Why do people act like scoring isn't the most important part of basketball?

[Marchesk]

Not a go to scorer. Played on the most stacked team nearly every year of his career.

Go look at the defensive rating for the Celtics in the 60s. It's incredible. Now look at their offense. Just so so. Who was anchoring the defense in an era without the 3pt line? Who was dominating the boards? Who averaged 4.3 assists from the center position? Who was the leader of the team?

[Cocaine80s]

Which is why Lebron>Kobe

[ILLsmak]

Mind blown moment: scoring is important, but more people can score than play great D (esp while scoring.) Thus, defense and hustle is what "wins championships." You take a good team and add D... that is a champion.

-Smak

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Can't win it all without the other.

But I'll tell you this: I would rather be in the position of those Nash Suns teams than these recent Bulls (excluding this year, since they changed a bit and we don't know how those improvements will unfold).

[bdreason]

How is scoring the basketball any more important than stopping the other team from scoring the basketball?

The truth is, defense can be more consistent, while offense is always going to come and go. That's why championship level teams work on perfecting their defense, because offense cannot be perfected.

[bdreason]

Can't win it all without the other.

But I'll tell you this: I would rather be in the position of those Nash Suns teams than these recent Bulls (excluding this year, since they changed a bit and we don't know how those improvements will unfold).

I completely disagree. The Bulls are 1 offensive weapon away from being a real contender. The Suns were 5 defensive players away from being a real contender.

[miles berg]

Suns were some horrific calls vs SA away from getting past them and coasting to the title.

[UK2K]

I always hear these phrases, such as...

"Defense wins championships."

"So and so is the better all around player."

Etc.

However, at the end of the day, the most important aspect of basketball is putting the ball into the round cylinder; especially in the 4th quarter. Defense, rebounding, passing, and any other facet of the game take a back seat to scoring the basketball; especially in the 4th quarter.

Stop making it so complicated.

How many of the top 10 scoring leaders of all time (total points) are on the top 10 GOAT list?

Jordan
Kobe
Chamberlain
Shaq
Hakeem
Kareem

6 out of the 10.

Try that for any other stat and you don't have as many top 10 GOAT players on the list.

Um, which is why a great defender is so valued. Preventing a 'GOAT' scorer from scoring is as important, if not more important, than scoring yourself.

I valued rebounding a lot too, though not as much as scoring. Being able to control the glass not only gives you more opportunities to score (which is what you say is the ultimate goal) but is mentally defeating as well. Getting outrebounded 55-35 will probably end up in a loss every time.

Assists are iffy. It is impossible to take the ball and dribble up court without passing to anyone and score on every play. It just cant be done on a consistent basis. Assisting itself isnt essential, but the act of assisting is what makes it easier to score. Look at the Spurs. It's not so much a matter of being amazing at offense as it is being effective at offense. Any smart coach would take the latter over the former.

Fact is, scoring is important and is probably the most important part of the game, but its not that much more important than the other three. In fact, since nobody on the planet shoots 100%, the other three are pretty much essential for team success. Yes you can be the greatest offensive player in the world (Durant) but without defense, controlling the glass, and passing, you probably wont win much but MVP's.

As for your 'top 10 list', those other stats are generally position exclusive, whereas, anybody playing any position can score. That doesn't necessarily bolster your argument.

[inclinerator]

y u posting morgan freeman pics

[rlsmooth775]

This is why i say lebron is better than kobe op

[joe]

There is no Most Important Thing. There are matchups. The best scorers will not always be the best scorers depending on the matchup. Best defenses will be weaker against certain types of teams.

You need to be able to score. But you also need to be able to defend. How much of each you need changes every single year, depending on the other teams strengths and weaknesses.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Most coaches would rather have a guy who can drop 25 and play elite defense than a guy who can drop 30 with mediocre defense

[NZStreetBaller]

Scoring is most important but the kryptonite to scoring is good defense and if you have good defense you negate the scorers greatest asset. so therefore defense becomes paper to the scorers rock if that makes sense.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Scoring is most important but the kryptonite to scoring is good defense and if you have good defense you negate the scorers greatest asset. so therefore defense becomes paper to the scorers rock if that makes sense.

Exactly. I don't get how people don't get this.

When you claim that scoring is the most important aspect, you are basically also claiming that defense is equally important since it prevents scoring

[NZStreetBaller]

Scoring and defense are EQUALLY important considering the fact that the objective of the game is to score more points then the other team.

Need scoring to make points
need defense to prevent opposition from making points

Its that simple