According to an NBA coach, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green have an interesting similarity that makes them one of the best defenders for their respective squads.
The Athletic anonymously polled 33 NBA coaches on whom they believe are the best defenders today. Though the coaches noticed that James hasn't been playing his best defense over the two seasons or so, they observed some glaring similarities between him and Green.
“LeBron is up there with smarts like Draymond,” one coach said. “Those two are probably the brightest on that end of the floor.”
In the said poll, LeBron James received just four second-team All-Defense votes while Green received just one first-team vote. Since joining the Lakers last season, James has received an exorbitant amount of criticism for his inactivity on defense. Some analysts believe that this is one of the signs of aging, noting that James is probably just conserving his energy.
Green, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, didn't ample opportunity to showcase his defensive tenacity in the 2019-20 season due to injuries and the Warriors' overall standing.
Be as it may, Green and James' appearance on the polls prove the two players can still create an impact, contrary to what analysts have been saying. Their efforts cannot be necessarily seen by the naked eye. The coaches have probably studied and examined lots of game film before they voted.
As such, Green and James won't necessarily pile up the steals, blocks, or forced turnovers. But their immense knowledge of the game and leadership will influence how their teammates will behave on defense. And this fact makes them one of the best defenders in the league today.
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