This is false. No way is LeBron as good on defense as Jordan. I'm not sure how that could be seriously discussed.
Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (A different kind of Texas quarterback discussion ...)
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This is false. No way is LeBron as good on defense as Jordan. I'm not sure how that could be seriously discussed.
Can we start with the fact that LeBron can pretty much defend any player on the court.
Agreed. Because he's a freak athlete, Bron has some big chase-down splash plays in his oeuvre but Jordan was a superior defender with better defensive instincts. If Ketch is arguing that LeBron is a more versatile defender because he can guard both wings and many bigs, then sure, but MJ was versatile enough.
From a... can't believe I'm linking this... FoxSports.com article on this subject last year:
"Jordan was a more tenacious defender for his position, and he excelled at shutting down opponents one-on-one. He also had Scottie Pippen to take on the toughest defensive challenges.
At his best, LeBron can guard all five positions, and he has a Kevin Garnett-esque ability to direct his teammates to eliminate any possible threat. That advantage as a team defender gives LeBron a slight edge."
"Jordan was a more tenacious defender for his position, and he excelled at shutting down opponents one-on-one. He also had Scottie Pippen to take on the toughest defensive challenges.
At his best, LeBron can guard all five positions, and he has a Kevin Garnett-esque ability to direct his teammates to eliminate any possible threat. That advantage as a team defender gives LeBron a slight edge."
Athlon's top 5:
1. Will Grier, West Virginia
The Big 12’s unquestioned No. 1 quarterback resides in Morgantown this season. Grier – a Heisman candidate and a likely All-America pick – is at the controls of one of the nation’s top offenses. After sitting out 2016 due to transfer rules, Grier threw for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 appearances for West Virginia last fall. Additionally, the North Carolina native’s eight completions of 60 yards or more ranked third nationally among all FBS quarterbacks. Grier missed two full games due to a finger injury suffered against Texas on Nov. 18 but will be back at full strength for 2018.
32. Charlie Brewer, Baylor
Baylor should show significant improvement in coach Matt Rhule’s second year. Brewer is one of the main reasons for optimism in Waco, as the Texas native appears poised to build off a promising 2017 season. As a true freshman, Brewer completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 1,562 yards and 11 touchdowns to just four picks. He also added 166 yards on the ground, including 49 against TCU in the season finale. With a loaded receiving corps in place, Brewer is likely to push for All-Big 12 honors in 2018.
33. Kyle Kempt, Iowa State
Kempt stepped up in a big way last season. He assumed the starting job after Jacob Park left the team in early October and made his first start on the road at Oklahoma. The big moment didn’t rattle Kempt, as he connected on 18 of 24 throws for 343 yards and three touchdowns in an upset over the Sooners. Kempt finished 2017 with 1,787 yards and 15 passing scores and completed 66.3 percent of his passes. He also tossed only three picks on 243 attempts.
34. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Just like Kyler Murray, don’t be surprised if Ehlinger climbs this list by the time fall practice starts. All signs point to Ehlinger holding off Shane Buechele for the starting job, and coach Tom Herman is counting on the sophomore to jumpstart an offense that averaged only 25.4 points a game in Big 12 contests last year. As a true freshman last fall, Ehlinger led the team with 1,915 passing yards and tossed 11 scores. He also paced the team in rushing yards (381) and scored twice on the ground. With a full offseason to work as the starter and develop under Herman’s watch, Ehlinger is poised for a big jump in his second year in Austin.
35. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Murray ranks as the No. 5 Big 12 quarterback on this list, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Texas A&M transfer finish 2018 among the top three signal-callers in the conference. The former five-star recruit started three games with the Aggies in 2015, completing 59.5 percent of his throws for 686 yards and five scores. He also added 335 yards on the ground. Murray played in seven games as Baker Mayfield’s backup last year and connected on 18 of 21 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. The Texas native is a dynamic runner but is far from a finished product as a passer. The upside is there for a monster season under coach Lincoln Riley. How quickly will Murray settle into the starting job?
1. Will Grier, West Virginia
32. Charlie Brewer, Baylor
33. Kyle Kempt, Iowa State
34. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
35. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Yeesh.Athlon's top 5:
1. Will Grier, West Virginia
The Big 12’s unquestioned No. 1 quarterback resides in Morgantown this season. Grier – a Heisman candidate and a likely All-America pick – is at the controls of one of the nation’s top offenses. After sitting out 2016 due to transfer rules, Grier threw for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns in 11 appearances for West Virginia last fall. Additionally, the North Carolina native’s eight completions of 60 yards or more ranked third nationally among all FBS quarterbacks. Grier missed two full games due to a finger injury suffered against Texas on Nov. 18 but will be back at full strength for 2018.
32. Charlie Brewer, Baylor
Baylor should show significant improvement in coach Matt Rhule’s second year. Brewer is one of the main reasons for optimism in Waco, as the Texas native appears poised to build off a promising 2017 season. As a true freshman, Brewer completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 1,562 yards and 11 touchdowns to just four picks. He also added 166 yards on the ground, including 49 against TCU in the season finale. With a loaded receiving corps in place, Brewer is likely to push for All-Big 12 honors in 2018.
33. Kyle Kempt, Iowa State
Kempt stepped up in a big way last season. He assumed the starting job after Jacob Park left the team in early October and made his first start on the road at Oklahoma. The big moment didn’t rattle Kempt, as he connected on 18 of 24 throws for 343 yards and three touchdowns in an upset over the Sooners. Kempt finished 2017 with 1,787 yards and 15 passing scores and completed 66.3 percent of his passes. He also tossed only three picks on 243 attempts.
34. Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Just like Kyler Murray, don’t be surprised if Ehlinger climbs this list by the time fall practice starts. All signs point to Ehlinger holding off Shane Buechele for the starting job, and coach Tom Herman is counting on the sophomore to jumpstart an offense that averaged only 25.4 points a game in Big 12 contests last year. As a true freshman last fall, Ehlinger led the team with 1,915 passing yards and tossed 11 scores. He also paced the team in rushing yards (381) and scored twice on the ground. With a full offseason to work as the starter and develop under Herman’s watch, Ehlinger is poised for a big jump in his second year in Austin.
35. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Murray ranks as the No. 5 Big 12 quarterback on this list, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Texas A&M transfer finish 2018 among the top three signal-callers in the conference. The former five-star recruit started three games with the Aggies in 2015, completing 59.5 percent of his throws for 686 yards and five scores. He also added 335 yards on the ground. Murray played in seven games as Baker Mayfield’s backup last year and connected on 18 of 21 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. The Texas native is a dynamic runner but is far from a finished product as a passer. The upside is there for a monster season under coach Lincoln Riley. How quickly will Murray settle into the starting job?
Guess you don't realize that Soccer will soon be America's third-favored spectator sport, overtaking Baseball. Forbes had a good write up recently
https://www.forbes.com/sites/filipb...-third-favorite-spectator-sport/#1773180b3c53
It’s a new day, America. In what the rest of the world has known for decades, and even centuries, FINALLY the U.S. is starting to see the light that soccer is not a “boring-no scoring-diving-man-buns-a-plenty-sport” and is about to overtake that sport Grandpa Carrabis uses as an excuse for a girlfriend, baseball.
Yes, America is having new days. And, sad ones.
I can’t imagine Lebron driving the lane on the 80’s-90’s Pistons. There would be gallons of tears from him, yet Jordan prospered in that era.
Disagree with this too. LeBron cannot guard elite guards. Hell, KD smoked him last year every time LeBron tried to check him in the finals. KD had the green light all day when LeBron tried to guard him. LeBron is exceptionally athletic which allows him to be versatile, but that doesn't make him better. MJ would shut people down. LeBron doesn't.
MJ was one of the most tenacious defenders to ever lace up. It's the same drive that made him the GOAT.
If we are looking for comparisons, I’d say Watson looks like a slightly smaller, and slightly less explosive, Romance Taylor.
KD might be the best offensive player in the history of the game. I'm not sure that example fits your thesis.
Ramonce had a few good plays, and I will always have a warm spot in my heart for the NC game, but I am not going to idolize him. I'll take Watson every time.
Not idolizing him either. But go watch his film. There is a similarity with Watson’s.
I think LeBron would have adapted to the 80-90s style of play. In fact I believe it would have forced him to grow up and mature as a player much earlier. He would still be the great player that he is. Maybe better. Many of stars of the NBA actions today (whining) wouldn't happen as much if they played back in the 80-90s. I think Steph and Durant would still be good players but maybe not as great as they are today. I could see Durant possibly being great like George Gervin if he could avoid the injuries.
Jordan and Bird would score at will in today's game while I couldn't imagine what Magic Johnson would be like. He would be unbelievable. Unfortunately the great centers of the 80-90s wouldn't be as good because they would be in constant foul trouble and not sure they could have adapted.
You are correct. Great points.
On the flip side, some of the enforcers from back in the day (Oakley, Laimbeer, Anthony Mason, Rodman) probably would struggle in today's game because they would foul out in the first half.
