LeBron at point guard, why not?

 with Lebron as the point is simple, where does his offensive creation start from? Normally he is able to get the ball about 8-10 feet from the basket as an "extended post up." Then all he has to do is turn, face up his man, make one dribble and be the faster and stronger player and finish at the rim. This type of offensive move takes 1 dribble and about 2-3 seconds max. It makes it near impossible to play helpside defense unless the defender leaves his man before Lebron even makes his move (and most effectively the help side defender needs to be moving over to double as the ball is in the air to Lebron before he even catches it). 

If you move Lebron to the point guard position then his offensive creation is starting at half court. That’s an added dribble or two and an added second or two for NBA athletes to come over and double/play helpside D. It is just not as effecient.

Lebron has a passing ability that can shred teams from an 8 foot soft post up just as easily as he can from the top of the key. His size, passing, court vision and the fact that he demands a double team make him a deadly playmaker from the short corner. To start him everyplay outside the 3 pt line would take away a lot of his athletic advantage over 3’s and 4’s in this league because it allows those same 3’s and 4’s to get help from teammates defensivly.

 with Lebron as the point is simple, where does his offensive creation start from? Normally he is able to get the ball about 8-10 feet from the basket as an "extended post up." Then all he has to do is turn, face up his man, make one dribble and be the faster and stronger player and finish at the rim. This type of offensive move takes 1 dribble and about 2-3 seconds max. It makes it near impossible to play helpside defense unless the defender leaves his man before Lebron even makes his move (and most effectively the help side defender needs to be moving over to double as the ball is in the air to Lebron before he even catches it). 

If you move Lebron to the point guard position then his offensive creation is starting at half court. That’s an added dribble or two and an added second or two for NBA athletes to come over and double/play helpside D. It is just not as effecient.

Lebron has a passing ability that can shred teams from an 8 foot soft post up just as easily as he can from the top of the key. His size, passing, court vision and the fact that he demands a double team make him a deadly playmaker from the short corner. To start him everyplay outside the 3 pt line would take away a lot of his athletic advantage over 3’s and 4’s in this league because it allows those same 3’s and 4’s to get help from teammates defensivly.

 He was a "power point" on those Miami title teams.  

I don’t think he is a pure point guard like Magic in terms of passing, dribbling, handling the ball, running the offense, and controlling the tempo. 

He’s more of a guy who can dominate the inside, power game and also drive to the hoop as the main points of attack but can also handle, pass, and run some offense, but in more of a secondary role like Charles Barkley. 

 He was a "power point" on those Miami title teams.  

I don’t think he is a pure point guard like Magic in terms of passing, dribbling, handling the ball, running the offense, and controlling the tempo. 

He’s more of a guy who can dominate the inside, power game and also drive to the hoop as the main points of attack but can also handle, pass, and run some offense, but in more of a secondary role like Charles Barkley. 

 NBA live 2004 had Lebron starting at PG, Ricky Davis at SG and Darius Miles at SF. Fun fact

 NBA live 2004 had Lebron starting at PG, Ricky Davis at SG and Darius Miles at SF. Fun fact

 Lebron brings the ball up the court and generally guards the best opposing wing player on the other team while a quicker player (generally someone who happens to be point guard-sized) guards the opposing ballhandler on defense.  The reason Lebron didn’t play "point guard" last season for the Cavs was because their second or third best player happened to be Kyrie Irving, a point guard, and obviously they’re not going to sit him on the bench simply because they want to give Lebron the "point guard" designation.  Coaches surround Lebron with their best combo of four players.  It just so happened that guys like Mo WIlliams and Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole and Kyrie Irving happened to be among the four best players other than Lebron for their respective teams, and were also small guards who were able to play off the ball very well.  Lebron basically is the point guard, but he doesn’t guard opposing point guards because it just makes more sense to have quicker guys like Kyrie do that while Lebron bodies up against bigger, more versatile small forwards.

 Lebron brings the ball up the court and generally guards the best opposing wing player on the other team while a quicker player (generally someone who happens to be point guard-sized) guards the opposing ballhandler on defense.  The reason Lebron didn’t play "point guard" last season for the Cavs was because their second or third best player happened to be Kyrie Irving, a point guard, and obviously they’re not going to sit him on the bench simply because they want to give Lebron the "point guard" designation.  Coaches surround Lebron with their best combo of four players.  It just so happened that guys like Mo WIlliams and Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole and Kyrie Irving happened to be among the four best players other than Lebron for their respective teams, and were also small guards who were able to play off the ball very well.  Lebron basically is the point guard, but he doesn’t guard opposing point guards because it just makes more sense to have quicker guys like Kyrie do that while Lebron bodies up against bigger, more versatile small forwards.

 I don’t know what games you guys watched but LBJ didn’t make anyone on his team better. Their were several positions where he was the only person on his team that touched the ball. (Run the point) He was second to the Beard for turnovers in the playoffs. If the Beard didn’t have a 14to game LBJ would have surely led that cat. 90% of his assist come from his ability to command attention not from his superior IQ or passing ability. Dude averaged 4 TURNOVERS A GAME. Im just saying.

 I don’t know what games you guys watched but LBJ didn’t make anyone on his team better. Their were several positions where he was the only person on his team that touched the ball. (Run the point) He was second to the Beard for turnovers in the playoffs. If the Beard didn’t have a 14to game LBJ would have surely led that cat. 90% of his assist come from his ability to command attention not from his superior IQ or passing ability. Dude averaged 4 TURNOVERS A GAME. Im just saying.

eh? lebron has played point loads – the Heat’s best lineups featured LeBron at the point, Allen and Wade on the wings, Battier and Bosh in the front court. Why’s he never done it full time? My take would be that by the time he had the poise, decision making and leadership to play the point, he lost the rookie footspeed that let him keep up with every guard in the league.

But good question.

eh? lebron has played point loads – the Heat’s best lineups featured LeBron at the point, Allen and Wade on the wings, Battier and Bosh in the front court. Why’s he never done it full time? My take would be that by the time he had the poise, decision making and leadership to play the point, he lost the rookie footspeed that let him keep up with every guard in the league.

But good question.

Just because he isn’t labeled a point guard, doesn’t mean he’s not a point guard or at least, not capable of doing fulfilling point guard duties. I mean, on offense, he basically is the point guard or at least is sharing the duties with someone but primarily, he’s the most important option in decision making and ball-handling duties. On defense, I suppose he doesn’t guard point guards because they would wear him out with their quickness and shiftiness but he can certainly do it in spot minutes like he did with Derrick Rose in that one conference finals. It wasn’t like Magic Johnson was guarding point guards, he left that duty to Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott. 

I don’t know what you’re getting at though. Are you talking about in general or right now because they have this fella by the name of Kyrie Irving. 

Anyways like Jalen Rose says, "positions were made so a novice could follow the game."

Just because he isn’t labeled a point guard, doesn’t mean he’s not a point guard or at least, not capable of doing fulfilling point guard duties. I mean, on offense, he basically is the point guard or at least is sharing the duties with someone but primarily, he’s the most important option in decision making and ball-handling duties. On defense, I suppose he doesn’t guard point guards because they would wear him out with their quickness and shiftiness but he can certainly do it in spot minutes like he did with Derrick Rose in that one conference finals. It wasn’t like Magic Johnson was guarding point guards, he left that duty to Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper and Byron Scott. 

I don’t know what you’re getting at though. Are you talking about in general or right now because they have this fella by the name of Kyrie Irving. 

Anyways like Jalen Rose says, "positions were made so a novice could follow the game."

 I only read the title because doesn’t he already play point for the team most cases, and any other position that he is able to play that is needed of him ?

 I only read the title because doesn’t he already play point for the team most cases, and any other position that he is able to play that is needed of him ?

He is a forward that can pass well. Let’s dispelled this notion that Lebron makes players better. He makes role players better that can shoot and he hurts players games that are stars and do more. Let’s go down the list Larry Hughes, Chris Bosh, Kevin Love, and Attwan Jamsion games all suffered severely next to Lebron. Why? Because Lebron doesn’t play well off the ball and with the exception of wade and Irving, anyone that wasnt stricly a shooter game declined. Lebron just wants four guys to spread the floor so he can hold the ball for 20 seconds and then decide to pass or shoot.  He doesn’t care if you can post up, drive to the hole or is a play maker, he justs wants you to stand and wait and that’s what you guys call making players better??? Please..

He is a forward that can pass well. Let’s dispelled this notion that Lebron makes players better. He makes role players better that can shoot and he hurts players games that are stars and do more. Let’s go down the list Larry Hughes, Chris Bosh, Kevin Love, and Attwan Jamsion games all suffered severely next to Lebron. Why? Because Lebron doesn’t play well off the ball and with the exception of wade and Irving, anyone that wasnt stricly a shooter game declined. Lebron just wants four guys to spread the floor so he can hold the ball for 20 seconds and then decide to pass or shoot.  He doesn’t care if you can post up, drive to the hole or is a play maker, he justs wants you to stand and wait and that’s what you guys call making players better??? Please..

 People are so enarmoured with Lebron, that they are not looking at his game objectively. He is great no doubt, but he is no Magic, Kidd, or Stockton in terms of making people better.

 People are so enarmoured with Lebron, that they are not looking at his game objectively. He is great no doubt, but he is no Magic, Kidd, or Stockton in terms of making people better.

 Lebron took over primamry ball handling when the starters where on the floor. He let Kryie try to run the team early in the season and when that did not work he took over that and let Kyrie play more off the ball. Kyrie really is the primary ballhanlder only when Lebron is off the floor. The Cavs have others bring the ball up the floor then the ball goes to Lebron to initiate offense.

 Lebron took over primamry ball handling when the starters where on the floor. He let Kryie try to run the team early in the season and when that did not work he took over that and let Kyrie play more off the ball. Kyrie really is the primary ballhanlder only when Lebron is off the floor. The Cavs have others bring the ball up the floor then the ball goes to Lebron to initiate offense.

 Celtics aren’t contenders…

 Celtics aren’t contenders…

 When has LeBron not played the point? He might not be the point "guard" because he can’t and won’t defend the opposing PG for full games, but offensively he has always controlled the offense, for better or worse.  He can’t play without the ball and he’s a control freak so he will always stay on the ball, which makes him the de facto point regardless of the personnel around him or whatever position he’s labeled as. Actually there was a short stint earlier this year where the Cavs actually tried to run a motion offense, which moved LeBron more off the ball but he bitched, moaned and audibled his way out of it and it was subsequently shelved. 

 When has LeBron not played the point? He might not be the point "guard" because he can’t and won’t defend the opposing PG for full games, but offensively he has always controlled the offense, for better or worse.  He can’t play without the ball and he’s a control freak so he will always stay on the ball, which makes him the de facto point regardless of the personnel around him or whatever position he’s labeled as. Actually there was a short stint earlier this year where the Cavs actually tried to run a motion offense, which moved LeBron more off the ball but he bitched, moaned and audibled his way out of it and it was subsequently shelved. 

Offensively, Lebron has always been the primary ball handler. Whatever label you want to put him: PG or Point forward. That’s what he does.

Offensively, Lebron has always been the primary ball handler. Whatever label you want to put him: PG or Point forward. That’s what he does.

 He played PG in the finals.  And although his points and assists were there, overall I thought he played poorly.  Shot 38% from the field, and many poor turnovers.  Way too many times he simply dribbled down the shot clock only to take a contested jumper.  Everyone stands around when he has the ball, and far too many times when Lebron is PG their offense struggles to get good looks.

And it really doesn’t matter who is listed as their "PG".  Lebron is going to playing iso far too many times for their offense to be consistent if he’s PG or not.

 He played PG in the finals.  And although his points and assists were there, overall I thought he played poorly.  Shot 38% from the field, and many poor turnovers.  Way too many times he simply dribbled down the shot clock only to take a contested jumper.  Everyone stands around when he has the ball, and far too many times when Lebron is PG their offense struggles to get good looks.

And it really doesn’t matter who is listed as their "PG".  Lebron is going to playing iso far too many times for their offense to be consistent if he’s PG or not.

 LBJ like a lot of elite players needs the ball in his hands so in effect he is a point forward to all intense and purposes and carries the ball during most of his team’s offence. The likes of Kobe, D-Wade,MJ, T-Mac, Grant Hill all did the same, they were their teams main ball carrier and best player at their peak/current peaks.

This was before the current crop of elite scoring PGs arrived in the last few years when prior to it AI was a one off and must teams looked to combine a creative big with a frontcourt scorer or an elite off the ball player and shooter like Ray Allen.

I’d have been very interested to see how a Kobe/LBJ would have faired with a creative ball in hand PG like Kidd/Nash at their peak and how their game would have adapted.

LBJ is effectively almost playing the same role on offence as a D-Rose, Steph Curry, James Harden does but he does it as an SF in effect.

 LBJ like a lot of elite players needs the ball in his hands so in effect he is a point forward to all intense and purposes and carries the ball during most of his team’s offence. The likes of Kobe, D-Wade,MJ, T-Mac, Grant Hill all did the same, they were their teams main ball carrier and best player at their peak/current peaks.

This was before the current crop of elite scoring PGs arrived in the last few years when prior to it AI was a one off and must teams looked to combine a creative big with a frontcourt scorer or an elite off the ball player and shooter like Ray Allen.

I’d have been very interested to see how a Kobe/LBJ would have faired with a creative ball in hand PG like Kidd/Nash at their peak and how their game would have adapted.

LBJ is effectively almost playing the same role on offence as a D-Rose, Steph Curry, James Harden does but he does it as an SF in effect.

I don’t think MJ handled the ball as much as all the other guys. The triangle system allowed him to have isos from time to time, but the ball was usually moving before that action took place.

I don’t think MJ handled the ball as much as all the other guys. The triangle system allowed him to have isos from time to time, but the ball was usually moving before that action took place.