Why is defense considered ugly?

[fallacy]

defensive teams are usually "ugly" because most of the time they are terrible offensive teams. The Clippers are 3rd , Spurs 5th, and the Thunder are 6th in defensive rating. All good defensive teams, none considered "ugly" because they are good offensive teams as well

[bullsnewdynasty]

Because Sportscenter only shows dunks and people in general are obsessed with offensive stats. When you break it down, the game is about putting the ball in the basket more than your opponent, and how you get it done doesn't really matter.

[sanctum]

Because "defense" just looks like guys missing shots

[kodo]

It's only ugly if the defense is the only thing winning the game for you.

MJ's Bulls were dominant defensively and offensively, and nobody considered his brand of basketball ugly.
Miami played great defense in their last 2 years, they were also highly entertaining.

[Nuntius]

well sometimes teams just jack up some bad shot attempts and commit unforced turnovers, which doesn't really have to do with the defense of the other team

That happens in a match up between two high octane offensive teams as well. The main difference is that games between two elite defensive teams tend to have a small number of possessions and thus those bad shots are highlighted.

Games between two elite offensive teams (and bad defensive ones) tend to allow a high number of shots so those bad shots are not as highlighted as they are in the other case.

[TwentyOne920]

well sometimes teams just jack up some bad shot attempts and commit unforced turnovers, which doesn't really have to do with the defense of the other team

That happens in a match up between two high octane offensive teams as well. The main difference is that games between two elite defensive teams tend to have a small number of possessions and thus those bad shots are highlighted.

Games between two elite offensive teams (and bad defensive ones) tend to allow a high number of shots so those bad shots are not as highlighted as they are in the other case.

I dunno... pace is important when discussing defensive efficiency, but some teams try and maximize their possession count. The Celtics of old and the Spurs of today are/were elite on defense even if they're near the bottom in offensive rebounding rate.

[JoseRizal]

It starts to get ugly once the game descends to a free throw shooting contest...

[TwentyOne920]

It starts to get ugly once the game descends to a free throw shooting contest...

Which is why I can't stand watching OKC play despite their league leading offense.

[JoseRizal]

It starts to get ugly once the game descends to a free throw shooting contest...

Which is why I can't stand watching OKC play despite their league leading offense.

I saw what you did there...

[Nuntius]

It starts to get ugly once the game descends to a free throw shooting contest...

That isn't always the case with defensive teams.

Let me give you an example.

The Indiana @ Memphis game yesterday was a match-up against two defensive juggernauts (#1 and #2 defenses, respectively).

It was a very physical game but the two teams combined for 18 total free throws. The teams sumo wrestle'd in the paint but not a lot of shooting falls were called.

And then we also have the Houston @ Charlotte game. Both of these teams are horrible defensively.

James Harden, alone, shot 21 free throws. He had more free throws than both teams in the Indiana @ Memphis game. In overall, Houston and Charlotte combined for 65 free throws in the game.

So, there you have it.

Two defensive teams totalled less free throws than the leading scorer of a high octane offense playing against a bad defense

Which game was ugly?

[Nuntius]

I dunno... pace is important when discussing defensive efficiency, but some teams try and maximize their possession count. The Celtics of old and the Spurs of today are/were elite on defense even if they're near the bottom in offensive rebounding rate.

Pace is important when discussing opponent PPG. Defensive efficiency takes pace into consideration and then we also have opponent FG%, opponent 3p%, points in the paint allowed, fast break points allowed etc. to determine an elite defense.

[TwentyOne920]

It starts to get ugly once the game descends to a free throw shooting contest...

That isn't always the case with defensive teams.

Let me give you an example.

The Indiana @ Memphis game yesterday was a match-up against two defensive juggernauts (#1 and #2 defenses, respectively).

It was a very physical game but the two teams combined for 18 total free throws. The teams sumo wrestle'd in the paint but not a lot of shooting falls were called.

And then we also have the Houston @ Charlotte game. Both of these teams are horrible defensively.

James Harden, alone, shot 21 free throws. He had more free throws than both teams in the Indiana @ Memphis game. In overall, Houston and Charlotte combined for 65 free throws in the game.

So, there you have it.

Two defensive teams totalled less free throws than the leading scorer of a high octane offense playing against a bad defense

Which game was ugly?

And you know why? Indiana and Memphis are top 10 teams in opponent FT/FGA, which is another important part of defense.

[Nuntius]

And you know why? Indiana and Memphis are top 10 teams in opponent FT/FGA, which is another important part of defense.

As a Pacers fan I know that

However, Charlotte was higher than Memphis before the game and allowed 41 FTs against Houston. But that's just Harden I guess

[Goldtop]

I used to get so annoyed in the 00's when they'd have matchups like PHX-GS on ESPN. All the announcers would be all giddy talking about how fun it is to watch run and gun teams. I just could never figure out what was fun about watching a team score against another team that put up no resistance at all on defense.

Watching a team score on a great defense is impressive. Watching teams who play no defense score on each other is not impressive at all to me, and not fun to watch. Might as well watch teams practice shooting in an empty gym.

Grind it out defensive chessmatches are the most compelling games to watch, imo.

[rockmanslim]

scoring is perceived as action

scoring = action
defense = the prevention of scoring = the prevention of action

people watch sports to see action

no action = boring

same reason why soccer isn't popular