Dream matchup: KG (10 yrs ago) vs Lebron

[smokeablount]

I think LeBron would have the better of their matchup. LeBron is both quicker and stronger than a prime KG.

Wow KG at his prime is arguably the best defender at any position the league has ever seen, yes counting russell

It is I, Smokeablount, after a long hiatus, as you may be able to guess since my username was created when the great mark blount was our high flying big man. 

That's really a crazy thing to say. Unless you're 60 I don't see how you could make that statement, blocks and steals and defensive win shares didn't exist so you can't compare russell vs his peers to kg vs his peers, all Russell could do was beat his peer and the best player, chamberlain, basically every time. his reputation is the greatest defender ever and he knew enough about defense to coach a team he played on to multiple titles.

KG has not been able to get the best of his peer, tim duncan, once, though he did win a title going through lebron and kobe. he did not however win the finals mvp, which bill russell, who averaged under 13 points per 36 minutes, is named after. i love kg, especially after his return this offseason, but I can't believe he's better than russell. i'd like to hear from someone who watched russell at ten years old or older, any old timers?

[sinbad]

I guess my point is if you could build the perfect defensive stopper against Lebron it would be a 7-0 long quick smart passionate defender who could bother his jump shot, have a shot at making it difficult for him to penetrate. KGs length would also negate some of Lebron's effectiveness in the post. Let's face it, no 6-8 traditional SF has a chance against him one on one. KG in his prime would be Lebron's toughest matchup in my opinion.

[smokeablount]

I guess my point is if you could build the perfect defensive stopper against Lebron it would be a 7-0 long quick smart passionate defender who could bother his jump shot, have a shot at making it difficult for him to penetrate. KGs length would also negate some of Lebron's effectiveness in the post. Let's face it, no 6-8 traditional SF has a chance against him one on one. KG in his prime would be Lebron's toughest matchup in my opinion.

I think I agree with this statement, but I think the loophole is if you can name a player who has elite athleticism, lateral quickness, leaping ability and length, but also was excellent at forcing opponents to shoot jumpers instead of focusing on bothering lebron's jumpshot, i think that might be a better lebron matchup. i just don't know who that is.

i know garnett meets the bill except for inducing jumpers. he pretty much challenges everyone to go right at him and i think your best chance of beating lebron has always been to make him a jump shooter instead of trying to bother it and being directly responsible for getting him to attack the basket or get fouled. next year we'll see if he refuses to take no for an answer like in this year's playoffs. i hope he settles for yes.

[OsirusCeltics]

Since does a wing player always mean >>>> Center/power forward?

KG would destroy Lebron in the paint
Yeah Lebron can guard Dwight Howard for 10 seconds when the camara flashes on him, but try that for an entire game
Member KG has an extremely high shot release against Lebron
KG can guard Lebron, Lebron can't guard KG