replace draymond green with lebron James in warriors scheme

falcolombardi · Post #1 » by **falcolombardi** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:39 pm

How does it work?

this became a discussion in another topic about best possible offensive Duos and one of the arguments was if lebron and curry were compatible or not

i think they are as compatible as it gets offensively and their 2 man game would be game breaking but i want to see what others think

i am talking about offense here where i dont see what would stop lebron from playing the draymond role in kerr system but with much better offensive tools

parsnips33 · Post #2 » by **parsnips33** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:45 pm

The things Draymond would have over Bron in this hypothetical are screen setting and chemistry w/ Steph. The chemistry could conceivably develop with LeBron, but it's not a given considering just how in sync Steph and Draymond are. Bron probably is not setting as punishing screens as Draymond, who knows all the right angles, but even if he slipped every screen, that would be pretty hard to stop given his explosiveness.

I also think the Warriors split cut actions would become a lot more dangerous with Lebron as somebody who's actually a threat to score in the post

Post #3 » by **Texas Chuck** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 5:21 pm

Offensively, as much respect as I have for Draymond, the Warriors get a lot more dangerous. Because no team is hard doubling Curry all over the court to let Lebron play 4 on 3. Just never happening so now Curry gets a lot more single coverage which makes him so much more effective.

Defensively, that's a big drop off, but it would go a ways to telling us how much credit Kerr deserves for a team that's been really good defensively with this core. He might not be getting enough.

VanWest82 · Post #4 » by **VanWest82** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 5:27 pm

Let's not kid ourselves - Steph and Lebron would be a fantastic pairing - though I can somewhat understand the argument that Lebron's fit within Warriors offense might not be as clean as one might first expect.

Warriors became the WARRIORS when Kerr changed their scheme to being based around motion principles and incorporate all those split and flex actions. The ball moves and guys move without the ball. This is obviously quite different than what Lebron is used to or what we've seen him thrive in.

Draymond is the main facilitator but he doesn't always start out with the ball. One of their main concepts is to get him the ball in the short roll so he can draw in second line defenders and find open shooters or change sides of the floor. This generally involves off ball work via screening or cutting at the outset. Again, not that Lebron can't do that stuff but it's not where he's most effective.

I'd wonder if they'd try it for a while and then realize they're better off just giving Lebron the ball and scraping a bunch of the other stuff as many of Lebron's teams have done before.

Colbinii · Post #5 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:32 pm

VanWest82 wrote:I'd wonder if they'd try it for a while and then realize they're better off just giving Lebron the ball and scraping a bunch of the other stuff as many of Lebron's teams have done before.

I think the fact LeBron has proven he can buy into a coach's system [See 2011-2014 Miami] that he would love to play for Steve Kerr and with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Lebron's greatest strength--his IQ and feel for the game--would be on full display in a motion offense. Considering the guy knows more about his opposition than his opposition often knows about themselves, he would thrive in a motion offense predicated on IQ and feeling the game.

parsnips33 · Post #6 » by **parsnips33** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:34 pm

If you all join me in prayer, we can see what Lebron looks like on the Warriors as soon as next season :lol:

falcolombardi · Post #7 » by **falcolombardi** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:03 pm

parsnips33 wrote:If you all join me in prayer, we can see what Lebron looks like on the Warriors as soon as next season

if lebron leaves lakers i would imagine cleveland is more likely a destination but i dont think he will

going to los Ángeles seems to have been as much a "family wants to live there" decisión as a "best place to win" choice

VanWest82 · Post #8 » by **VanWest82** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 7:10 pm

Colbinii wrote:
VanWest82 wrote:I'd wonder if they'd try it for a while and then realize they're better off just giving Lebron the ball and scraping a bunch of the other stuff as many of Lebron's teams have done before.

I think the fact LeBron has proven he can buy into a coach's system [See 2011-2014 Miami] that he would love to play for Steve Kerr and with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Lebron's greatest strength--his IQ and feel for the game--would be on full display in a motion offense. Considering the guy knows more about his opposition than his opposition often knows about themselves, he would thrive in a motion offense predicated on IQ and feeling the game.

Bron is an ATG. He'd thrive in everything from 60s track meets to early 00s bully ball.

Presumably no one is arguing he wouldn't be an upgrade, but do you think Lebron would be as effective in that offense as he was running Cavs in his 2nd stint, for example? Cause I don't. I also think it's fair to break up that Miami system into 2011 vs. 2012-14. Bron was off ball more that first year which was arguably his least effective season there.

There's certainly a case to be made it might not be his cleanest fit. Like, does he want to be setting that many screens? I agree they'd be incredible together in the read and react stuff. Putting high IQ guys together always works.

parsnips33 · Post #9 » by **parsnips33** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:21 pm

falcolombardi wrote:
parsnips33 wrote:If you all join me in prayer, we can see what Lebron looks like on the Warriors as soon as next season

if lebron leaves lakers i would imagine cleveland is more likely a destination but i dont think he will

going to los Ángeles seems to have been as much a "family wants to live there" decisión as a "best place to win" choice

I think Draymond can make one hell of a pitch, especially considering how close they are. And I'm sure he'd love to play with Steph.

But I tend to agree, I think he'll stick it out in LA, provided they can retool the team somewhat

mcraft · Post #10 » by **mcraft** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:24 pm

parsnips33 wrote:
falcolombardi wrote:
parsnips33 wrote:If you all join me in prayer, we can see what Lebron looks like on the Warriors as soon as next season

if lebron leaves lakers i would imagine cleveland is more likely a destination but i dont think he will

going to los Ángeles seems to have been as much a "family wants to live there" decisión as a "best place to win" choice

I think Draymond can make one hell of a pitch, especially considering how close they are. And I'm sure he'd love to play with Steph.

But I tend to agree, I think he'll stick it out in LA, provided they can retool the team somewhat

When is LeBron a free agent again? I think it would be fun to watch LeBron playing with Steph and Draymond but I think he would get crucified for joining them.

G35 · Post #11 » by **G35** » Fri Apr 1, 2022 4:54 am

It's a definite talent upgrade.

But the reason Draymond works so well is because they all have defined roles.
- Draymond playmaker, QB's the defense
- Steph GOAT spacer/shooter
- Klay nitro shooter/ designated perimeter defender

Adding Lebron upgrades the talent but the roles get very blurry because his best ability is he does everything so well but is he willing to adapt:
- only take 10-14 FGA's
- be more of a playmaker
- focus more on defense and defend bigs in the paint
- not be the focal point of the offense
- be the energy/emotional leader

ITL; DR - it could work if Lebron takes a step back on offense and a step up on defense......

SinceGatlingWasARookie · Post #12 » by **SinceGatlingWasARookie** » Sat Apr 2, 2022 8:44 am

In theory LeBron can play Draymond's game while also being a scoring threat.

In reality I am afraid the LeBron has to be the star on offense which leads to others standing arround and watching him. I don't LeBron would work in the Warriors system because LeBron would try to play his system.

Draymond finds the open man faster than LeBron does.