LeBron James has seen nearly each protection possible all through his profession and has had his fair proportion of postseason battles with gamers. On the “Thoughts the Sport” podcast with JJ Redick, James named Stanley Johnson as one of many extra underrated defenders he confronted throughout their playoff collection in 2018: “I feel it was my first yr again in Cleveland on a return and it was our first-round opponent, I feel we performed Detroit, if I’m not mistaken. I feel KCP was on that crew, (Andre) Drummond was on that crew, a few different guys was on that crew, clearly Moose (Greg Monroe) was on that crew, I consider. I feel Stan (Van Gundy) was teaching, if I’m not mistaken. I feel Stan was teaching that crew. However again to your query, Stanley Johnson he earned my respect in that first-round collection. Stanley Johnson, he had the lateral motion, he had the physicality. You’ll be able to inform the teaching workers instructed him ‘Don’t fear in regards to the schemes.’ I really feel like the identical factor with Dort, don’t fear in regards to the schemes but. Everyone’s switching however you. You get by way of each display screen. In case you weakside lowman, you don’t have any duty, you don’t pull in. You’re principally enjoying a box-and-one. There’s much more guys, clearly, I might give credit score to defensively however that’s the one man off the highest of my head. It’s not latest reminiscence, it’s 10 years in the past however it’s latest sufficient. However Stanley positively possessed these expertise in our league, for certain.” -via Lakers Nation / Might 21, 2024
