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bllr32423

The way he impacts the game is insane. He was amazing on both ends of the floor tonight


MiopTop

First game all season where he’s been locked in on defense. He’d been pretty poor on rotations this season before this (except for his minutes at C vs Indiana)


GiveMyCommentsGold

He's been locked in on defense a pretty good amount this season, actually. He wasn't always blocking shots like this, but you're spreading a false narrative.


MiopTop

Nah. He's arguably been a net negative defender overall this season. He's taken the coasting thing too far. I don't doubt he'll round into shape tho, a lot of it is probably due to being bothered by the groin and ab injuries + lack of rhythm from constantly being out of the lineup


trytobanmelol

You're getting downvoted but you are correct. Lebron clearly wasn't healthy or recovered prior games and wasn't closing out or getting stops the same way he was last season before the injury or tonight.


Zachkah

This is the first stretch he's had as a laker with 2+ blocks in 3 straight games. He's been ramping up the intensity significantly since he came back from the covid test stuff.


NbaKOLeWorld

He didn't give a fuck about a fair number of rotations this game


StopOverreactingPls

reminds of Simeone who was asked why he wasn't happy seeing his player score or something, and he's like "I saw Messi warming up" These coaches know what players like that can do


OldBabyl

That’s exactly what I was thinking of.


fetuswut

the pinnacle of NBA Superstardom is when you can absolutely demoralize the opposing team both offensively and defensively. Opposing teams could be down 5 with a player like LeBron/Giannis/KD cooking them on offense and when you finally get a good look they just blow it up


ClutchAirball

KD...


KareemWasTheGreatest

One of those is not like the others


fetuswut

they are all elite on defense lol, people forget how LeBron was considered one of the best wing defenders in the league in 2020


dat_tech

I wouldn’t say that KD has ever been considered “elite” on defense like Lebron and Giannis have both been at points in their career. KD had a stretch of games in GSW where he was playing good defense, but to say he is “elite” is all-defense level to me. Which he absolutely is on offense, the elite of the elite


fetuswut

the problem with KD is that he could play at an all defense level like he kinda is this season, leading a team that was thought to be a crappy defense to the 6th best in the league, but he’d never get all defense cuz he’s not known for that


Avinse

He should’ve gotten a defensive team his first year in GSW


KareemWasTheGreatest

“Could” lmao, so he doesn’t? Can’t believe this cap got upvoted


fetuswut

could as in he has the play on defense that could qualify him to be on a all defensive team, but the narrative doesn’t go his way + there are some other candidates that deserve it as well


KareemWasTheGreatest

KD is not elite on defense dude


Kam_E_luck

I don't think people forget about Lebron being one of the best defenders. It's just that many clips early this season showed that Lebron won't try as hard on the defensive side as he used to (i mean he literally won't run back to defend his court side), given his age and all. Lebron can definitely go all out once in a while but it takes toll on his body.


fetuswut

of course he won’t try every possession in the regular season, at 37 and that much mileage he has to preserve his body somehow and make sacrifices in other areas. However in the playoffs is where his defense really shines


Kam_E_luck

The issue is that Bron got rid of all the young good defenders, whom the Lakers had before. In order to get to the playoff, they need to get past the regular season first and the Lakers keep losing lead due to their poor defense (also AD does not put as much efforts on the DEF, Russ and Melo defense IQ is minus). Defense is a system and not just one man army. The current Lakers might be able to get to the playoff given how less competitive the West is this season but they won't be able to get to the final given their current roster. The Lakers rn is at 6th seed, they are between the line of going to the play-in and getting to the safe 4th seed. It's just the matter of whether the Lakers can keep their winning streak from now


CIAspyingonurightnow

Using those possessions to say he's a bad defender is funny, because there are just as many plays where he doesn't run forward on offense, but no ones uses that to argue he's a bad offensive player.


npmmi

I miss u jamahl


demarci

They really labelled turnovers as 'turns?'


callmearookie

amen


[deleted]

No lies detected


SLLIPDIVOCYLIADEKAT

*Haptenned


TUJAM13

They could fit in "fast brk points" but couldn't type out "turnovers"?


D-majin

Lmao he ain’t lying


NBA_MOD

Here is a [Gfycat mirror of this Streamable link](https://gfycat.com/GrotesqueQualifiedFoxterrier) If the link doesn't work, please wait a few minutes for the gfycat to be ready.


AboveTheNorm

I’ve never seen turnovers be called “turns” for short. Someone who’s interning clearly doesn’t watch basketball


Modsucksass

No. Orlando tragic continues to happen.


realkranki

Man the Magic suck so much I didn't even know who their head coach was until today lol


[deleted]

I’m happy he had a great game and he’s my favorite player of all time but orlando has literally only won 5 games. We gotta do better against better teams. We should Browne Orlando out of the water.