NZB2323 wrote:mynameKIM wrote:NZB2323 wrote:Is defense not a skill?
Its debatable. I'd say defense is 80% athleticism and length. When was the last time u saw a laterally slow and short defender get all NBA defense nods?
A couple of great defensive players who aren’t the biggest or quickest, by NBA standards:
Tony Allen
Joakim Noah
Kirk Hinrich
Jimmy Butler
Alex Caruso
Also, if you’re saying if a player accomplishes something using height and length, then it’s not a skill, that’s athleticism and length, then how can KD be on this list. He’s super tall with a huge wingspan and one of his nicknames is Durantchula. So if he uses his length and speed to make a jump shot that’s a skill, but if Pippen uses his length and speed to get a steal that’s not a skill?
I agree with you that it's not all athleticism, but you have to take position into account. Noah is a C/F, his mobility for that position was better than most C's, he was a guy you could switch out and hold his own, but also for bigger positions, pure athleticism is less important for defense.
I'm not sure you can include Tony Allen and Jimmy Butler though, those guys are really good athletes. Tony Allen was a strong 6'4 guard, very good lateral quickness so he could keep up with PG's as well as SF's, and his wingspan was very good. Jimmy Butler doesn't have arm length, but he's 6'7, good strength, good quickness, overall good athleticism, so certainly not players I'd cite as lacking in athletic ability.
Caruso is also a pretty good athlete, but as a guard, he's a decently big combo guard.
If you go by combine numbers, Hinrich was a good athlete, his lateral quickness was very good, but his advantages were being 6'4, long arms and having PG like lateral quickness, but certainly no special athlete.
....but your point still stands, defense also requires skill. Knowing when to go for a steal against a live dribble for example is about timing, that's a skill.
