[lessthanjake]

I've heard a few people on this board say that LeBron is the best defender on the Cavs, and of course the Cavs are a very good defensive team. What's more, I heard announcers making positive overall comments about his defense during the Celtics/Cavs series. However, I know he used to be a lacking defender who nevertheless had potential to be a great defender. For the people who have watched him far more than I have, is LeBron now an elite defender?

[DuMa]

elite maybe. underrated yes.

[Drewbs]

A good defender, no doubt. The only people who say his defense sucks are the ones who haven't watched the Cavs play (which no one can blame because they are about as exciting as watching **** rot). But a team's defense is much more valuable than a single player's defense. You can't really say Lebron is an elite defender because he is the Cav's best defensive player, its not as if the Celtics run an isolation for Paul Pierce all the time. But Lebron is certainly good enough that it doesn't leave any holes in the Cav's defense for opposing teams to attack. But at the same time, stick him on a bad defensive team, he'll look pretty bad, even the best perimeter defensive players would.

[futuristxen]

Lebron covers up a lot of mistakes in the Cavs defense with his shotblocking and recovery. He's also their go to guy when they need to cool someone off. Doesn't always work, but most times it does because his size and quickness bother 90 percent of the players out there.

Just look at the work he did on Paul Pierce vs. what Pierce did to the Lakers. Pierce was guarded by Lebron almost exclusively that series. Remember this year when they played the Lakers and Kobe couldn't even get shots up one on one in crunch time with Lebron? These are just examples. But he's the heart and soul of what can be at times a very formidable Cavaliers defense.