LeBron will guard zaza /McGee at times to rest on defense

[rapbeats]

Most of that shyt couldn't be helped though: Curry was hobbled, Draymond was out for a game and couldn't aid with his help D (+ Bogut going down), and when he did come back Iggy provided little to no resistance on Bron because of his back. It basically fukked up their general function on defense.

which i told everyone last year when it happened. all the defenders that could help slow down bron and clog the lane were gone for a game(draymond), or playing hurt(bad back), and later injured(bogut). then to add the loss of bogut's passing/facilitating from the post. that took a small chunk of offense off the table and you could tell it was a bit easier to guard the warriors once bogut was down. but to think about it. you dont have dray another playmaker/defender for one game. then you lose bogut another playmaker paint defender. and you pretty much lose iggy for a game with that bad back. another playmaker defender.

 

[Mad Good Dro]

I. Durant was arguably the best performing wing defender in the league prior to his injury; protecting the rim, guarding 1-4 and acting as a secondary help defender
II. Folk have a distorted perception of Curry's defense on this board, and tend to use the '16 Finals too much as a frame for his abilities on that end (when he was dealing with the lingering effects of a MCL sprain) by citing possessions of Kyrie scoring on him as evidence for being a bad defender. Which is funny because Kyrie makes a fool out of every single player in the league, it's hardly damning to use in evidence against Curry. But they don't talk about Curry's stellar defense on Westbrook, or his effectiveness on switches in the WCF in the same manner. Or the fact he was one of the best defensive PGs throughout the '15/'16 regular season.



I mean look at the buckets Kyrie was droppin' when Bradley and Smart (two great defenders) were his primary defenders. Does that mean they ain't shyt on the defensive end either?



Durant hasn't earned his stripes as a "more than capable defender"? Durant has been a GREAT defender for years now (arguably a better peak than LeBron). Which is funny when I see folk plant the notion of him throwing the WCF last season, when he was the BEST defender in the series, yes even better than Draymond who was MIA for most of Games 1-4. He was puttin' the clamps on Curry/Klay, shutting off driving lanes and suffocating their floor space, helping Ibaka anchor the PnR D and protecting the rim. He was basically a 7ft version of Draymond. It's half the reason his offense took a dip throughout the series because his defensive load was taking its toll on him.

LeBron was barely guarding Rose in that series, and it was mostly their team defense NOT LeBron which limited Rose - The Bulls-Heat 4th Quarter Project - Completed - RealGM

Yall setting durant up like ya did curry last year with the ''great defender'' shyt

 

[Shadow King]

Bron will split time between KD/Dray/Curry.

KD will split time between him and Love, but more Love than anything.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

Yall setting durant up like ya did curry last year with the ''great defender'' shyt

How can I set him up when he has already proven to be a great defender? Just because Curry was subpar defensively in the Finals doesn't take away from his abilities as a defender either.

 

[Big Boss]

Lebron's biggest defensive value is his vision, ability to recognize plays, and his defensive radius is huge. Derozan alluded to it last series but Lebron's defensive zone is much bigger than it seems so he forces you to rethink what seems to be open passing lanes.

He's more dangerous as a deterrent and fulcrum because Lebron is probably as close to unstoppable as you can get in the league as a transition player. So teams will sometimes take an extra pass or dribble around for better position when Lebron is around the play. It's why teams do their best when they disrespect Lebron and attack him consistently.

He's also inconsistent as an isolation defender and he's sometimes disrespectful. You'll see him lock in and stick to IT like glue but then you'll see him disregard Marcus Smart, on another play, to allow him to stick a three in rhythm. One thing I love about Kawhi is that he keeps a high activity level when he's guarding star players or not. He'll literally bully you into mistakes if you aren't a star.

 

[Paradise50]

All I know is Kyrie gonna steal Curry soul again.

 

[C-NICE]

Thats the dumbest shyt ever if Tristan gets in foul trouble the cavs are screwed they have ZERO bigs and nothing off the bench for thompson he CANNOT get in foul trouble.

 

[Reggie]

Bron has got to guard him. Tristan cant keep up with him and JR Smith is to small and that would still leave Klay for Bron to have to chase around on defense which wouldn't be good for him. Cant guard Draymond and leave Tristan on Zaza cause KD will kill Love. So it's got to be Bron for the most part who guards him during the majority of the series.

 

[Versa]

Richard Jefferson is the durant stopper

Durant averages 26/7/4 with a steal and a block against Richard Jefferson

 

[Biscayne]

I think a healthy Spurs team might have been a tougher matchup for them. Sometimes GS gets caught up in a lot of pull up 3's, ISO ball from KD and Curry.....Cavs have a much better shot against that....there's also a potential chance to get blown out, but still a better shot.
If the Warriors just run their offense they'd dissect the Cavs. Will they stay discipline is the key. Last year finals they blew some opportunities because of just bad shots/wasted possessions.

This post sums it up...

 

[Biscayne]

They were doing some of that against the Spurs, but I think they're doing a better job of staying focused and under control. Especially Draymond. He's a better player without Kerr breathing down his neck. He doesn't feel as much pressure and just plays his game. Klay is the one I'm worried about taking bad shots.

Could Klay possibly be this year's Harrison?

 

[Biscayne]

Lebron's biggest defensive value is his vision, ability to recognize plays, and his defensive radius is huge. Derozan alluded to it last series but Lebron's defensive zone is much bigger than it seems so he forces you to rethink what seems to be open passing lanes.

He's more dangerous as a deterrent and fulcrum because Lebron is probably as close to unstoppable as you can get in the league as a transition player. So teams will sometimes take an extra pass or dribble around for better position when Lebron is around the play. It's why teams do their best when they disrespect Lebron and attack him consistently.

He's also inconsistent as an isolation defender and he's sometimes disrespectful. You'll see him lock in and stick to IT like glue but then you'll see him disregard Marcus Smart, on another play, to allow him to stick a three in rhythm. One thing I love about Kawhi is that he keeps a high activity level when he's guarding star players or not. He'll literally bully you into mistakes if you aren't a star.

Nothing but facts. Wade used to play defense the same way as Bron. GREAT at playing passing lanes, and makes the offense think twice about making certain passes. That was prime Wade...

 

[Rollo Goodlove]

Warriors in 5

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

Yall setting durant up like ya did curry last year with the ''great defender'' shyt

But he is

 

[Nintendough]

Jordan would guard the top guy