So the other day, in the midst of six tabling micro sit n goes, I happened to catch the ending of the Miami Heat/Dallas Mavericks basketball contest via internet stream. Although I hate to relish in the downfall of other human beings, the sadistic side of me finds it hilarious when the Heat lose. Not even because it's fashionable to hate on those guys, but more because you never know what kind of ignorant post-game quote you will get from one of their Big 3. So with about a minute or so left in the game, I caught a break from poker to focus in on a play, Jason Kidd had the ball on the left wing and Caron Butler cut right across the middle of the paint from the opposite elbow, caught the pass and made a lay-up to extend the lead. The importance of this was King James happened to be chasing behind him, completely out of position, when Butler made this uncontested lay-up.
The first thing that came to my mind was, "I'm glad I don't coach that team, he probably would have knocked me out for all of the expletives I would yell at him after he let the dude get a free lay-up."
The second thing that came to my mind was, "Does this guy understand anything at all about off the ball defense?"
The third thing that came to my mind was, "I feel bad for Erik Spoelstra, not only does he have to manage all of these egotistical sub-mentals, but he has to teach NBA players how to play proper off the ball defense, they should learn that in eighth grade."
To put it plainly, his defense on that play was atrocious. It's not like he got out muscled, outwitted, or somebody set a pic on him, Lebron pretty much watched the dude cut right in front of him, seal off his body, catch a pass and make a lay-up. Isn't one of the main tenets of defense to stay between your guy and the guy with the ball? Maybe the 'King' has his own idea on what effective defense is. I must say it's ironic that his idea of defense goes hand in hand with what David Stern wants the NBA to be, no substance, all flair, a league run by the superstars. How else can one explain a guy getting beat on routine plays like this one being a multiple all-defensive pick. I'm sure it has a lot to do with his highlight come from behind blocks that he gets once a game. I bet those blocks are set up off the transition opportunities the opposing team gets from one of his ill-advised 25 foot jump shots he throws at the rim. Yeah the dude might make a miraculous out-of-nowhere block once in a while, but does that make him a great defender? No, it doesn't. To refer to Lebron as a Blue-Collar defender, like I've heard a few times is blasphemous at best.
So if you don't believe me, look for yourself at about the 2:00 minute mark is the play in question.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCcK-KgYwXE
While I am being critical what happened at the :47 second mark when his defensive rotation was to slow to seal off Shawn Marion from getting an easy put back? How about at the 1:18 mark when he took a few seconds admiring his brick that he couldn't get back on defense to stop Caron Butler from getting a lay-up? These points add up!! 1:33 good close out on the shooter!! I feel bad for the people out there that think he's a good defender, there's a few of you. Then again, the stats don't support my feelings on his defensive ability, or lack of. But, as the axiom goes, "numbers don't lie." Or do they? I'm sure I'm the crazy one here...
PS:
I'm curious as to what would happen if you put Lebron with a defensive coach like Greg Poppovich? Would he learn all the finer points of defense, as well as still be able to make the highlight-reel plays? Or would he do the same thing he did in Cleveland with Poppovich's protege and not listen to him? I guess this is the problem with naming somebody the 'King' before they finish puberty, as my man Deuce would say "can't tell him shit!"
PS*2:
I think it's time to admit, the game of basketball is deteriorating. I think Jordan might have punched one of his teammates in the face if they played defense like that. Where was Bosh to smack Lebron? Oh, I forgot, Bosh can't even stop Rajon Rondo from dunking on him, quite the inside presence.
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