Joana wrote:smauss wrote:Individual man defense is not rocket science. It's knowing what your guy likes to do and making it as difficult as possible for him to do it. It takes much effort and hustle and a knowledge of your opponent. In simple terms you try to beat your man to the spot. Reacting to screens, switching, and help rotations is more of a coach/team policy and can change within a game. Are there guys more gifted on the defensive end? Absolutely, but being an adequate or serviceable defender is not out of reach for any NBA player if they desire it IMHO.
We have different opinions, smauss. I think that what you say it's easier to be said than done. If not, the Utah Jazz - well coached team, good teachers in the coaching staff, players go out there with desire and toughness - would probably be the NBA Champions. But they only have a good defender in the starting line-up and I don't see the situation changing on the foreseeable future.
Desire and effort is important, but it also takes athleticism, lateral quickness, instincts, technique and fundamentals (how many NBA players don't execute that mantra coaches repeat ad infinitum at lower levels "a** low, hands up" when closing out?; there are tons of players with terrible bad habits...), savvy and reputation ( for example, LRMAM lacks those last two and that will hurt him). And, for instance, the ability to talk. Many players simply have an hard time talking when they are playing and no one can be a good defender if he's only mumbling out there and nobody understands him.I think players can and should improve on every aspect of the game, no matter how old or established they are. But it's not that easy... Effort can transform atrocious defenders into just bellow average defenders, who can be hided. But without 2 or 3 really good defenders, who can slow down the opponent best players and hide the deficiencies of their own teammates who are bellow average defenders, it's really hard to construct a good defensive team.
I think you answered your own difference of opinion with me by the bolded portion. Lack of importance placed on defense, especially in the early years. Defense, for most players, requires aspects that are anathema with many kids in our culture, self discipline and hard work. I don't mean that to sound like I'm some old coot who has it in for young folks but there is a significant emphasis placed on doing what you like and enjoy; and defense, for most players and kids, isn't it! You are correct in that lateral quickness and instincts are extremely important but lets face it Joana, these aren't pimply faced ninth graders who trip over their own feet, they are some of the greatest athletes in the world. And as I mentioned, there are guys who just excel at defense but I simply don't believe that there are many, if any, NBA players who simply don't have the physical abilities to be at least an average defender. I'm also not saying that an NBA team can contend with all average defenders but if all were at least average it would transform many teams including our bucks. There has been and will continue to be guys who are just very gifted on the offensive end, and teams will have to find ways to try to slow them down as one guy just can't do it alone. There will also be IMHO a much smaller percentage of guys who are gifted on the defensive end and can shut down most guys and if your truly blessed, one guy will have the whole package, but where I see the decline is in the rest of the players and I believe it has much less to do with ability and more to do with priority, fundamentals, self-discipline and desire.
Joana, I know we disagree on this point but I have always respected and enjoyed your posts, and admittedly agree with most of them - keep posting my friend!