Replace Durant with LeBron..Warriors are 10x better defensively. Durant is overrated

[k0kakw0rld]

The best scorer in the game (as far as offensive arsenal). There is a difference because he is far from having the best IQ in basketball. His length pretty much overrates his defense. He is in fact atrocious for a man his size.

LeBron would've made this team 10X better defensively even without Bogut and Ezeli. That is the main difference between LeBron and Durant.
And I maintain what I said about Kawhi being better overall than Durant.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Agreed. LeBron was the best rim protector in the playoffs last year. GOAT

[Lebronxrings]

yep.
























Same with barnes. :lol

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Agreed. LeBron was the best rim protector in the playoffs last year. GOAT

He was also the best pick-pocket, rebounder, perimeter defender, passer, scorer, and most alpha.

[ThunderKat]

When Durant'a shot doesn't fall he is a liability. That's the truth.

[Fire Colangelo]

LeBron on this team would be DEADLY.

He would be getting Curry and Klay open looks all night, and the defense will be nasty with LeBron and Green.

[D-Wait]

The best scorer in the game (as far as offensive arsenal). There is a difference because he is far from having the best IQ in basketball. His length pretty much overrates his defense. He is in fact atrocious for a man his size.

LeBron would've made this team 10X better defensively even without Bogut and Ezeli. That is the main difference between LeBron and Durant.
And I maintain what I said about Kawhi being better overall than Durant.

Not far-fetched to say as Kawhi impacts the game in literally every aspect above-average

[SAKOTXA]

Lebron will join them next year if Cleveland loses this year. Spineless cowards, both KD and Lebron

[AintNoSunshine]

Well you are doing the overrating yourself by comparing that bish to the King

[aj1987]

Lebron will join them next year if Cleveland loses this year. Spineless cowards, both KD and Lebron
Yeah, because LeBron joined the Celtics in '10, Mavericks in '11, Spurs in '14, and the Warriors in '15.

The IQ in this board had dropped to single digits. SMH. Off season was much better, TBH.

[ImKobe]

When Durant'a shot doesn't fall he is a liability. That's the truth.

So KD isn't great on the boards and on defense? He can defend the paint due to his size and he's quick enough to defend on the perimeter. He's also averaging 30/8/3 with 2.3 stls 1.3 blks so far this season on 69,9%TS.

Why are people exactly hating on him? It's Curry and Thompson who have played like trash.

And Lebron would make Steph and everyone else spot-up shooters, Warriors would still have trouble protecting the paint since they don't have any quality rim protection (what cost them the 3 - 1 Finals lead after Bogut injury). Anyone can look great on that team, but KD is just deadly and will most likely have the best regular season of his career this year.

Warriors were so great last year because the ball moved so effortlessly and everyone could get their shot, it was just automatic the way the ball found the right man. It will take at least half a season before they look like a contender again. KD being there is a huge adjustment for Curry and Thompson and right now the ball movement isn't there. KD can get easy looks because of his teammates but his teammates aren't making 3s. Durant is the only one making more than 40% of his 3-pt attempts on a Warriors squad that shot 41.6% from that distance as a team last season.

[Lebron23]

Yeah, because LeBron joined the Celtics in '10, Mavericks in '11, Spurs in '14, and the Warriors in '15.

The IQ in this board had dropped to single digits. SMH. Off season was much better, TBH.


Damn. Sakotxa got wrecked. I think the Cavs are a better team than the Warriors right now. It also won't surprise me if the Spurs beat the Warriors.

[Lebron23]

Lebron will join them next year if Cleveland loses this year. Spineless cowards, both KD and Lebron


Lebron have a better team in Cleveland.

[aj1987]

So KD isn't great on the boards and on defense? He can defend the paint due to his size and he's quick enough to defend on the perimeter. He's also averaging 30/8/3 with 2.3 stls 1.3 blks so far this season on 69,9%TS.

Why are people exactly hating on him? It's Curry and Thompson who have played like trash.

And Lebron would make Steph and everyone else spot-up shooters, Warriors would still have trouble protecting the paint since they don't have any quality rim protection (what cost them the 3 - 1 Finals lead after Bogut injury). Anyone can look great on that team, but KD is just deadly and will most likely have the best regular season of his career this year.

Warriors were so great last year because the ball moved so effortlessly and everyone could get their shot, it was just automatic the way the ball found the right man. It will take at least half a season before they look like a contender again. KD being there is a huge adjustment for Curry and Thompson and right now the ball movement isn't there. KD can get easy looks because of his teammates but his teammates aren't making 3s. Durant is the only one making above 40% on threes on a Warriors squad that shot 41.6% as a team last season.
Isn't that pretty much the perfect scenario for you guys, since you always bitch about him turning players into spot up shooters? Two of the greatest 3pt shooters ever? That just overkill. LeBron would rip the league a new one with this team.

Opponents' shooting against LeBron in Games 5, 6, and 7 in the Finals

Overall: 2.7/12.7, 21.1%, opponents usually shoot 47.9%, -26.8

Threes: .7/5, 13.3%, opponents usually shoot 40.4%; -27%

Twos: 2/7.7, 26.1%, opponents usually shoot 53.3%, -27.2%

Less than 6 ft: 1/5, 20%, opponents usually shoot 62.4%, -42.4%

Less than 10 ft: 1.3/6, 22.2%, opponents usually shoot 57.3%; -35.1%

Greater than 15 ft: 1/6.3, 15.8%; opponents usually shoot 40.5%; -24.7%

LeBron 2016 Playoffs (21 games)

3.2/10.2 Defensive FGs defended

Overall, held opponents to 31.8% FG (Their average FG% was 45.9%

This is a differential of -14.1% (He held opponents to -14.8% their average FG%), which is by far the best mark... For comparison, Draymond was next best at -8.4%

SOURCE: http://stats.nba.com/defensivehub/#!...?sort=GP&dir=1

To break it down even further to perimeter defense and Rim protection..

3PT DEFENSE

LeBron was the Cavs best 3pt defender, and along with Livingtson and context taken into account, the best 3pt defenders

0.9/3.8 Defensive Field Goals Defended

Held opponent 3pt shooters to 24.1% (Their average 3PT% was 36.7%)

This is a differential of -12.6%

Only one guy who played 15+ playoff games (Shawn Livingston) had a slightly better differential (Abet on lower volume)

SOURCE: http://stats.nba.com/defensivehub/#!...USMINUS&dir=-1

RIM PROTECTION

1.4/3.3 Defensive Field Goals Defended

Held opponents at the rim to 43.5%

The best rim protection % on the Cavs

For reference Bogut held opponents to 46.6%, and Tristan Thompson 49.2%

SOURCE: http://stats.nba.com/defensivehub/#!...&sort=GP&dir=1

...

Here's also some stuff comparing him and DPOY winner Kawhi Leonard in the regular season;

Quote:
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

Finals Averages...
2.3 Blocks a game
2.6 Steals a game

2016 Playoff Averages
2.3 Steals a game
1.3 Blocks a game

In the last 3 games, LeBron averaged 3 blocks and 3 steals per game

CREDIT: Im Still Ballin

[BigKAT]

Yeah, because LeBron joined the Celtics in '10, Mavericks in '11, Spurs in '14, and the Warriors in '15.

The IQ in this board had dropped to single digits. SMH. Off season was much better, TBH.


I have not been here for long.
But I will admit that the Regular season has brought with it a host of inaccurate/silly threads and posts.

Early season overraction at it's finest.

[ImKobe]

He wouldn't rip anything... The best thing about the Warriors was their ball movement and how they could turn defensive stops into quick threes in transition. Green, Thompson and Curry could all hit 3s so the defense was forced to play man-to-man or else you're just giving the best shooters in the league wide open 3s. You saw that in Game 7 of the Finals when Lebron or Tristan Thompson left Green open from 3, he had a monster game.

Lebron can't make the three so you can back off him and give him the open jump shot, you can't do that to KD/Curry/Thompson/Green. Warriors will find their chemistry come April and they will be hard to stop. Their defense however will keep their opponents in games so we'll see if they choke but they can easily just outscore their opponents when they are making 3s.

[aj1987]

He wouldn't rip anything... The best thing about the Warriors was their ball movement and how they could turn defensive stops into quick threes in transition. Green, Thompson and Curry could all hit 3s so the defense was forced to play man-to-man or else you're just giving the best shooters in the league wide open 3s. You saw that in Game 7 of the Finals when Lebron or Tristan Thompson left Green open from 3, he had a monster game.

Lebron can't make the three so you can back off him and give him the open jump shot, you can't do that to KD/Curry/Thompson/Green. Warriors will find their chemistry come April and they will be hard to stop. Their defense however will keep their opponents in games so we'll see if they choke but they can easily just outscore their opponents when they are making 3s.
LeBron is probably the 3rd best passer in the league, so he's miles ahead of KD and anyone on the Warriors.

Did you also just say that LeBron would be bad in transition with the #1 GOAT shooter, #2 GOAT shooter, and a shit ton of other very good 3pt shooters? :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Good god.

[ImKobe]

LeBron is probably the 3rd best passer in the league, so he's miles ahead of KD and anyone on the Warriors.

Did you also just say that LeBron would be bad in transition with the #1 GOAT shooter, #2 GOAT shooter, and a shit ton of other very good 3pt shooters? :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Good god.

Are you really this stupid? My point obviously was that Lebron wouldn't be an ideal fit because he's not a good jump shooter. Obviously they would still be a contender but we saw them at their peak last season when Curry was their main playmaker and the opposing defenses could do nothing when Green was setting picks for him.

It's easier to defend the Warriors if Lebron was their playmaker. You know he's going to drive to the basket and you know he'll try to kick it out to the corner for a Klay/Steph 3-pt shot. If you're the Clippers or the Spurs you could easily live with Lebron getting a semi-decent look in the paint while you cover the 3-pt line.

Warriors are better off with KD because #1 KD is younger and has more elite seasons in him and #2 because KD is as good of a jump-shooter as Curry or Thompson. Warriors are impossible to defend when they are making their open shots. How are the Cavs going to get away with doubling Curry this time around when GS has KD? They essentially are the same team they were in Game 7 only that this time around Harrison Barnes is replaced with Durant.

[GimmeThat]

Lebron James playing with the Western Conference offense, .398 FG .310 3PT 35.8 PPG 13.3 RB 8.8 AST 1.3 STL was the stat he posted the first time Lebron played against the Warriors without Love/Irving

friendly reminder

[MellowYellow]

Defense is a team concept. One player does not make or break a defense.

[aj1987]

Are you really this stupid? My point obviously was that Lebron wouldn't be an ideal fit because he's not a good jump shooter. Obviously they would still be a contender but we saw them at their peak last season when Curry was their main playmaker and the opposing defenses could do nothing when Green was setting picks for him.

It's easier to defend the Warriors if Lebron was their playmaker. You know he's going to drive to the basket and you know he'll try to kick it out to the corner for a Klay/Steph 3-pt shot. If you're the Clippers or the Spurs you could easily live with Lebron getting a semi-decent look in the paint while you cover the 3-pt line.
How do you still not get it, dumbass? The main deficiency with the current team is their lack of defense and elite playmaking. LeBron covers both of them. Heck, LeBron is going to get even more open looks, with the attention that Klay and Curry draw. The Warriors could do without KD's 3pt shooting. They have enough snipers without him.

You legit think that LeBron's only playmaking comes from drive and kicks? :facepalm :facepalm

You also said the Warriors would be better with KD because of them leaking out and getting transition buckets. Have you ever actually watched a game of basketball? LeBron is arguably the GOAT in transition. Literally like 2 games ago, he drew all 5 defenders in a transition play and kicked it out to a wide open Kyrie for a 3. Even if that's not an option, LeBron is much better than KD at finishing at the rim.


Warriors are better off with KD because #1 KD is younger and has more elite seasons in him and #2 because KD is as good of a jump-shooter as Curry or Thompson. Warriors are impossible to defend when they are making their open shots. How are the Cavs going to get away with doubling Curry this time around when GS has KD? They essentially are the same team they were in Game 7 only that this time around Harrison Barnes is replaced with Durant.
What does KD being younger have to do with anything. We're talking about this current season and LeBron is going to be a better piece on the Warriors than KD.

They really didn't double Curry too much in games 5, 6, and 7. Freaking Love was shutting him down in G7 and TT by himself had some stops on Curry.

Again, the only thing the Warriors are going to lose is a bit of shooting, but their going to gain even more in the defensive and playmaking departments.


Lebron James playing with the Western Conference offense, .398 FG .310 3PT 35.8 PPG 13.3 RB 8.8 AST 1.3 STL was the stat he posted the first time Lebron played against the Warriors without Love/Irving

friendly reminder
A larger sample size.
https://s11.postimg.org/ddorv4hab/Screen_Shot_2016_11_05_at_1_28_59_PM.png

[k0kakw0rld]

How do you still not get it, dumbass? The main deficiency with the current team is their lack of defense and elite playmaking. LeBron covers both of them. Heck, LeBron is going to get even more open looks, with the attention that Klay and Curry draw. The Warriors could do without KD's 3pt shooting. They have enough snipers without him.

You legit think that LeBron's only playmaking comes from drive and kicks? :facepalm :facepalm

You also said the Warriors would be better with KD because of them leaking out and getting transition buckets. Have you ever actually watched a game of basketball? LeBron is arguably the GOAT in transition. Literally like 2 games ago, he drew all 5 defenders in a transition play and kicked it out to a wide open Kyrie for a 3. Even if that's not an option, LeBron is much better than KD at finishing at the rim.


What does KD being younger have to do with anything. We're talking about this current season and LeBron is going to be a better piece on the Warriors than KD.

They really didn't double Curry too much in games 5, 6, and 7. Freaking Love was shutting him down in G7 and TT by himself had some stops on Curry.

Again, the only thing the Warriors are going to lose is a bit of shooting, but their going to gain even more in the defensive and playmaking departments.


A larger sample size.
https://s11.postimg.org/ddorv4hab/Screen_Shot_2016_11_05_at_1_28_59_PM.png
Damn AJ, go easy on them :eek:

[knicksman]

Once your iq grows OP, youll realize durant is better for gsw. Even boston big 3 is better than miami big 3. The difference is youth and refs on their side while refs are against boston.

And considering durant is much better than ray allen and paul pierce, i cant imagine what he can do to gsw.

[tmacattack33]

Yeah, because LeBron joined the Celtics in '10, Mavericks in '11, Spurs in '14, and the Warriors in '15.

The IQ in this board had dropped to single digits. SMH. Off season was much better, TBH.

:applause:

For real. Lebron joined a Heat team that he never faced in the playoffs. The comparison to what Durant did ends there.

[RedBlackAttack]

I'm pretty surprised at just how bad the Warriors have looked defensively. I guess having good defensive bigs makes up for a multitude of sins on the perimeter. And that makes perfect sense from a basketball IQ standpoint, but I just assumed Zaza and West would be good enough, along with Durant's length, to at least come somewhat close to replicating what they were last year.

Without Bogut and Ezeli setting the tone behind them, the Warriors have been playing some of the worst defense I've seen in the NBA so far.

The offensive stuff will eventually come, imo. They're too talented for it not to. But, the defense and rebounding? That isn't going to be an easy fix.