A Team Playing a Great Game on Both Ends

[Johnny Firpo]

There have been many great defensive performances during this playoffs, teams regularly under a hundo,and even 90. But I can't help but notice, when a team goes all out on the offensive end, while they usually win the game, they are almost always average on the other end. My take/question is this, does it take more, actually more distance ran, higher effort to stop modern NBA offenses? Pick&rolls, so many screens, handoffs, etc. You have to run so much as a defender. And when you go all out to such a degree, could it be that you cannot really play that well on the offensive end. Doncic is a good example, he NEVER played defense like that previously, and he had a pretty bad offensive game. Or the Celtics last night. They played suffocating defense, and had a pretty average game offensively. What do you guys think?

[zaz102]

One of the reasons why Embiid is continually an MVP candidate, but when he's not hurt he can be dominant on defense and offense. Even when he is hurt, just being out there he makes a huge impact on both sides of the ball.

[UcanUwill]

I think everyone knows it, playing defense takes effort and stamina recourses almost just as much, we have players who do save on defense and their coaches try to find ways to save them on defense, while opponents try to make them play defense. Mikal did play better defense in PHO, he didnt need to do much offensively. Jrue will play even better defense on team USA.

In play offs you have nothing to save for, the moment is now, most guys will have intensity in the playoffs.

That said, a lot of teams in these playoffs have amazing offensive ratings, it is the pace that slows down, therefor the scoring is low. Games worth a lot more and teams are playing carefully now, and playing carefully most of the time means playing slower.