LeBron James has seen nearly each protection conceivable all through his profession and has had his fair proportion of postseason battles with gamers. On the “Thoughts the Recreation” 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 group, (Andre) Drummond was on that group, a few different guys was on that group, clearly Moose (Greg Monroe) was on that group, I imagine. I feel Stan (Van Gundy) was teaching, if I’m not mistaken. I feel Stan was teaching that group. 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 advised him ‘Don’t fear concerning the schemes.’ I really feel like the identical factor with Dort, don’t fear concerning the schemes but. Everyone’s switching however you. You get by each display screen. In case you weakside lowman, you haven’t any accountability, you don’t pull in. You’re mainly taking part in a box-and-one. There’s much more guys, clearly, I’d give credit score to defensively however that’s the one man off the highest of my head. It’s not current reminiscence, it’s 10 years in the past nevertheless it’s current sufficient. However Stanley undoubtedly possessed these abilities in our league, for certain.” -via Lakers Nation / Could 20, 2024
