The Good: LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ defense
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are two of the best offensive players in the league. Their size, strength, and athleticism make them a matchup nightmare for every other organization in the NBA. But, you already knew that.
Their defense has been even more impressive.
Anthony Davis doesn’t get enough credit for his work on the less exciting side of the ball.
Anthony Davis is the rare big who impacts the game defensively at every level. He can shut down Paul George one-on-one, help guard the rim against a Reggie Jackson drive, and then dissuade Kawhi Leonard from shooting a three-pointer, all during one defensive stand.
It feels like Anthony Davis’ offensive game is so good that people often forget about his defense. AD just dropped 42 points against Rudy Gobert, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and it didn’t even look hard for him. He abused the Stifle Tower on the block and from the perimeter.
Here’s the thing though, if you were to switch Davis and Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz’s defense wouldn’t skip a beat, AD’s ability to guard all five positions would probably make the Jazz even better on the less glamorous side of the ball.
LeBron James is in his 17th year. He’s played over 50,000 minutes. He shouldn’t be able to do what he does. And on and on. You’ve heard it all.
LeBron James is ranked 3 among all players in the NBA in ESPN’s real defensive plus-minus and 16 in NBA.com’s defensive rating (minimum 20 games played and 15 minutes per game). LeBron James’ ability to shut down opposing stars should scare the crap out of every other playoff team.
LeBron James has shown that he’s still the most dominant force in the NBA during a close game and not just because his bull rushes towards the rim are as unstoppable as ever. He can shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, or even James Harden on defense.
We’ve seen time and time again over the last 20 years that the end of close games during the postseason turn into a one-on-one show. Offensive schemes go out the window. Instead, one squad’s best player takes the ball and tries to score. LeBron James erases that strategy. He’s capable of consistently shutting down the opposing squad’s best option by himself.
LeBron James is excellent on offense, but his lockdown ability on defense makes the Los Angeles Lakers title favorites.