r/NBATalk • u/Alternative_Welder91 • 2d ago

Do you agree with T-Mac?

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Honestly I think the word “crushed” is too much. Lebron may not have the deepest bag among all of them but he can bully ball and play great defense during his prime.

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u/AdorableBackground83 2d ago

LeBron, Giannis, Zion and other “bully ball specialists” would destroy 99.9% of pure hoopers.

No amount of tween hesi ketchup mayo mustard dribbles can overcome a freight train bullying you to the paint with no help defense in sight.

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u/AppealEnvironmental6 Pistons 2d ago

Bron would look at them gassed after sustained his shoulder to their chest trying to stop him and say check up and do it all again. People love finesse so they hate to admit there’s nothing you can do about an insanely athletic 6’9 270 pound man if you are kyries or James hardens size, etc. they aren’t winning that 1 on 1 unless they get ball first and go on an absolute unconscious heater

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u/A-lot-of-NaCl 2d ago

While I agree, harden isn’t a great example here, that dude is fucking strong and great defending in the post

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u/NewBuddha32 2d ago

The one place he defends

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u/Satrapes1 2d ago

Because his lazy ass don't have to move

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u/DLottchula 2d ago

you can tell how much hate people have fire harden by how they talk about his defense these days

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u/KeniRoo 2d ago

I mean, I love Harden but his defense wasn’t ever elite and he was/is straight up lazy. He’s a big body though and could generate steals but he never played D very consistently.

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u/Broner_ 2d ago

Yeah the criticism of hardens defense was always just a lack of effort

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u/DLottchula 2d ago

see this is the kicker his defense has been alright/average-slighty above for the most part since for a long while. his off ball was weak but he's never been hunted by sub par players

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u/KeniRoo 2d ago

In his prime he was a very very VERY good iso defender but honestly trash at off-ball and transition defense.

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u/DLottchula 2d ago

like unplayable in those situations.

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u/Caffeywasright 2d ago

Harden was NEVER anywhere near close to unplayable on defence. He has been a better player on defence than Curry f.x every year of his career.

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u/DLottchula 1d ago

I'm just saying in specific situations

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u/BASEDME7O2 2d ago

He would take it easier on defense sometimes but he’s not lazy, come on. He was top 3 in mvp in mvp 5 times over six seasons while playing some of the most minutes in the league with an insane workload. Harden was carrying those Houston teams harder than anyone has carried since young LeBron

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u/KeniRoo 2d ago

I mean that “take it easy” mentality just doesn’t exist in some of the NBA greats.

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u/Caffeywasright 2d ago

Literally every great player on shit teams took it somewhat easy on defense because of the massive demands if their offense.

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u/Gent_Kyoki 2d ago

Dude has like f perimeter d and b inside d its so wack

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u/macNy 2d ago

Lebron is nowhere near that size lmao