Choose 1 Defender to defend Curry, Magic, MJ, Lebron & Bird

mdonnelly1989 · Post #1 » by **mdonnelly1989** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:24 pm

If you were playing games where you were Facing Curry, Magic, MJ, Lebron and Bird and you needed to put 1 defender on all them per game who would it be.

TheGOATRises007 · Post #2 » by **TheGOATRises007** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:42 pm

Pippen, though he'd do the worst vs Jordan probably.

yoyoboy · Post #3 » by **yoyoboy** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:43 pm

Prime Iggy defends LeBron the best I've seen. His quick hands really bother him. For all of them, I'd have to think.

Laimbeer · Post #4 » by **Laimbeer** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:09 am

Cooper has the most versatility. He guarded Bird and has more quickness than anyone else here for Steph.

euroleague · Post #5 » by **euroleague** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:18 am

Rodman - younger Rodman was so fast, it was freakish. Bird isn't getting phased by any defender there though

mdonnelly1989 · Post #6 » by **mdonnelly1989** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:36 am

yoyoboy wrote:Prime Iggy defends LeBron the best I've seen. His quick hands really bother him. For all of them, I'd have to think.

Damn, forgot about Iggy. Good call.

It is interesting he defends him better than either Jimmy Butler or Kawhi did?

mdonnelly1989 · Post #7 » by **mdonnelly1989** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:37 am

Laimbeer wrote:Cooper has the most versatility. He guarded Bird and has more quickness than anyone else here for Steph.

Yeah I think Cooper goes under the radar big time when it comes to defensive player especially the ability to guard 1-3.

clyde21 · Post #8 » by **clyde21** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:36 am

Prime defense Kawhi.

bledredwine · Post #9 » by **bledredwine** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:46 am

Pippen would drive a few of these guys absolutely nuts.

Samurai · Post #10 » by **Samurai** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:47 am

Rodman, Iggy and Bowen are all good choices, but I would go with Bobby Jones. Given that there is no one person who has the strength to guard LeBron and the quickness to chase Curry all over the court, I would take someone with a little more length than these choices. Jones was 6-9 in bare feet so he'd be listed as 6-10 and a half or so today (with shoes). I also considered Russell but it would be purely hypothetical as to whether he could defend on the perimeter whereas I did see Jones do it. I like Jones' length, hops, motor, and willingness to do the less glamorous tasks like taking a charge or diving after loose balls. I do know that I'd prefer it to be someone who can put most of his energy into his defense, so guys like Leonard, Pippen, and Havlicek would concern me a bit more since they also have to shoulder a fair amount of the scoring load.

Morb · Post #11 » by **Morb** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:09 am

Tayshaun Prince.

KobesScarf · Post #12 » by **KobesScarf** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:05 am

Rodman

Jason Kidd if Bird wasn't included

udfa · Post #13 » by **udfa** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:49 am

'88 MJ

Franco · Post #14 » by **Franco** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:26 am

Either Pippen or Kawhi.

Sublime187 · Post #15 » by **Sublime187** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:16 am

Tony Allen.

AussieBuck · Post #16 » by **AussieBuck** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:56 am

Vayuputra · Post #17 » by **Vayuputra** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:51 pm

Scottie or Kawhi. Kawhi is a bit underrated here. He has all the tools required: big hands, huge wingspan, great footwork and lateral mobility, knowledge of spacing, extremely quick reflexes and anticipation defensively and alongwith Pippen (Scottie is a slightly more athletic than Kawhi, but Kawhi is slightly stronger than Scottie) being very athletic who can keep up with the freaks like MJ and Lebron. People tend to ignore the fact that Kawhi has been dominating defensively (not just being a pest like Tony Allen) All Stars without Handchecking. He has Pippen's long wingspan with Jordan's big hands and ruthless attitude while defending the Superstar offensive players.

Rodman is also right up there, but I feel being very good on offense helps tire out the guys whom you are defending, so out of all of those guys listed it would always be Scottie or Kawhi.

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kuclas · Post #18 » by **kuclas** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:19 pm

Gary Payton on Steph Curry. The glove would give Steph big problems. Plus make Steph work on defense.

ronnymac2 · Post #19 » by **ronnymac2** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 4:35 pm

Not sure how this isn't Artest. At their defensive best, Dennis Rodman and Tony Allen simply don't have you the MPGs. Artest is a superior, more reliable man defender than anybody else left. Strongest with insanely quick feet. And gives you star-level MPG.

Peregrine01 · Post #20 » by **Peregrine01** » Sat Apr 21, 2018 6:22 pm

You'd need a guy elite at all levels - including great post defense, great ball pressure, great lateral quickness, length, active hands, strong court awareness and the kind of attentiveness and motor to chase guys around screens. That'd be Scottie for me.

Who would be the most effective defender on all of these guys on a 1-1 basis.