Why does height matter for guards?

Pinkyring · Post #1 » by **Pinkyring** » Fri May 19, 2017 6:50 pm

I never understood this, if u can score u can score, as for defense, you could be 5'8 or 6'8 if u cant guard u cant guard. I see guys knocked down draft boards because they're 6'3 sg's but why is that an issue?

Drop Shot · Post #2 » by **Drop Shot** » Fri May 19, 2017 6:55 pm

Doesn't it seem intuitive as to why height matters?

phanman · Post #3 » by **phanman** » Fri May 19, 2017 6:58 pm

Because being shorter makes it harder on both ends of the floor in relation to your opponents. Height isn't the end-all be-all but it definitely plays a factor. Being shorter makes you more susceptible to getting bodied defensively and that much harder to get a shot off offensively.

6'3 SG's are a thing of the past when you consider guys like Klay, Demar, Butler and Harden are 6'7. You'd have a miniaturized starting back court.

AustinRiversGod · Post #4 » by **AustinRiversGod** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:03 pm

I haven't really factored in height when evaluating players for awhile now, but standing reach. You don't finish or block shots with the top of your head

ajdontwatchthat · Post #5 » by **ajdontwatchthat** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:04 pm

I can see how it matters in terms of comparing a taller PG to shorter one. A 6'7 Lonzo Ball is about to come into the league and will be able to see over defenses easily and make passes over PG's like Isaiah Thomas, Tony Parker, Rondo etc or able to post people up like how Wall was doing I.T in the semifinals or Porter.

bmurph128 · Post #6 » by **bmurph128** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:08 pm

PG height in the NBA ranges from 5'9" to 6'5" (or even 6'7") - it probably doesn't matter so much offensively anymore. It matters defensively.

When you factor in that PG is always the team's shortest guy on the court, switching them becomes a nightmare.

jbeachboy · Post #7 » by **jbeachboy** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:08 pm

you get taken advantage of on defense when your smaller and you get blocked or get ball stolen more if your short.

Cappy_Smurf · Post #8 » by **Cappy_Smurf** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:09 pm

Length matters more than height, but taller players generally have more length.

And yeah, if you have two guys who are equally talented at defending, the guy with more reach is going to be a more effective defender. This seems pretty obvious though, no?

Offensively, taller guards are able to see the floor better. An inch or 2 might be negligible, but a 6'6" guy is gonna see things better than a 5'10" guy for sure.

giberish · Post #9 » by **giberish** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:09 pm

It can be a big advantage defensively. A little bit for 1 on 1 but more for the ability to switch without being a huge mismatch.

It's generally useful for finishing in the lane as well. Though there are some exceptions both ways there.

RaptorRed · Post #10 » by **RaptorRed** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:13 pm

Pinkyring wrote:I never understood this, if u can score u can score, as for defense, you could be 5'8 or 6'8 if u cant guard u cant guard. I see guys knocked down draft boards because they're 6'3 sg's but why is that an issue?

What ? You might as well ask why does height matter in basketball lol

Have you ever played basketball ?

Height is a huge factor on offense and defense

What does that even mean ' if you can score you can score ' if Kevin Durant was 6'3 he would be nowhere close to the scorer he is today

Jadoogar · Post #11 » by **Jadoogar** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:15 pm

Pinkyring wrote:I never understood this, if u can score u can score, as for defense, you could be 5'8 or 6'8 if u cant guard u cant guard. I see guys knocked down draft boards because they're 6'3 sg's but why is that an issue?

Doesn't matter how hard IT tries, he's never going to be a good defender. Lillard and McCollum are a defensively poor backcourt, mainly due to their height. This is a dumb question.

Post #12 » by **sonictecture** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:18 pm

Neighborhood 5th graders came out to the drive way hoop and I was able to completely dominate them thanks to my superior height.

madmaxmedia · Post #13 » by **madmaxmedia** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:20 pm

It matters less for point guards than for other positions.

BleedGreen1989 · Post #14 » by **BleedGreen1989** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:34 pm

ajdontwatchthat wrote:I can see how it matters in terms of comparing a taller PG to shorter one. A 6'7 Lonzo Ball is about to come into the league and will be able to see over defenses easily and make passes over PG's like Isaiah Thomas, Tony Parker, Rondo etc or able to post people up like how Wall was doing I.T in the semifinals or Porter.

This is big.

Seeing over the defense.

DROB27 · Post #15 » by **DROB27** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:34 pm

phanman wrote:Because being shorter makes it harder on both ends of the floor in relation to your opponents. Height isn't the end-all be-all but it definitely plays a factor. Being shorter makes you more susceptible to getting bodied defensively and that much harder to get a shot off offensively.

6'3 SG's are a thing of the past when you consider guys like Klay, Demar, Butler and Harden are 6'7. You'd have a miniaturized starting back court.

Pretty sure hardens 6'5 I could be wrong tho

Hect0r_Zer0n1 · Post #16 » by **Hect0r_Zer0n1** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:36 pm

Steph would be more unfair if he was 6'6

lilswift01 · Post #17 » by **lilswift01** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:38 pm

Versatility. If you're tall and talented, that means you can play multiple positions which is key in today's NBA. That's why teams like GState are amazing.

Pinkyring · Post #18 » by **Pinkyring** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:49 pm

RaptorRed wrote:
Pinkyring wrote:I never understood this, if u can score u can score, as for defense, you could be 5'8 or 6'8 if u cant guard u cant guard. I see guys knocked down draft boards because they're 6'3 sg's but why is that an issue?

What ? You might as well ask why does height matter in basketball lol

Have you ever played basketball ?

Height is a huge factor on offense and defense

What does that even mean ' if you can score you can score ' if Kevin Durant was 6'3 he would be nowhere close to the scorer he is today

So durant is good scorer because he's tall? Got it draymond is a good defender because he's tall got it. The logic makes zero sense. Thats why their are so many terrible 7 foot stiffs in the nba. Chris paul is small and an excellent defensive pg, deron williams was awful defensively. A 6'2 Bradley guards a lot better than a 6'5 crawford or korver. Height is not a tool for defense

brannigan73 · Post #19 » by **brannigan73** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:53 pm

I dont think it matters that much for point guards to be honest. Most of them are in the 6'0 to 6'3 range and almost none of them can guard each other in a shut down fashion its just too hard. If we are talking about someone like Malik Monk I believe he is going to be a point guard eventually at the next level and its not going to matter.

phanman · Post #20 » by **phanman** » Fri May 19, 2017 7:57 pm

DROB27 wrote:
phanman wrote:Because being shorter makes it harder on both ends of the floor in relation to your opponents. Height isn't the end-all be-all but it definitely plays a factor. Being shorter makes you more susceptible to getting bodied defensively and that much harder to get a shot off offensively.

6'3 SG's are a thing of the past when you consider guys like Klay, Demar, Butler and Harden are 6'7. You'd have a miniaturized starting back court.

Pretty sure hardens 6'5 I could be wrong tho

They are relatively the same size tbh.