What is more difficult to teach, great defense or great offense?

[BigNBAfan]

Both have their arguments

[SamuraiSWISH]

Great defense is effort based. It's intelligence, it's determination, and it's heart. Can't be afraid to be embarrassed. Just have to primarily be a hard worker.

See why a guy like Hinrich is so good. Or Beverely.

Offense however is ability based. Natural talent. Aptitude, and skill. You can't just go out and try hard.

[CuhGetsBucks]

Great defense is effort based. It's intelligence, it's determination, and it's heart. Can't be afraid to be embarrassed. Just have to primarily be a hard worker.

See why a guy like Hinrich is so good. Or Beverely.

Offense however is ability based. Natural talent. Aptitude, and skill. You can't just go out and try hard.

Right on the money.
I do think that some skill is required defensively though, thinking skills at that. You need to be able to get to spots quicker. A good coach would have less trouble teaching defense than offense to a player brand new to the game.

It seems like this generation complicates the game slightly with lack of understanding movement without the ball and other offensive concepts. With the rise of the Warriors you'll see streetball games become a ball watching three point shootout, which is crazy from the 90s style.

[HenryGarfunkle]

Great defense is effort based. It's intelligence, it's determination, and it's heart. Can't be afraid to be embarrassed. Just have to primarily be a hard worker.

See why a guy like Hinrich is so good. Or Beverely.

Offense however is ability based. Natural talent. Aptitude, and skill. You can't just go out and try hard.

Defense takes natural intuitive ability too though. LeBron was born with a gift to time a block perfectly and play passing angles. The ability to judge where a player is going and act accordingly takes natural talent. There are guys who bust ass at my local gym but don't have a lick of natural talent so they get burned anyway. It's not just effort. And intelligence is "talent" IMO.

[CuhGetsBucks]

Defense takes natural intuitive ability too though. LeBron was born with a gift to time a block perfectly and play passing angles. The ability to judge where a player is going and act accordingly takes natural talent. There are guys who bust ass at my local gym but don't have a lick of natural talent so they get burned anyway. It's not just effort. And intelligence is "talent" IMO.

Agree with this too

[SamuraiSWISH]

Oh intuitive ability helps regardless. I said intelligence.

That's basketball intelligence. Knowing how to read and anticipate before it happens based on experience. Certainly helps elevate a defenders quality.

That's to be a great defender, though. You can be GOOD or effective at defense purely on effort, and hard work. I see it all the time, even at the pickup level.

James Harden has all kinds of talent, but no effort. Thus why he's absolutely atrocious defensively.

You can't just go out, try real hard and be good offensively. In fact doing that will almost ensure you're the exact opposite. Great offense is borderline effortless, depending on the talent involved, and the amount of finely honed (practiced) skill.

[ClipperRevival]

Trick question?

[DaHeezy]

You teach offense, you motivate defense.

Teaching offense is a little harder since some may not have the ability or co-ordination and mechanics.
Teaching defense is much easier through positioning. But if motivated you can fit anyone in a great defensive scheme. Not every player fits in every offense.

[1manfastbreak]

Defense takes natural intuitive ability too though. LeBron was born with a gift to time a block perfectly and play passing angles. The ability to judge where a player is going and act accordingly takes natural talent. There are guys who bust ass at my local gym but don't have a lick of natural talent so they get burned anyway. It's not just effort. And intelligence is "talent" IMO.

he was also born with the gift of being 6'8" tall and the ability to jump out of the jump. That always helps.

[Jasper]

You teach offense, you motivate defense.

Teaching offense is a little harder since some may not have the ability or co-ordination and mechanics.
Teaching defense is much easier through positioning. But if motivated you can fit anyone in a great defensive scheme. Not every player fits in every offense.

Agree
Teaching offense at any level is hard , because of location as well as amount of plays ..
And then you have to be inteligent enough to know the players you are playing with. Even at the pro level I have seen players stand in a corner or 4 stand one move
Teaching Defense is very physical and athletic. That is why most players become lazy , because the effort is beyond most players.
I'll never forget stepping into the high school level gym , and seeing a guy lock down anyone , not just for 1 minute like most guys , but for the whole scrimmage. It was like his desire was fueled by the thought he could be beat !!

[tpols]

just look at most of the greatest defensive players of all time ... they're all physical freaks. the fact that you dont need to be a physical freak to be a great offensive player is proof enough that many aspects of that can be learned...

[CuterThanRubio]

Defense takes natural intuitive ability too though. LeBron was born with a gift to time a block perfectly and play passing angles. The ability to judge where a player is going and act accordingly takes natural talent. There are guys who bust ass at my local gym but don't have a lick of natural talent so they get burned anyway. It's not just effort. And intelligence is "talent" IMO.

Agreed!

Wildly lunging and swiping for the ball will get you beat more often than not, coordinated defensive anticipation is a valued attribute

[DaHeezy]

just look at most of the greatest defensive players of all time ... they're all physical freaks. the fact that you dont need to be a physical freak to be a great offensive player is proof enough that many aspects of that can be learned...

Joe Dumars? Sidney Moncrief? Gary Payton? Derek Harper?

Try again

[tpols]

Joe Dumars? Sidney Moncrief? Gary Payton? Derek Harper?

Try again

all great athletes in their primes ... and those guys arent even top 10 best defenders ever so if thats the weakest crop you've got, that's very telling.


let me put it this way ... you cant have Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitszki athleticism and be an ATG defender .. can still be good through effort obviously but you cant be david robinson, or wilt chamberlain, or even Scottie Pippen.


Defense is translatable across sports. whether youre playin defense in football, soccer, hell even hockey, the goal is to stay in front, impede progress, and physically harass. Offense for every sport requires a more specialized skillset to be learned.

[DaHeezy]

all great athletes in their primes ... and those guys arent even top 10 best defenders ever so if thats the weakest crop you've got, that's very telling.
.

:roll:
For their positions? Hell yes they are! And no they were not athletic! Not by a Longshot.
You're using a small sample size of Jordan and Pippen. Historically what's considered the greater defenders were more about positioning.
Who's better? Russell or Kemp? Moncrief or Vince Carter? Duncan or Dwight?
Most DPOY big men get it due to gaudy numbers. Now so much ability. DeAndre may get it over Draymond, but I still think Draymond is a better defender.

Even today's game which is predicated on Athleticism the best defenders are Kawhi, Bradley, Tony Allen, Draymond. Whiteside might be a block machine, but he fouls out to often. Same with DeAndre. If they had decent foul shooting they may foul out every game.

So no, it's not entirely based on Athleticism. It's premised on mindset and motivation plus knowledge of great positioning to be a great defender.



BTW, you're hockey reference doesn't apply to your theory. The greatest puck defenders were never fast or athletic.