Charles Barkley: the difference between Lebron and MJ

[Roy Hobbs]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

[indeedproceed]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

I agree...no need for the back handed insult but its true...well a 28-29 year old jordan wouldn't have let Pierce or anyone score 41 on him...a 23 year old jordan might've

[BudweiserCeltic]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

I'm not sure Michael would've been able to stop Pierce the way he was playing that day though.  He was ridiculous because Pierce was well guarded, he made some [dang] good shots... breaking double teams, etc.  Pierce didn't hit 41 on LeBron, he hit 41 on the entire Cavs team, he was impossible to stop.

[PlayRyanGomes]

I think Lebron's defense is underrated.  There's not many guys who could have guarded Pierce that well over a 7 game series.  Even with that 41 point game he held Pierce to 40% shooting.

[Who]

I thought LeBron's defense below the three point line was exceptional. He got in trouble above the three point line, didn't understand the angles, where his help was, where to force the ball, didn't know how close to get on the ball, when to reach or just let the play develop. Those types of things.

His game seven defense was his worst of the series. It was well below his normal level in the first quarter. He picked it up as the game went on but it was quite inconsistent.

Bron's a developing defender. More to come. Very good, will be brilliant.

[screwedupmaniac]

MJ vs. pierce? how bout MJ vs. anyone, chuck? 

besides, P squared woulda been pippen's assignment...jordan would maybe switch and help double, but would have to stay honest with his D on ray ray.

[liam]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

But Chuck said 45. He didn't even know it was 41. Chuck doesn't pay attention, or his bills....

[BleedinGreen417]

I thought LeBron's defense below the three point line was exceptional. He got in trouble above the three point line, didn't understand the angles, where his help was, where to force the ball, didn't know how close to get on the ball, when to reach or just let the play develop. Those types of things.

His game seven defense was his worst of the series. It was well below his normal level in the first quarter. He picked it up as the game went on but it was quite inconsistent.

Bron's a developing defender. More to come. Very good, will be brilliant.

Who, I appreciate the insight in your analysis of LeBron's defense.

[Frontierboy]

Barkley talking about defense is messed up..... if I remember correctly he wasn't a premier defender back in his playing days so what would he know

[crownsy]

you remember incorrectly, although he wasn't a great on the ball defender, but he was a phenomenal weak side shot blocker, ala camby.

[KungPoweChicken]

Charles goes out of his way to take a cheap shot at Paul once a week.

[Bahku]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

But Chuck said 45. He didn't even know it was 41. Chuck doesn't pay attention, or his bills....

This is great, liam! Pretty much sums up what Chuck is all about! TP

[liam]

Barkley is breaking down the Spurs vs. Lakers, and was making the point on how important it is for Kobe to contain Ginobli.  He thinks Kobe can do it.

In making that comparison, though, he made the following comment (and I paraphrase): "You know the different between Lebron and Michael Jordan?  Michael wouldn't have let Paul Pierce score 41 on him".

Haha.  Even when he's breaking down the Spurs / Lakers, Charles is taking a shot at Pierce and the Celtics.  He's probably right, though; Michael was about as close to a lock down defender as you'll find from a shooting guard.

But Chuck said 45. He didn't even know it was 41. Chuck doesn't pay attention, or his bills....

This is great, liam! Pretty much sums up what Chuck is all about! TP

Thanks.

[Celtics17]

Barkley may be right about MJ not letting Paul score 41 in a deciding victory but I wonder if MJ could have held Lebron to as low a field goal percentage as Paul did in this series?

[Roy Hobbs]

Barkley may be right about MJ not letting Paul score 41 in a deciding victory but I wonder if MJ could have held Lebron to as low a field goal percentage as Paul did in this series?

Well, if Pierce and the Celts could do it, I see no reason MJ and the Bulls couldn't.  I'm not taking a shot at Pierce in any way, but Michael was a much better defender than him, as was Pippen, and those Bulls teams played phenomenal team defense, especially once they signed Rodman.