lately so Lebron is the one who gets all the glory on offense and defense.

[plowking]

You're absolutely right, he shut down Parker and I was really disappointed in the way TP played. But he hit the game clincher in game 1 on Lebron and also hit some huge shots on Lebron in game 6, which could have/should have been the series clincher. But yeah, for the most part Parker was shit. But so was Ginobli, who was guarding him? Wade. I think Wade is a better man to man defender than Lebron, but he has lost a step (or injuries) lately so Lebron is the one who gets all the glory on offense and defense.

He hit a game clincher on Lebron after fumbling the ball 4 times and getting the ball off with .2 of a second left on the shotclock. Same goes with the big 3 in game 6. Huge shot over Lebron who played great defense, which I believe both the announcers commented on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdV0XsrWl8g

Just found the video. And yes, they commented on the defense.

As for Wade being better. Nah. Wade is far better at guarding SF's though. He absolutely shut down George whenever he was on him, but Spo insisted on keeping Bron on him. The only game where Bron gave him fits was game 7, where he actually guarded him well.
Wade's length and better agility give him the edge when it comes to guarding SF's. A lot of the SF's use their quick first step to get to the hoop, which bothers James in terms of defense. He has great success against the PG's and SG's in the league because they tend to overdribble and use moves to get around you instead of a quick move.

[fozi]

Jordan

Kobe




LeBron

[OldSchoolBBall]

Jordan > Lebron > Kobe

[Harison]

Jordan
Lebron
Kobe

+1

[Mr Exlax]

Statistically I think it's gonna be Jordan because of how great his on ball defense was against smaller players. When he was forced to defend elite scorers that were his same size or a little bigger he didn't really make too much of a difference if memory serves me correct. I dunno.

LeBron or MJ
MJ or LeBron
Kobe

[WayOfWade]

If I had to rate them, with 1 being good, 10 being horrible, & 20 being sensual, I'd give Kobe a 15, LeBron an 18, and Jordan a 6.

[SuperPippen]

I've never been impressed by LeBron's defense.

[I<3NBA]

Jordan led the league in steals at one time. while leading scoring too.

[LosScandalous]

1 on 1 on ball defense

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Off Ball

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Versatility

LeBron
Jordan
Kobe

[arifgokcen]

Jordan led the league in steals at one time. while leading scoring too.
Led the league in steals

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

So did iverson

3 times

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[DMAVS41]

In before the Kobe stans, but Kobe is clearly the worst defender of the 3 and in terms of defensive impact has no business being mentioned with Lebron and Jordan.

[Bandito]

1 on 1 on ball defense

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Off Ball

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Versatility

LeBron
Jordan
Kobe
QFT

[lakerspng]

Jordan

Kobe

Lebron

just because they love to play LeBron's flashy chase down blocks over and over again does not make him a better defender.

Jordan at his position was the best. Lock down one on one, great team defender, great in the passing lanes, great on rotations.

Kobe was one of the best one on one defenders ever. Crunch time, you need a stop, he'd get you the stop, PG, SG or SF. Kobe always gambled too much though and would lose focus when he didn't respect the guy he was supposed to be guarding. His strength and weakness was that he always wanted to be guarding the spotlight guy on the other team, always wanted to prove himself mano e mano.

LeBron is great at playing the passing lanes and overall team defense. Still not that impressive one on one. He has improved a ton though in the last 3 years.

[NumberSix]

1. LeBron
2. Jordan
3. Kobe


You're an idiot if you say otherwise.

[Jailblazers7]

1 on 1 on ball defense

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Off Ball

Jordan
Kobe
Lebron

Versatility

LeBron
Jordan
Kobe

This is true and overall I would have it:

Jordan
Lebron
Kobe

Jordan is really the only one of the three who could straight up suffocate his man one-on-one. He was obviously a tremendous help defender and played off-ball with great instincts. I think what really separates Jordan is just discipline. He was probably the most focused/disciplined player I've ever seen play.

[LosScandalous]

Kobe gets a lot of shit recently for not playing 100% effort defense night in/night out. You have to go back to 2008 to see it in full force and back then and before he was the best perimeter defender in the league, hands down.

When you're 34 years old, racked up a ton of minutes (12th all time) and play 38 minutes a night, still have to carry a team's scoring needs and sometimes facilitating needs. It's too much to ask for any human being.

[hawke812]

1. LeBron
2. Jordan
3. Kobe


You're an idiot if you say otherwise.

Kobe Bryant All-NBA Defense (LockDown D, Steals, Blocked Shots)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uglEL2GLnAU

Lebron James: Best perimeter defender in the game?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBcZbKvVknI

Look at these two videos and compare their defense. You will notice:

1. Kobe attacks, forcing a turnover or a block
2. Lebron stays in front of his man, relying on "help defense"

I don't know about Jordan, doesn't really matter. But the point is Lebron is not a great defender. He is good at staying in front of his man, but that is it. His man usually gets an open shot off, but misses. His stans attribute this to Lebron's defense for some reason...

[Solefade]

If LeBron could handcheck in today's game, there's absolutely NO ONE getting past him. Seems like everyone forgot what LBJ did to Paul George in the later games in the ECF when the intensity was at it's highest.

[97 bulls]

LeBron faces up Derrick Rose for limited stretches in 4th quarters when he's the only known option on earth for the Bulls to score (playing both guard spots) ... the entire Heat team zones up on his drive, shades and shadows his every move knowing there is no other play maker ... forcing him into uncomfortable step back jumpers over a man 8 inches taller than him.

And apparently that's absolutely shutting down.

Meanwhile the very next series, LeBron guards an inferior offensive player, Jason Terry, and given the Mavericks superior offensive weapons the Heat can't shadow, shade, and zone up on Terry ... putting him alone on an island with LeBron to truly go one v one and LeBron gets obliterated.

LeBron defends a bum legged Tony Parker, and oh my god ... he's a lock down defender. Please. As I said, LeBron is a pretty good man defender when he tries. In comparison to MJ and Kobe? He's clearly inferior to both in that regard.
Greatest post ive ever seen from Swoosh. Nothing should be added or taken away

[97 bulls]

Kobe Bryant All-NBA Defense (LockDown D, Steals, Blocked Shots)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uglEL2GLnAU

Lebron James: Best perimeter defender in the game?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBcZbKvVknI

Look at these two videos and compare their defense. You will notice:

1. Kobe attacks, forcing a turnover or a block
2. Lebron stays in front of his man, relying on "help defense"

I don't know about Jordan, doesn't really matter. But the point is Lebron is not a great defender. He is good at staying in front of his man, but that is it. His man usually gets an open shot off, but misses. His stans attribute this to Lebron's defense for some reason...
Ive used the exact same video in an effort to thwart this myth that James is a great defender. All James does is give the player space and depend on help. Its why Jason Terry kicked his ass in 2011.

[CHi1PriDe]

1. LeBron
2. Jordan
3. Kobe


You're an idiot if you say otherwise.

Wow, what an idiot. A typical bandwagon heat fan, who just started watching the nba when lebron joined the heat. Just a lebron Stan who knows nothing about basketball :facepalm

[Leviathon1121]

All it took was one season of a few chase down blocks and Lebron fans started proclaiming him an elite defender.

[SilkkTheShocker]

We already know LeBron is the best of the 3.

[fpliii]

Help D:
LeBron
Jordan
Kobe

Man D:
Jordan
Kobe
LeBron

Impact:
LeBron
Jordan
Kobe

[Solefade]

One thing for sure is that LeBron does occasionally coast on defense at times but in the history of the NBA, NO ONE has been asked to do more for their team than LeBron and he should get a pass for anytime he coasts on defense when it's not a crucial moment of the a meaningful game. Dude literally impacts almost every single play on both offense and defense. He's been leading his teams in every statistical category for years.

[97 bulls]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEEQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DxZj r5cIGovA&ei=CtH6UaSoD6_vigKLm4HgCA&usg=AFQjCNHNQhMD5kX5fCom63SIaoYpMR-vHw&sig2=70lr3VypmSvd0CSikfJ1qQHeres a video dedicated to Jordans abilities on defense. Notice how he gets up into the offensive players chest and plays real defense. James never does that. Kobe does when he wants to.

[NumberSix]

Wow, what an idiot. A typical bandwagon heat fan, who just started watching the nba when lebron joined the heat. Just a lebron Stan who knows nothing about basketball :facepalm
Wow. Typical Chicago gang member and child murderer.

[Young X]

I really don't see how Lebron is better than Jordan defensively, he's a worse man to man defender, worse help defender, inferior shot blocker, inferior ball thief by far. Lebron's only advantage over Jordan defensively (or as a player overall) is covering PF's.

We don't have defensive numbers from the 80's/early 90's to compare their impact, so going by numbers, accolades, and watching games Jordan's clearly better.

[G-Funk]

Mj

Kobe



Lebron

[Smoke117]

1. Scottie Pippen.

[pauk]

All great defenders and very smart defenders but kindof different, especially comparing them to Lebron...

Jordan and Kobe were similar in versatility but Jordan was better at literally everything defensively.

Lebron is a much more versatile defender than both Jordan/Kobe, can guard many more positions more effectively, only Scottie Pippen was that versatile defensively in NBA history.

Defensive accolades wise they all were multiple 1st all-defensive team players, but Jordan actually won DPOY and Lebron was close to doing that 2 times especially this year as he was 2nd to Marc Gasol...

Jordan & Lebron should be above Kobe in this department, at least that is for sure.

[diamenz]

this thread is a perfect example of how rock hard lebron stans are. everyone in their right mind with an unbiased opinion says jordan (everyone in the thread), except plowking, silkk and numbersix who keep wiping their sh1t off of lebron's d!ck. even 'longlivetheking' says jordan - respect.

[Just2McFly]

Kobe impressed me more.

[lakerspng]

this thread is a perfect example of how rock hard lebron stans are. everyone in their right mind with an unbiased opinion says jordan (everyone in the thread), except plowking, silkk and numbersix who keep wiping their sh1t off of lebron's d!ck. even 'longlivetheking' says jordan - respect.

in their defense (not that I would ever defend their ridiculous viewpoints) they weren't old enough to have watched even Kobe in his prime, much less Jordan. So they can't exactly give a valid opinion on the subject. All they know is they were spoon fed Lebron's chase down blocks on sportscenter time and time again as top plays, as a display of his defensive greatness.

[Greg Oden 50]

1. LeBron
2. Jordan
3. Kobe


You're an idiot if you say otherwise.

lebron over jordan :roll:

[diamenz]

in their defense (not that I would ever defend their ridiculous viewpoints) they weren't old enough to have watched even Kobe in his prime, much less Jordan. So they can't exactly give a valid opinion on the subject. All they know is they were spoon fed Lebron's chase down blocks on sportscenter time and time again as top plays, as a display of his defensive greatness.

i guess you're right - all we can do is try to educate 'em but they still won't listen. educate yourself, lebron stans.

[DaHeezy]

this thread is a perfect example of how rock hard lebron stans are. everyone in their right mind with an unbiased opinion says jordan (everyone in the thread), except plowking, silkk and numbersix who keep wiping their sh1t off of lebron's d!ck. even 'longlivetheking' says jordan - respect.

So you have to be a Lebron stan to say Lebron is a better defender? :facepalm
Jordan stans, always implying thing

I say Lebron the best defender in this three bar none. What other player can guard a speedy Tony Parker to a fundamentally sound post in one series, never mind that, one game.
He's shut down Derrick Rose to Blake Griffin in games I've seen. The other two couldn't do that, and sometimes needed help or switches with players in their own position

[DaHeezy]

lebron over jordan :roll:

You think Oden is currently more valuable than Iguodala so I wouldn't take your opinion seriously

[lakerspng]

So you have to be a Lebron stan to say Lebron is a better defender? :facepalm
Jordan stans, always implying thing

I say Lebron the best defender in this three bar none. What other player can guard a speedy Tony Parker to a fundamentally sound post in one series, never mind that, one game.
He's shut down Derrick Rose to Blake Griffin in games I've seen. The other two couldn't do that, and sometimes needed help or switches with players in their own position

Kobe's shut down, and I mean completely BLANKED scorers like McGrady and Iverson (in his prime) for entire halves to the point of embarassment, far far more effective offensive players than Parker... He did it to Wade last season as well the game after the nose break... made him look like a complete chump. LeBron has never effected another player that much on defense.

[RRR3]

Kobe's shut down, and I mean completely BLANKED scorers like McGrady and Iverson (in his prime) for entire halves to the point of embarassment, far far more effective offensive players than Parker... He did it to Wade last season as well the game after the nose break... made him look like a complete chump. LeBron has never effected another player that much on defense.
Allen Iverson outscored Kobe head to head both in regular season and playoffs, not sure when Kobe shut him down. Maybe it was during the finals in 2001 when AI outsocred him 48-15 in game 1, and Tyronn Lue was switched onto AI.

And as for T-Mac, compare them how they did when T-Mac was actually in his prime (2001-05)

Game 1 (3/18/01): T-Mac 29/10/5 on 13-24. Kobe 16/2/7 on 5-17
Game 2 (11/11/01): T-Mac 22/7/0 on 7/18. Kobe 28/5/8 on 8-15.
Game 3 (1/30/02:) T-Mac 22/10/3 on 8/16. Kobe 23/8/4 on 9/23.
Game 4 (11/27/02): T-Mac 38/6/9 on 12/29. Kobe 38/10/4 on 14/31.
Game 5 (12/15/02:) T-Mac 21/3/0 on 8-15 (only played 23 minutes). Kobe 21/6/8 on 6-15/
Game 6 (3/15/04): T-Mac 37/7/10 on 13-32. Kobe 38/3/4 on 13-26.
Game 7 (1/7//2005): T-Mac 26/4/8 on 11-24. Kobe 27/5/10 on 10-19.
Game 8 (4/7/2005): T-Mac 27/4/7 on 11-27. Kobe 19/10/10 on 4-19.



Not a huge difference either way. Of course Kobe is an all-time great and T-Mac is a "what if?", but let's not act like T-Mac couldn't have good games against Bean, please.


Edit: Pretty sure LBJ had a big effect on Melo and Rose in these instances

http://oi49.tinypic.com/192rev.jpg
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/5/27/2193005/lebron-james-defense-derrick-rose-miami-heat-chicago-bulls

[Greg Oden 50]

So you have to be a Lebron stan to say Lebron is a better defender? :facepalm
Jordan stans, always implying thing

I say Lebron the best defender in this three bar none. What other player can guard a speedy Tony Parker to a fundamentally sound post in one series, never mind that, one game.
He's shut down Derrick Rose to Blake Griffin in games I've seen. The other two couldn't do that, and sometimes needed help or switches with players in their own position

LeBron Owned by Rondo .............and RONDO scores 44,what agreat defnder :roll:

LeBron shut down PARKER:facepalm YSA HE SHUT AN INJURIED PARKER,WHO SHOULDN'T PLAY AND Need TO takes 10 DAYS rest :roll:

[Greg Oden 50]

You think Oden is currently more valuable than Iguodala so I wouldn't take your opinion seriously

BIG CAN SCORES WITH BOTH HANDS WHILE PLAYING MONSTER DEFENCE >>>>>>>>> IGGY ANY DAY,ANY SCEONDS:rockon:

IGGY can't scores other dunk ,rely of athlectism..............an one of the most overrated defender,I'd rank tony allen over iggy anyday as a defender

[Greg Oden 50]

LeBron never shut down anyone by himself :no:
He advance by Miami Quick Double & Team Defence
Maimi is no defence with or without LeBron on the court interm of defence:rockon:

[G-Funk]

Of course Jordan was better, he could hand check, pull & scratch. The way the game was called they were allowed to get away with alot of things during Jordan's era on defense where as now you cant even have a hand on the hip in todays game and silly touch fouls are being called or atleast seem to be called once every 4-6 plays on the court. Point is, its more difficult for Lebron & Kobe to play good in 1on1 situations defensively

[andgar923]

Of course Jordan was better, he could hand check, pull & scratch. The way the game was called they were allowed to get away with alot of things during Jordan's era on defense where as now you cant even have a hand on the hip in todays game and silly touch fouls are being called or atleast seem to be called once every 4-6 plays on the court. Point is, its more difficult for Lebron & Kobe to play good in 1on1 situations defensively

That would be true if they didn't get away with that themselves even today (specially Kobe).

And it would be true if that's all MJ did, which wasn't the case. He knew angles and positioned himself properly. All you gotta do is check out Wizards games and watch MJ defend younger more athletic players under current rules.

[SamuraiSWISH]

That would be true if they didn't get away with that themselves even today (specially Kobe).

And it would be true if that's all MJ did, which wasn't the case. He knew angles and positioned himself properly. All you gotta do is check out Wizards games and watch MJ defend younger more athletic players under current rules.
Pretty much. It wasn't as if MJ was beating folks up, hacking away. His insane lateral quickness, anticipation skills, use of angles, basketball intelligence, and fierce determination and consistency is what made him a great defender. Both lock down on ball, or a demonic doberman in the passing lanes.

[Greg Oden 50]

Of course Jordan was better, he could hand check, pull & scratch. The way the game was called they were allowed to get away with alot of things during Jordan's era on defense where as now you cant even have a hand on the hip in todays game and silly touch fouls are being called or atleast seem to be called once every 4-6 plays on the court. Point is, its more difficult for Lebron & Kobe to play good in 1on1 situations defensively

lebron stans always make excuse as always :roll:

[Doranku]

Prime Kobe was a much better defender than LeBron.

Just because ESPN and the media act as if Jesus has come back after a few LeBron chase-down blocks doesn't take away from the fact that he's a below average man defender.