13 Years Ago Today, the Heat Went Back to Back. Watch LeBron Guard Every Position on the Floor.
What a beast
The hand speed against tim duncan unreal
I mean even the ability to stay with Parker in the second clip, without losing space or closing in too much for a foul. Insane.
A lot of newer fans might know of Tony Parker but not realize just how fast this dude was as well as how shifty and quick he could change speeds in either direction, making him probably one of the hardest point guards to actually lock down in the league at the time. He also had a lethal floater that just opened up the whole game for him and the Spurs offense.
Definitely not talked about as much as the other two in the Spurs famous trio but just as important for the later half of the Spurs title run period. So for LeBron to be able to pick him up outside the 3 point line is just showing how much of an anomaly he was compared to other physical anomalies in the league.
I remember a play in 2018, when he literally ran around the entire perimeter individually guarding Steph, Klay, and KD and then box out Draymond for the rebound out of the few misses that did occur
I also remember he had a cool block in some big game, but it probably wasn’t that important
Overrated moment in the annals of history.
Stop it lol
Overrated?
Anal?
Luka can control the game with his offensive. And Wemby can control it with his defensive. Prime LeBron could control both ends of the floor. Best offensive and defensive player un the league IMO during the time. Just a shame he never won DPOY.
Who the GOAT is, can be argued because all of Jordan, LeBron and Kareem have a great case.
What couldn’t be argued is who the most complete basketball player of all time is. It’s LeBron.
That sounds impossible, are you saying Steph, Klay, KD and Draymond were all on the same team?!?
Should’ve been the DPOY over Gasol
Voters didn’t want to give him everything. Absolutely bullshit a one of a kind defender like LeBron never got his dpoy. Nobody can guard 1-5 like he could.
no shot
2nd Team All Defense DPOY isn’t sus at all
So the DPOY voters were wrong and the all defense voters were correct
What if it’s the other way around
they gave DPOY to marc gasol with the public understanding of “this is a team award b/c the grizzlies played such great team defense”.
that is the most thinly veiled “lebron cant get this” ever. the voters at the time WERE largely jordan fans. this is not disputable. you can argue whether they let their bias dictate how they voted, but it is objectively true that many of the media that had votes were jordan guys. i would argue (and i think this hurt more than just lebron, it hurt guys like kobe and jokic) that so many of these media votes are manipulated in a way to continue propping up jordan.
dont get me wrong- jordan has probably the strongest GOAT argument. i think its really easy to win that argument. but the fact that nba media and nba voters prevented lebron from getting this defensive PLAYER of the year, citing that the grizzlies as a TEAM deserved that DPOY is crazy. it will always be crazy.
Johan Cruyff believed in “Total Football” where a player could play at all positions. Lebron is total basketball.
Cruyff mentioned, hell yeah!
Lebron will get along with Ted Lasso
I’ve always enjoyed the fact that he’s listed at all 5 positions on his basketball reference page https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html
This Lebron was a defensive menace and when he and Wade were flying around blocking shots and jumping passing lanes it was downright scary to watch. Just great basketball.
As great as MJ and Pip.
Naa. Mike & Pip were better defensively than Miami Bron & DWade. Now if it were Pre-2011 DWade for a longer time, they would have had a case.
Yep. Poor Derrick Rose at 22 had to go against this in the playoffs with Wade often doubling. That along with little spacing on his team and he got punked. Scary is the correct word to describe it. One of the most difficult defensive match ups ever I would argue.
This was an all-time Final. Well played on both ends of the floor.
I feel like it was game 3 or 4, but both teams played the most beautiful defense I’ve seen between two squads. Man, what a series
Manu is lucky that they came back and dog walked them the next season because her was getting tons of hate after how he played that series. He was just awful. The game 6 shock saved Duncan from choker allegations when he missed a 3 footer in game 7.
Danny Green was 2⁄19 in games 6 & 7
He was awful too.
None of the teams currently in the league could hold a candle to those teams.
Robbed of DPOY man
The chass down blocks and freight train steals are more highlight reel worthy, but when Lebron switched out on a guard and really sat down in the stance was when he felt most defensively dominant to me.
When they played the Bulls, he switched onto Rose in the fourth quarters, and they guy who’d won MVP getting to the rim against everyone that season was suddenly double pumping on the perimeter.
Miami Bron is the goat.
Its funny to say that there could be a 5 man roster of Lebron from every 4 years he played in the league and it would actually have some legit balance in terms of iq, quickness, and all around strength. He had such a spring in his step early Cavs years and was the faster mfer in the league in a straight away. There was a stint with Miami when Bosh was out for a bit that Lebron put on some muscle and was insanely strong. It was the start of Spoelstra getting Lebron to catch passes while going downhill and no one could stop him once he started.
Funny enough I wouldn’t even have 2018 LeBron in my all time starting 5 of LeBrons
2020 is my point, 2024 is my SG, 2009 is the SF, 2013 is the PF, 2022 is the C
Man, can you imagine the range of alley oops a passing Lebron could give to 2009 Lebron? I mean most of these outside of 2024 could basically catch one at the top of the backboard square. With how much people are crediting OG for guarding Wemby and how versatile he was, Lebron was literally that and more for most of his career. Some of them would have to adjust cause off ball Lebron was never really his style because he excelled so much with the ball that it was a waste to not have him create all the action. That said, this year he even showed that he could play it prior to Luka being hurt with off ball cutting, screens, and positioning for open shots.
And people have the audacity to say he wasn’t an insane defender back then
LeBron from 2012-2018 is the greatest basketball player in NBA history. I don’t think it’s even close. Not debating GOAT stuff. Just saying that for that 6 or 7 years, I don’t believe anyone has ever been better and had a bigger impact on the outcome of games.
A standard LeBron line in the playoffs could be something stupid like 33/9/8 while guarding 1 thru 5. The perfect player. And when his feet were squared and set? An absolutely lethal shooter.
His records in the finals of being the only player to ever lead both teams in every statistical category is proof enough of this. In his prime, which was 2012-2018 undeniably, he was the most versatile basketball player ever. There has never, and may never, be another player capable of doing as much as LeBron did as one person on any given team, be it a good one like the Heatles or a bad one like 2018.
It’s a fair take but “not even close” is just hyperbole
Yeah I’ll admit I got a little carried away with the glazing.
MJ 1991-1998.
6 rings, 6 finals MVP, 4 regular season MVP titles, 6 scoring titles. Never let anyone get a game 7 in the finals. Last ring ar 35yo.
It’s objectively the highest peak of a basketball player ever. Not much to argue against this.
You must be a Jordan hater or a lebronsexuals to say i am wrong.
The competition was very different levels and 94⁄95 Rockets won.
This competition was a different level stuff is so delusional. Basketball itself grew, the players did not. Like do people honestly think Shaq, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton, Spreewell, Cwebb, Allan Houston, Jalen Rose, all productive NBA players well into the 2000s drafted before 95’, were somehow good in the 90s and then terrible in the 2000s? If the level of play jumped so much in the 2000s, why weren’t these players (aside from Shaq) immediately the best? In the worse era? I’m even ignoring 96-97 guys. If the game was so much worse, why we’re guys like Pierce, Carter, AI, Dirk, T-Mac, Kobe not instant top 10 players in the 90s, but future all-nba/MVPs in the 2000s? It’s got to be the laziest discourse of all time.
The game has grown and players have gotten better. I agree unequivocally with this. But the way some people talk, you’d think we haven’t seen MJ and Bron play against the same players. anyone who genuinely thinks basketball players in 98 were much different from players in 2004 is delusional.
Sure buddy, whatever lets you sleep at night.
Rockets only won cause MJ was rusty, he player 12 games that season.
During that 2012-2018 stretch Lebron also let the spurs and Warriors win.
i’m a big hakeem fan, so this rusty narrative of MJ is wrong
Michael Jordan averaged 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 10 games in the 1995 playoffs.
just like he always did, there’s a reason why they went and recruited a 2 time winner in rodman for their 2nd 3peat
it wasn’t enough anymore
In 1996, Jordan averaged 30.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG on 45.9% shooting.
so rusty in 95 he did worse in 96
There’s just nobody in NBA history I’m taking over LeBron in this period. And he probably has four or five rings in this span alone if not for KD making the move he did.
I’ve just never seen a player affect all facets of the game and control the game the way LeBron could in this time period. It’s like things were at half speed.
I would encourage anyone out there to go find playoff series from this period and just watch the whole series. Watch the entire LeBronto series with the fadeaway off the glass. Watch when they look cooked against the Pacers. The list goes on and on. And while you’re watching, just watch LeBron. Again it’s just my opinion, but I’ve never seen anyone that dominant in all facets of the game. The best scorer, passer, finisher, defender, and shit at times in that run even rebounder all wrapped into one player.
Ignore the warriors, everyone brings the warriors into discussion when he couldn’t even beat the Mavs or the geriatric Spurs in 2014.
When he was supposed to win not one, not two, not 3 4 5 6. Not even 7.
I said 2012-2018.
That Mavs series forced him into a lot of introspection, film watching, and work on his game. He was absolutely not the best player I’ve ever seen up until 2011. My oh my how a year changed things. The Mavs unlocked the final form of LeBron just like the Pistons unlocked the final form of Jordan. It’s just how it goes.
Also, the 2014 Spurs might be the most beautiful brand of basketball ever played. I don’t think there are five teams in the NBA history who could even compete with that team. They were surgical. I remember commentators being bewildered at how perfect they played the game. It was something else. The ball movement without a single dribble was unreal.
That narrative is fit for a B series kung-fu movie not for what actually happened.
What actually happened was that Lebron choked so hard in 2011 that any average series would have won the title with the superteam he had. Which was proven the next two seasons.
It’s hard to have two top3 and a top10 player in the same team + a good backup cast facilitated by the collusion that happened and not win a couple of rings. Lebron accomplished that with his choking, winning only 2 rings with that line up was so funny.
LeBron came back a better player in the 2011-2012 season. That is indisputable by both advanced stats and the eyeball test. The Mavs game plan was sound and frankly he was too passive (he wasn’t comfortable living on long twos and threes) and they took their foot off the gas pedal when going up 2-1. I was there for every second of that run. They thought they had it in the bag when they were up 2-1 based on all the pressers and the coughing.
Also, I have no idea where you’re getting the idea that Dwyane Wade was a top three player from 2011-2012 on or that Chris Bosh was top 10. Chris was widely regarded as a top-20 player. Dwyane was unbelievable in that 2011 finals and the decline started the following season.
What do you mean? Wade was second team all nba only because Rose won mvp that year and he was a guard too. Rose was definitely not the best player in the world at that time.
Ok, let’s say Wade was top5. Wow, best player in the world + a top5 + a top20 + a bunch of good roleplayers that were only available cause Wade and Bosh took salary cuts to win some rings.
What a horrible team, winning two rings was an overachievement for sure.
Wade began the season as a consensus top 5 to 7 player. By mid season, it was clear he was not the same Dwyane Wade as he had been and he battled injuries. I think he played like 50 games that year. He was obviously still a great player, but nothing close to top three in the NBA. That’s just an insane comment. Someone like KD at that point was in an entirely different league than Wade.
They were also extremely top-heavy. As good and stabilizing as Bosh could be at times, many used to argue that they would have been better off with the two headed monster and building depth around that. We’ll never know.
But I say that to say it’s not like he had Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and then some incredible depth around them. They had dudes like Norris Cole and Joel Anthony playing significant minutes.
Only player to ever come back from down 3-1 in the finals though (against the greatest regular season team ever no less)
You can also make 10 different insane records for MJ in that period. Like all the stuff i mentioned in the first reply, rofl.
One thing doesn’t define a 7 year period, specially when it only happened because the only defensive menace Warriors depended on was suspended.
Having a perfect record and winning scoring title every season and 4 MVPs in that span definately defines a period.
This year’s Knicks was the only team that was led by 10+ points in all games and making 4 comebacks to win the series 4-1. That’s even more impressive at a base level than a 3-1 comeback.
“Blocked by James!”
The Spurs sagged off LeBron and went under screens and dared him to shoot, and he made them pay in Game 7. I still remember that Game 7 where LeBron and Battier combined for 11 of the Heat’s 12 threes.
People praise the Allen shot (for good reason) but LeBron in Game 6 and 7 that series was on another level
34.5 ppg 11 rpg 7.5 apg 2.5 spg 0.5 bpg on 47/40/85 splits. Rested a total of 6 minutes over those two games
I think that stuck so much in JJs mind that he tried to play LeBron 48 minutes 13 years later
Game 7 is especially underrated cuz ppl act like the series was a done deal after game 6. Bron hit the dagger to go up 4 with 20 secs left
He had about a 8-10 minute stretch in game 6 where he played maybe the best basketball I’ve ever seen anyone play trying to get them back in the game. Scoring, guarding Tony Parker, blocking Duncan, losing headbands and then he was gassed. Its actually crazy the won that game after that.
Forgot that he just could blow up ball screen
This post should have a nsfw tag. This is filthy
That 2013 Heat run was unreal. LeBron guarding every position 1-5 is something we don’t see enough of anymore. People focus on his offense but his defensive IQ that series was next level.
The best a basketball player has ever been
The acrobatic matrix moves Parker and Duncan make to attempt the foul call is pretty damn impressive
Miami Heat Lebron was truly a bad bad man. I say that as a Bulls fan , watching him guard D Rose in the 2010-11 ECF still gives me nightmares
Heat Lebron was a monster
Timmy flopping around out there
This finals series was elite competition
Perfect player on both ends of the floor
They are showing it on the Hardwood Classics channel right now
Man this hurts
Prime LeBron was defensive menace. In his second Cleveland stint he still had it but he often showed it only on clutch time or more important games. He would lock on to opponent’s best player and destroy them on defense. Always pleasure watching his defense.
My goat
He should have at least 1 DPOY bro..
Clips are dope but Parker avgd 24ppg and shot 52% against Bron, with Bron checking him a lot of the game. There are more highlights of Parker scoring on Bron than there are of Bron stopping Tony.
Parker was terrible this series why did you think you could get this lie off
That shits AI. LeBron doesn’t play defense, that’s what they say.
I don’t remember that block on Kawhi after Kawhi pushed him under the basket on the drive. Two grown men
I thought Ray Allen was the reason the heat won that year and literally no one else
Shush. You’re not allowed to bring up teammate contributions here
I remember Danny Green dribbling was easy pickings
Aye Timmy was kind of a foul baiter lmfao. Man was getting locked up and was begging for the refs to bail him out.
The defensive footwork during the clip at 0:24 is so beautiful to watch.
Take me back 😭
I Don’t think anyone else can do this at this level. Prime LeBron is the best defender of all time
Lmao Tim Duncan probably could have won another ring if he did a fake turn then turned the other way instead of constantly getting stripped.
Marc Gasol and Zach Lowe stole his DPOY
2018 Bron was my favorite version but I do think this is an important reminder that the Miami version was just different
If you could put lebron’s 2018 mentality into this body youd get the ultimate LeBron, with long blond hair and yellow energy aura oozing from him
Peak LeBron guarding 1-5 is slept on in LeBron debates
insane when people say 2017 or 18 was his peak. 2013 lebron was a monster
always funny to me when people like skip bayless won’t even put him in their top 5
dude was just unfair, could guard 1-5 and create against 1-5, couldn’t be stopped on either end
would go from guarding prime d rose to tim duncan and be faster and stronger than both
don’t think people remember how fast he use to be, he’s still one of the fastest end to end in the league at 40 but it was disgusting watching him move around when he was younger
one of the very, very few players that could take your superstar of basically any position out of the game on defense and then dog walk pretty much any lockdown defender for 30
I remember this year they were experimenting with digital models of plays and defensive schemes and how to optimize coverage and switches. Apparently LeBron was faster than the optimized simulations
Man shoulda won DPOY at least once
And he only did it with more help than anyone in the history of the league, amazing
I wonder if him being so locked in defense and covering so much ground on the court made him struggle on offense throughout those first few games of the finals. He was uncharsitically inefficient but he was better during the latter half of the series
Sending a statement to Duncan
Lebron has the best defensive peak among GOAT candidates and it’s not close. On offense MJ, KAJ would have arguments
This is why I think his GOAT case is dumb. Look at what he is capable of vs what he does nightly. He’s a prime example of glimpses of an amazing player that just doesn’t hold up over time. If he defended like that consistently he would have 8 rings. Instead he was a prima Donna who team hopped to get success.
Nepo baby ain’t ever going to live up to that