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LeBron...at Point Guard?


Nitro
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So, I've been seeing this idea tossed around since LeBron joined the Heat, and supposedly Riley sold James on playing a similar role to Magic Johnson, so I think it's worth the discussion.

 

Personally, it's very intriguing to me. For almost any other forward in NBA history, I would disagree with the decision. The issue would normally be defensively. Most forwards just don't have the speed and athletic ability to keep up with quicker PG's, and against quick PG's that can actually shoot the ball, it's very difficult to simply play off them like Kobe did with Rondo and Westbrook. Also without a natural PG, the fastbreak game will also be greatly diminished. Sacrificing speed for height isn't always the greatest decision.

 

However, on this Heat team, I feel it could be the best decision. Five reasons why it could be a great move-

 

1) He has the passing ability, court vision and IQ to do it. Most players who fans think could play that PG role in a forward's body are very good passers, but just not on the level of LeBron, and not as savy. He is very efficient passing the ball, averaging 8.3APG last year to only 3.4 TO's, which is made even more impressive considering he also dropped 30PPG. In other words, he had the ball in his hands ALL THE TIME and managed less than 3.5 TO's. That tells me that while his point production will dip, his assists will either rise and TO's will stay constant, or his assists will stay constant and TO's dip.

 

2) For now, he has the athletic ability and length to defend quicker PG's without having to give them wide open looks. In a few years that may change and it may be wise to switch him back to SF, but for now his versatility is key. What also is key is Wade's versatility at SG, who can be switched onto PG's (and his opponent counterpart stats at PG were fantastic last season, even though it's not a huge sample). Both players will have to adjust their games defensively a bit to make it work really well, but the beauty of it is they have the versatility, willingness and IQ to get it done.

 

3) Playing LeBron at PG minimizes the impact of signing a average to below average Center. When Kareem started to decline and was grabbing less than 5 boards a game, the Lakers were still outrebounding teams by a huge margin with only AC Green grabbing more rebounds than Magic at 9 per game. The reason was because Magic's rebounding ability wasso far ahead of any other PG in the league. LeBron can have this same impact, and is arguably a better rebounder than Magic was. Rebounding is going to be wildly important against the Celtics, Magic and Lakers, and putting LeBron at PG will make having an average Center much easier on them.

 

4) Putting LeBron at PG can give this team an identity. Right now, if he plays SF, there will be a huge question of who gets set plays called for them, who gets iso's, etc... Giving LeBron the reigns at PG allows them to play Wade off-ball (who does so much better than LeBron, and will minimize Wade's TO's), and will help give them a foundation to play team-ball, which won't be easy early on.

 

5) It's a lot easier to find a great 3pt shooter at the SF position than it will be at the PG position, and a great 3pt shooter in that starting lineup will be absolutely necessary for them to beat a team like the Lakers. They'll need floor spacing to allow Wade, James and Bosh to operation near the basket, where each is most effective. If the Mike Miller rumors are true, that's an absolutely perfect signing. An assassin from deep that is a willing passer and a pretty good defender.

 

 

Anyway, thoughts?

Edited by Nitro1118
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I don't know. LeBron is a great help defender, but his on-ball defense is average. I think CP3 and other PG's will light him up, and there are too many crafty point guards for him to defend...going from Paul and Deron, to Rose and Rondo, Nash and Wall, Curry and Rubio (in two years), Harris and Westbrook...

 

If anything different than playing Chalmers there, I'd stick Wade at the point. Play Miller at the two, if they sign him. Bringing the ball up the court doesn't necessarily mean you run the offense, and I think that would work much better in the long run, because those transitions can get really ugly.

 

LeBron will have to help off his man, and if there's a miss, his man is gone. Outlet pass and three on one situation, just like that. Jackson used the "four crash, one back" strategy in Chicago, where he would throw Pippen out of the lane and have him become the primary ball stopper in transition. If you stick LeBron at the point, you can't do that...and you don't want to give that role to Mike Miller.

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I don't know. LeBron is a great help defender, but his on-ball defense is average. I think CP3 and other PG's will light him up, and there are too many crafty point guards for him to defend...going from Paul and Deron, to Rose and Rondo, Nash and Wall, Curry and Rubio (in two years), Harris and Westbrook...

 

If anything different than playing Chalmers there, I'd stick Wade at the point. Play Miller at the two, if they sign him. Bringing the ball up the court doesn't necessarily mean you run the offense, and I think that would work much better in the long run, because those transitions can get really ugly.

 

LeBron will have to help off his man, and if there's a miss, his man is gone. Outlet pass and three on one situation, just like that. Jackson used the "four crash, one back" strategy in Chicago, where he would throw Pippen out of the lane and have him become the primary ball stopper in transition. If you stick LeBron at the point, you can't do that...and you don't want to give that role to Mike Miller.

 

The thing is though, Magic was able to do it without the defensive ability, length or athleticism LeBron has, or the legalization of zone defense. As I said before, LeBron AND Wade are going to have to adjust their defensive games up a bit to make it work on that end of the floor. LeBron will have to take a page out of Kobe's playbook and learn how to play off the quicker PG's, but his length will bother jumpshots even if he has to play off them a bit.

 

To me, the Heat will figure things out defensively regardless. Since Wade came into the league the Heat have been a top 10 defensive team virtually every year, regardless of supporting cast. System and coaching is so impactful on that end, and they have such a talented core that Spoelstra and/or Riley will make it work to the point where they won't have a glaring defensive weakness.

 

The bigger issue is offensively and on the boards, and I don't think there is any doubt that playing LeBron at PG would vastly improve each area. It just makes too much sense from those aspects IMO.

Edited by Nitro1118
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They just have unlimited options offensively right now it isn't even fair, Wade could guard 1's while LBJ plays the 1 and guards the SG, or LBJ could play PG offensively while Chalmers (good defensively I believe?) guards the 1's. I don't think perimeter defense is something the Heat really need to concern with with Wade and LBJ being two of the best in the league, it is their post defense and lane intimidation that is a HUGE concern.

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Love the idea of him playing the point. This is Riley's new version of Showtime.

Rubio (in two years

 

Not even worried about that guy. Patrick Beverly made him look stupid when they played in Europe to the point that Rubio had to be taken out of the game.

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Haha, well, if he's not Jordan, I guess he's Magic. Got compared to Larry Bird earlier in the season, too, as a passing small forward. Might as well compare him to Wilt sometime this upcoming season, and find a power forward so it completes the circle.

 

Hard to see the word "Showtime" associated with a trio that has yet to play a single game, also. If you're hated, might as well go for the jugular and be super-hated.

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Haha, well, if he's not Jordan, I guess he's Magic. Got compared to Larry Bird earlier in the season, too, as a passing small forward. Might as well compare him to Wilt sometime this upcoming season, and find a power forward so it completes the circle.

 

Hard to see the word "Showtime" associated with a trio that has yet to play a single game, also. If you're hated, might as well go for the jugular and be super-hated.

 

I'm not proclaiming them as the next Showtime, but I can't help but think that that is what Riley envisioned when he did this. No one's gonna compare him to Wilt or any PF either.

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