Analyzing Lebron's defensive activity via DFGAs

[VanWest82]

What counts as "actual stuff" should be determined by what stuff affects how good your team's defense is which is why if the things you're citing don't correlate with the defnese getting better, I don't see the point in trying to argue against a wealth of holistic evidence on the basis of random things you --think-- are especially valuable.

The idea that defensive activity and effort level should be something we debate as valuable or not is confounding. Think of it this way - which would you prefer, Lebron with more defensive effort or less? I'm not saying he isn't smart. The idea that activity isn't valuable is disproved by Lebron himself when he starts trying harder in certain games and is way more disruptive.

Edit: note the differences between RS and PS in various years. Lebron upped his defensive effort in 2016 and 2020 playoffs, and as a result his DFGA went up. Compare this to 2015, 2017, and 2018 when he went supernova on offense in the playoffs (out of necessity), and his DFGA actually went down those years in the postseason. Coincidence? I don't think so.

[feyki]

2014 Finals was ATG bad on the defensive end. Look at these numbers:

2014 Finals - 4/7 DFG per Game

2015/2018 Finals - 5/11,5 DFG per Game
.

Putting 2014 Lebron over of likes Bird with a worse all around game than Carmelo, is completely wrong. Taking 2006 Kobe as -2 on the D but not 2014 Lebron.

[penbeast0]

What this data shows is that LeBron's teams don't put him on the high usage man as a rule. Presumably because they need him to keep his legs as long as possible. It would seem more likely that it's a coaching type decision than some measure of LeBron's personally conserving energy given the eye test we've had of him over the years.

I am interested in this data for MJ v. Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen in the second 3-year stretch to see if this idea holds up for Jordan as well.

[uberhikari]

No content response removed,
penbeast0

[feyki]

What this data shows is that LeBron's teams don't put him on the high usage man as a rule. Presumably because they need him to keep his legs as long as possible. It would seem more likely that it's a coaching type decision than some measure of LeBron's personally conserving energy given the eye test we've had of him over the years.

I am interested in this data for MJ v. Ron Harper and Scottie Pippen in the second 3-year stretch to see if this idea holds up for Jordan as well.

Lebron was the best on the stopped FG in the 2018 Finals. Was second best in the 2016 and 2015 to Tristian Thompson. Only 2017 is not seems good for James.

As a running offence perimeter player, Harden was half stopped shots a game from being the best shot defender against the GSW in the 2018 Playoffs and was the best shot defender against the GSW in the 2019 Playoffs.