Rank as defenders : MJ - LeBron - Giannis

[1993Playoffs]

How would you rank them as defensive players

[falcolombardi]

Giannis>>lebron>>jordan

[capfan33]

Giannis
Lebron
Jordan
Pretty clearly IMO even though with the playoffs you could probably make a reasonable argument for Lebron over Giannis.

[OhayoKD]

Giannis
Lebron
Jordan
Pretty clearly IMO even though with the playoffs you could probably make a reasonable argument for Lebron over Giannis.

Eh? I guess Timo has been able to argue Lebron's impact approached "dpoy" level in the 2016 playoffs in specific matchups against small-ball opponents, but that was a specific opponent, and we're really just talking about a couple series here(2015, 2016 vs warriors, raptors and hawks?). But Giannis has his own examples of postseason defensive elevation(2019 vs the raptors) and importantly, it's far more consistent with far better results being mantained vs variety of opponents as opposed to a specific one.

I don't think giannis vs lebron should really be seen as arguable defensively in the playoffs

[capfan33]

Giannis
Lebron
Jordan
Pretty clearly IMO even though with the playoffs you could probably make a reasonable argument for Lebron over Giannis.

Eh? I guess Timo has been able to argue Lebron's impact approached "dpoy" level in the 2016 playoffs in specific matchups against small-ball opponents, but that was a specific opponent, and we're really just talking about a couple series here(2015, 2016 vs warriors, raptors and hawks?). But Giannis has his own examples of postseason defensive elevation(2019 vs the raptors) and importantly, it's far more consistent with far better results being mantained vs variety of opponents as opposed to a specific one.

I don't think giannis vs lebron should really be seen as arguable defensively in the playoffs

You're probably right I just wanted to acknowledge the great posts I've seen recently regarding Lebron's playoff defense, but I would comfortably take Giannis.

[rk2023]

Giannis
Lebron
Jordan
Pretty clearly IMO even though with the playoffs you could probably make a reasonable argument for Lebron over Giannis.

Eh? I guess Timo has been able to argue Lebron's impact approached "dpoy" level in the 2016 playoffs in specific matchups against small-ball opponents, but that was a specific opponent, and we're really just talking about a couple series here(2015, 2016 vs warriors, raptors and hawks?). But Giannis has his own examples of postseason defensive elevation(2019 vs the raptors) and importantly, it's far more consistent with far better results being mantained vs variety of opponents as opposed to a specific one.

I don't think giannis vs lebron should really be seen as arguable defensively in the playoffs

You're probably right I just wanted to acknowledge the great posts I've seen recently regarding Lebron's playoff defense, but I would comfortably take Giannis.

I find the argument that James may have the highest ceiling of non-bigs in the department of defense more reasonable / compelling than a Giannis comparison.

[70sFan]

Giannis
James
Jordan

[K9J]

James > Giannis > Jordan
for 1v1, If we take what lebron has done in defense and he could have done only by focusing his efforts on it, I think he has the greatest potential, we have seen him stop the best rose in the playoffs and he was the only one capable of stopping Gasol in the Olympic final.

If we look who can have the greatest defensive impact for 48 minutes, Giannis, with his size and wingspan, probably have the greatest impact on his team's defensive scheme. Giannis > James > Jordan

[McBubbles]

Here's an interesting question for you guys; Which d'you think is larger? The defensive gap between Giannis and Lebron or the defensive gap between Lebron and MJ?

[Gregoire]

Peak:
Giannis

gap

MJ tie Lebron (maybe slight edge to Jordan if we take entire season and slight edge to LeBron in one game)

Career:
MJ
Lebron (inconsistent, but more seasons)
Giannis (so far, likely would be first)

[ceoofkobefans]

Giannis

LeBron

MJ

[ShaqAttac]

Peak:
Giannis

gap

MJ tie Lebron (maybe slight edge to Jordan if we take entire season and slight edge to LeBron in one game)

Career:
MJ
Lebron (inconsistent, but more seasons)
Giannis (so far, likely would be first)

lol

[Dutchball97]

Peakwise Giannis and LeBron are close with MJ clearly behind. For career Giannis is much more consistent than LeBron though. Relative to postion/size there is an argument for MJ as probably the only SG I'd take over him defensively is Tony Allen (although MJ had similar effort issues later on as LeBron).

[No-more-rings]

Giannis is clearly first on defense. Lebron has been great, but not a true anchor the way Giannis is. Jordan is last by a good amount.

[1993Playoffs]

Giannis is clearly first on defense. Lebron has been great, but not a true anchor the way Giannis is. Jordan is last by a good amount.

Pushing back on this. How wasn’t Lebron the true defensive anchor of those Cavs and heat teams? Hell even his 09 -10 teams?

Edit- I wouldn’t say he was a rim protector but he was still his teams most important defender in his prime

[AEnigma]

Here's an interesting question for you guys; Which d'you think is larger? The defensive gap between Giannis and Lebron or the defensive gap between Lebron and MJ?

Tough one. I want to say even split, but if forced, probably lean toward the Giannis gap being larger, just because of how much teams still rely on rim protection.

If bigs > forwards > wings > guards, then the gap between each probably decreases as you go in proportion to one’s ability to limit the game’s most valuable shots.

[No-more-rings]

Giannis is clearly first on defense. Lebron has been great, but not a true anchor the way Giannis is. Jordan is last by a good amount.

Pushing back on this. How wasn’t Lebron the true defensive anchor of those Cavs and heat teams? Hell even his 09 -10 teams?

Edit- I wouldn’t say he was a rim protector but he was still his teams most important defender in his prime

I think he was more the best defender on a good/great defense as opposed to anchoring it the way we see from actual big men. I do think there’s a difference. Your second statement seems to acknowledge this.

Not to say he definitely wasn’t capable of it, but with Lebron’s heavy offensive load he didn’t put the same amount of effort an anchor typically would.

[magicman1978]

This is clearly Giannis > LeBron > Jordan. However, since basketball is played 5v5, I think the better way to look at this is positionally. In that situation, I think an argument could be made for LeBron being more valuable at his peak.

[Antinomy]

Giannis > Lebron > Jordan

Jordan is further behind the other two.

[Djoker]

Giannis is easily a tier if not two ahead of both Jordan and Lebron. For Jordan/Lebron I'd say wash.