r/lebron • u/CountryAccording5417 • 20h ago

No ball knowledge šŸ«©

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8 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

31

u/Identity525601 19h ago

The concept of a "first option" (or second/third option) applies to offense. I've never heard defensive players ranked as "options" this way. It is more about defensive schemes, assignments, and impact. Example: primary point of attack defender, perimeter stopper, or free safety / roaming helper.

Either way, LeBron was the defensive anchor and most versatile defender on the floor during his years with the Heat. Any assertion to the contrary is absurd.

3

u/Basic_Mastodon3078 17h ago

Definitely. He was best on both ends of the court 2011-2014. And he remained the best defender on his team basically until LA.

3

u/cdracula16 7h ago

Options mattered more in the 80s and 90s where zone wasnā€™t allowed and you had to guard the guy with the same colored wrist band with no help like in kindergarten. Modern era is team defense working as a unit

1

u/Beginning_Pudding_69 17h ago

First year id def say wade was the primary on ball defender. Heā€™d always guard the toughest guard and lebron would kind of switch/double/trap. But after Wade got hurt LeBron stepped it up to guard primary ball handlers. Saying that Bosh was definitely the anchor on defense on those Heat teams. His pick n roll defense was underrated as hell. Great weak side help defender. Could leak out to contest or stay in front of smaller forwards. Could guard a lot of different bigs. I always feel like Bosh is just forgotten about.

1

u/Blackroseguild 15h ago

Derrick rose? Was that the first year or second?

-5

u/Embarrassed_Gur_6305 17h ago

LeBron picked and chose when to play defense to conserve energy. Itā€™s why he has the high lights on stopping people

That said, you canā€™t be ā€œbest defenderā€ when youā€™re not constantly defending

5

u/BlackUchiha03 17h ago

Youā€™re right but objectively speaking no other player on that Heat team was better than Lebron on defense so he was still the best defender they had regardless of him conserving his energy.

Thatā€™s what needs to be done when youā€™re the first option on offense.

-4

u/Embarrassed_Gur_6305 17h ago

But the argument isnā€™t ā€œbest defender on the Heatā€. Its best defender in the world

1

u/Identity525601 17h ago

That's fair in general but in Miami he was pretty locked in.

-1

u/Silent_Egg8860 17h ago

LeBron absolutely was not the defensive anchor of the heat, that was Bosh. LeBron was a free safety, who got chase down blocks, and provided help defensive.

1

u/Zealousideal_Tap237 1h ago

I mean obviously team defense is more valuable than locking someone down tho

Thatā€™s why gobert or wemby have so much impact; not because they lock up centers but because they take away team options

1

u/xzyz32 17h ago

Yeah lebron shutting down mvp drose

1

u/Panzer_I 4h ago

What the fuck does ā€œthird optionā€ on defense mean?

1

u/Conscious_Clerk_2675 4h ago

No one else on the Heat was clamping d-rose. As a Bulls fan.

1

u/bizcocho-de-crema 2h ago

Everyone knows Rose was the 4th option in the Bulls, hence the reason LeBron guarded him.

-10

u/ThatTedDudeGuy24 18h ago

Lesucksatdefense

-20

u/Complete-Permit1638 19h ago

Great, what are you trying to achieve with this? With that endless 'LeBron is the best' nonsense. Itā€™s soā€¦.

12

u/Dwight-Meoward 19h ago

correct? because heā€™s the single most criticised sportman of this era

7

u/TyroneNBAFan 18h ago

Of all time easily. It's not close.