LeBron James and Serge Ibaka Get Defensive About Defense, ESPN Manufactures Beef

First, Ibaka had some pointlessly choice words for LeBron. From the Palm Beach Post:

"“LeBron is not a good defender,” Ibaka said about the player who received the most votes for the league’s all-defensive team, which is selected by the coaches. “He can play defense for two to three minutes but not 48 minutes.”"

I wish someone had asked Serge his criteria for what makes a good defender. It certainly isn’t staying at home against Shane Battier as he nails three-pointer after three-pointer as Miami opens up a double-digit lead. It’s funny that the guy who isn’t allowed on the court during 4th quarter of a playoff game is accusing someone else of not being able to play defense for 48 minutes.

LeBron James, who has been on the NBA All-Defensive first team for the last four consecutive years, responded today. Via ESPN:

“I don’t really care what he says, he’s stupid,” James said. “Everyone says something to me every series then (the media) tries to get a quote. It’s stupid.”

Oh, LeBron. While you’re right about the media wanting a quote, the media totally got their quote. You called Ibaka – who said a stupid thing – stupid. They have won again. Or did they. Here’s the Oklahoman’s version of the quote.

“I don’t really care what he says,” James said. “He’s…”

James paused.

“Stupid,” he said.

“Everyone says something to me every series then (the media) keeps trying to get a quote.”

Immediately, James was informed that his “stupid” comment just supplied it. The three-time MVP then attempted to clarify his words.

“It’s not toward him, though,” James said. “It’s not. I don’t really care what he says. It’s stupid.”

Wow. It’s almost like the Plain-Dealer’s ESPN’s Brian Windhorst edited LeBron’s response to make it more quotable. Good for him. Now let’s discuss what makes a good defender and what made this “beef” happen.

While pointing out Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defense teams is a great way to determine the best defenders in the league, those teams often don’t mean shit. Just look at this year’s winners. Tyson Chandler wins DPOY and doesn’t make the 1st team all-defense. Kobe Bryant made the second team. All we really have to go on are steals and blocks. As long as I’ve been following basketball, the DPOY trophy has gone to the guy who blocks the most shots and grabs a bunch of rebounds. Off the top of my head – Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace and Dennis Rodman.

They’ve been giving out the DPOY award for 30 years now and of the 16 men to win the award, only Ron Artest, Gary Payton, Michael Jordan, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson and Sidney Moncrief have won the award as non-post defenders. You take out the guys in the 80’s (Moncrief, Robertson, Cooper, Jordan) and you have to be freaking exceptional to overcome the bias towards the guys who protect the rim.

That’s probably why Ibaka really doesn’t look at LeBron as a great defender. I wonder if Ibaka looks at Thabo Sefolosha as an elite defender?

[US PRESSWIRE]