Kawhi vs. LeBron: The different approaches of LA's superstar forwards on defense (2020) 

Best basketball analysis, I wish sports channels would do more stuff like this instead of just a bunch of hot takes

Wait, so we can analyze without words like "Lebum" or "Kawload Management"?

LeBron is often criticized for being 'lazy' on defense but he is actually always observing his matchup and you will never catch him sleeping. Of course you sometimes see him focusing on the passing lane and leaving the backdoor open but he really is a good defender!

"Luka is too quick for him" is not a sentence that I ever thought would be associated with an elite defender.

you already know its a banger before you watch

The fact that it is even a discussion of a 17-year veteran is on the same level as the consensus best defender of the past few seasons speaks volumes on how amazing LeBron is.

Lebrons basketbal iq amazes me , he knows exactly what you’re gonna do before you even do it and reacts to it really well , he isn’t that in your face defender anymore but rather more of an iq defender knowing what will happen next 5:57 is a good example

5:57 this man is built different jesus christ

I gotta say, Kawhi since his injury has played more safely than exploding in defense

Thank you. Lebron is actually solid on defense but the narrative of the last few years has skewed that up for the majority of ppl

It's quite incredible how we're comparing a 29 year-old prime Kawhi vs a 35 year-old aging LeBron and how they're so close to each other in their defensive side. That pretty much destroys the "LeBron has mediocre defense" narrative. Great analysis, awesome video!

The video that we all needed

I understand that their job is more about entertainment and creating daily NBA content to engage people regardless of its quality but, Jesus, mainstream media 'experts' got nothing on you man. Keep up the great basketball content!

With the changes to ads no longer needing 10 minutes but 8, this man is finally gonna get the bag he deserves

Matisse Thybulle please. I have been asking for god knows how long.

5:56 is why lebron would be elite in football as well. Straight up DB play on a basketball court. Wow.

People act like Lebron cant play defense but hes a solid defender. I wish he would've got a DPOY in 2013 or 09.

"Lebron's mental computer also reads situations." Love that analysis.

Since I'm early I just want to say this is my favorite basketball content on youtube. Especially the defensive evalutations such as this that nobody else really does. The second I see an upload I stop whatever I'm doing lol. Can't wait to see what you do once the restart hits.

I'd love a breakdown of Kobe's defense. As much as I love him, he's an overrated defender and you could possibly go into how media awards like defensive teams are mostly biased and based on reputation. Case and point is how Kobe received an All-Defensive first team selection in 2006, despite playing the worst defense of his career. The film study and impact metrics paint him as a huge minus on that end.

That pic from thumbnail where Bron and Kawhi hustling for the ball gonna be iconic in the next 20 years

6:02 this is such a sick read and play by Bron

The fact that Lebron is still considered one of, if not the, best player after 16 seasons is absurd. The guy is unbelievable. He is *still* one of the NBA’s best athletes

Thank you so much for the awesome video! I love how your recent videos all are focusing on defense, which i feel doesn’t get enough love compared to offense or points. Can’t wait for your videos during the playoffs.

Should definitely do a video on russ next and how his game has evolved

Got giddy watching these two clued in on defense, love seeing some focus on the defensive side of the ball. Great video Ben 👍

Yoooo can you do a vid on Rodman’s defense (detroit defense) and how he was able rebound for any team he played on. These breakdowns got me hyped for the regular szn😤, keep it goin bro💪🏾💪🏾

Man I wish one day I will be able to notice all the little things on the court like you do. Great content.

This may be the only channel that makes me appreciate the brilliance of these players and the incredible complexity of their moment to moment decisions. Some plays consist of multiple counters by both teams in the span of a few seconds, and one mistake is almost always costly. You do an amazing job and I love your videos. Thank You.

WE were waiting for this !!!

Best basketball analysis channel on youtube, not even close. No clickbait or hot takes, just facts!

Great analysis. Blows my mind so many causals think LeBron can’t play defense because he conserves energy to rest some in years 14-19 (nearly 2nd most mins ever). He’s the only SF besides Scottie Pippen to make 5 straight first team all defense (08-12) as not even Kawhi Draymond DrJ or underrated defender Bird have done it. LeBron’s TWO 2nd place in DPOY (09 & 13 was robbed of DPOY) also show his elite defense. In 2016 NBA finals he became only person ever to average 2.6 spg and 2.3 bpg over an entire finals! He’s 2nd all time in playoffs defensive win shares behind only GOAT defender Russell. In regular season he’s about to pass Jason Kidd for 12th and should end his career 3-7 somewhere behind only Russell and Duncan for sure depending on how long he plays.

Thank you for this video. In know it's a couple of months old, But I thoroughly enjoyed it and have to say your analysis is as great as the two players you discussed here.

Haven't even watched it yet - but I know this is gonna be gold, as always. What a topic. And I love your style. Thanks for all the great clips. Thanks, for real.

6:00 That is some beautiful defensive play right there. I just loved it!!!

This was awesome, thanks! I'm so excited for the real games to return in 48 hours

As always another fantastic video!

bro you were so on point its crazy... yesterday's games showed the exact strengths and weaknesses you pointed out verbatim

Your videos are epic man

Not sure about kawhi losing acceleration to added weight. Seems more likely it’s his degenerative leg injury

Fantastic breakdown!!! Bravo 👏

Amazing analysis as always

This video was so dope! First ones I’ve seen from you and you’re already one of the best content makers imo

I'm only three minutes in, and I've watched almost all your videos, but this is really REALLY good stuff!

best analytical basketball content on youtube and it isnt close

Easliy my favorite basketball channel. Love your content man

Some of the best basketball content on RU-vid. Kudos

This video never gets old for me!!! Wish it was televisioned

Absolutely love this channel

Thanks Ben, awesome video as always

great vid, amazing breakdown

Fantastic as always!! I think bron has stepped up his D this year and placing him side by side with kawhi is a great way to shed light on both of their prowess.

You are the best channel alive . Not just basketball. Everything else . You are the best .

Nice analysis yet again!

one of the best basketball breakdowns ive ever seen

'Bionic Forwards' is an apt description of these two players. They're from a different planet.

What a great channel, just subscribed to it. Keep the good work.

Videos like these make you really appreciate the skills that these players have, especially lebron in this vid. The fact the he can play this well at his current age is incredible. His reaction time is just godly. I'm not even a lebron fan but i can appreciate what he brings into the game.

I love the analysis on the game

Great breakdown!!

"A real basketball analysis? This is blasphemy!" - SAS, probably

Impressive analysis as always.

Amazing video!!

Fantastic video.

Best basketball analysis anywhere.

Thinking basketball with the new video, better than an off-white sneaker drop.

"...Luka was too quick for him." Luka Haters: I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear that.

It's interesting how there are so many great channels on RU-vid. Who would've thought you and I would have so much in common?

You have the best job in the world. Love this shit, great job

Good video bro 👍

Great video!

Best basketball content on youtube by miles

Been waiting for a kawhi film breakdown

Fantastic once again. Crazy to think that this could have been a video 7 years ago and yet both are still defensive monsters even now. Lebron's IQ continues to amaze on every level of the game.

Thats such a great video as always, do you think about do the same for offense, or also a comparison of Lebron vs Giannis for the mvp race.

Good breakdown.

Underrated channel

Your b-ball analysis is first rate 👍🏼

Thanks for the vid. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed Kawhi's slower first step, he used to be able to guard positions 1-4 at a high level but now Point Guards are too quick for him to match up with hence why a player like Patrick Beverley is valuable for Clipper Defence given his ability to guard 1-2 and some smaller Small Forwards.

Outstanding.

Can you do an analysis on OG Anunoby’s defence? I feel like he an underrated defender and his defence doesn’t get talked about enough

Love your stuff my guy. Question, to be able to watch the extra videos, what tier of the Patreon do I need to be? I love numbers and data, so those are gold to me.

great videos

This is extremely interesting and it’s fun to see this very well done analysis as it really helps for us to understand the game even more then we already do.

I'm super pumped for the playoffs! Without the crowd the insane atmosphere is gone, but you can catch all the communication and little things the players are doing in the court. It'll be different, but really interesting...

Lowkey really appreciate that you don't drag out the videos past 10 minutes just for the revenue!

You should do one of these on Mattise Thybulle’s defense and how he’s so good.

Gr8 vídeo coach.To me the best defensive perimeter player this year was Ben Simons or Matissee Thybulle

It's pretty cracked how such great analysis like this is stuck on RU-vid while talk shows on ESPN and Fox are dropping whole segments on players tweets or what they ate for breakfast. This guy deserves his own segment on a mainstream show IMO.

Can you please also make defense analysis vids for the young guns like Jonathan Isaac and OG Anunoby? Great vid as always!

Good one, can you analyze team defense of Lakers, Clippers and Bucks. I'd also like to see one on Paul george; Giannis vs AD on defense. Thanks for this one.

Best basketball channel in the world.

You gotta change the labels on the Impact Metrics chart Ben. It still says 3-yr Davis RAPM on the bottom left!

Love this channel, think you do great stuff. Have to say it because my comment seems negative when it's just my honest take and I watch all your uploads almost immediately lol But I can't help but feel like this was made only because its not the expected outcome and a "hot take" that your "not sure" if Lebron or Leonard is better defensively and you can find some numbers to back this up. Obviously I'm aware you provided good film to back up what your saying but if we looked over more film than this we would clearly see Leonard is definitely the better defensive player. It's not just a narrative, it really is quite clear he is better on that end. Lebron does alot of great stuff because of his intelligence, but we call alot of what he does "reading and reacting " but we apply the same to other players and we would call it "guessing". Often he pulls it off, but often he doesn't. The issue for me is, his guess work can directly lead to complete defensive breakdown and full on rotations ... Leonard is almost never primarily responsible for breakdown in this way. No serious argument can be made that out on the perimeter Lebron can match Leonard at this stage of his career. At the rim/in the lane its definitely debatable, Lebron is a bigger body and far more likely to turn away weaker drivers. But Leonard has those hands which constantly trouble players. When Gobert is around the rim, players have to think twice about going up... Its similar thing for Leonard in that if the ball is below shoulder level, you have to rethink if Leonard is close by. And in fact with Gobert, at least you can pump fake or pass it out, with Leonard your already deep into your drive to the rim and its too late to rethink your idea. Lebron better post defender, hes bigger and stronger. But honestly, it isn't really as close as its been made out. Nobody is running plays so Lebron can't interfere with them as they do with Leonard and individually, Leonard could conceivably defend anyone in the league for 48 minutes who is Giannis size and smaller. Whereas Lebron limit at this point is 5 or 6 possessions, but any longer than that and they are basically a non shooter or post up player. You know which you'd rather have and it isn't really close.

thank you for being unbiased

ngl i usually like the vid before i even watch cuz i know its gonna be quality analysis

6:02 was so crazy!!! LeBron’s anticipation is on a whole other level!

Please do a video talking about Sabonis, I’d love to hear your thoughts on his game!

Please do an analysis on one of the young guys from miami like tyler herro or bam adebayo or kristaps. I think they are all really interesting players.

5:12 that dunk!!!