NBA games tend to be high scoring. Teams routinely score over 100 points. The players are so athletic and talented that they are difficult to stop from scoring. Some wonder if the players are too talented to defend or if NBA players give lackluster effort on defense.
Playing defense involves pride and effort. A good defensive player takes pride in stopping another player from scoring. A good defensive player denies the inbounds pass and tries to prevent another player from getting open for a pass. A good defensive player tries to shut down the man he is covering.
Playing offense seems more exciting. It can be exciting to score or make a great pass. It can be exciting to make a good pass that leads to a basket. Offense seems more natural, whereas playing defense seems more unnatural. Playing defense seems to require more work and dedication. The crowd roars when a player scores, but the crowd does not necessarily show appreciation for a stellar defensive effort.
The offense sets the tone for the game. The point guard knows what he wants to do with the basketball. He knows whether he wants to pass, dribble or shoot. He knows what play he wants to call. So, the defense must respond to the offense. The defense cannot set the tone for the play unless the defense presses or tries to trap the offense. The offense's ability to set the tone puts the defense in a tough position.
However, a good defense can lead to a good offense. A steal or a blocked shot can lead to a fast break opportunity. A steal or a blocked shot can lead to a numerical advantage during transition. A 3 on 2 or a 2 on 1 fast break should lead to a basket. So, a good defense leads to points in transition. Therefore, offense and defense can work together.
Often times a defensive player has to keep their hands up and keep their feet moving. A good defensive player needs quick lateral movement and balance. Sometimes a defensive player has to distract the offensive player and create a turnover or a steal. Then when the shot is up, a player needs to box someone out and grab a rebound. A good defense limits second chance opportunities for the opposition.
Danny Chau, of the ringer.com, says "Defense is inherently reactive. Players can influence where an offense takes a shot, but ultimately, a defense can guard only what is in front of it. If a high screen is set 30 feet away from the basket, that creates a ripple effect for the rest of personnel on the floor." So, the defensive players respond to what the offensive players are doing. They must respond to the decisions that the offensive players make or the plan that the offensive players inact.
Playing defense requires maturity, focus and effort. The defensive player needs to concentrate on what the offensive players are doing. Chau says "It requires so much discipline, pattern recognition, and preparation that something as foolish as the youthful Suns offense forgetting how to run a set and just winging it can throw an elite defense for a loop." So, even when the offense makes a mistake, the defense may be caught off guard.
Offenses also have an advantage because they can be more creative. Defensive players must cover their assigned player or cover an area in a zone. Chau says "While an offense like the Warriors can occasionally survive in a free-flowing, unorganized environment over the course of a game, defenses cannot." Defenses cannot be unorganized and effective at the same time. An unorganized defense where players miss their assignments results in the offense scoring easy baskets. Defense requires mental toughness and hard work. Defenses must be efficient and consistent in their approach.
A good defensive player can make a big difference in the outcome of a game. Chau refers to Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs to make this point. Chau says "No other defensive player exudes the air of inevitability that Kawhi does- the shot clock becomes a countdown to how quickly he can force the ball out of his counterparts hands, one way or another." Chau adds that "Leonard's ability to make an offensive player disappear (and his cross-platform Peanut Punch) makes him one of the most visually compelling defenders ever." Leonard can neutralize a good offensive player. Leonard can take away an offensive player's ability to impact the game. Such defensive ability is rare and valuable.
So Leonard has the rare ability to be a shut down defensive player. He has the ability to limit what the offensive player can do. He can take away an offensive player's options. This kind of player is very valuable. One wonders how NBA teams can train more players to be like this. Leonard serves as an example of what NBA players could become on defense.
Chau also cites Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert as excellent defensive players. Chau says that Green helps the Warriors' defense in a couple of ways. Chau says Green is "the chief communications officer of the Warriors backline while also covering for his teammates all over the court." So, Green is a defensive leader who excels at helping his teammates. Chau says "And while his self confidence is brimming, Draymond really does give off a sense that he's internalized not only the Warriors' unique defensive principles, but the entire league's." Green understands the different elements of sound defense, and he applies himself on the defensive end.
Gobert's defensive ability comes from his height and his ability to move quickly in a lateral manner. Chau says "Gobert's wingspan, which stretches close to 7 foot 9, and suprising lateral mobility allow him to patrol the paint in ways that his monolithic predecessors couldn't." His wingspan allows him to block shots and his quickness allows him to play help defense. His quickness allows him to get around screens or switch with another defender on a pick and roll play. Height and speed are good attributes for an NBA player. These two attributes help Gobert to be a premiere defender.
Chau points out that the pick and roll creates a two on one advantage for the offense because it forces the inside defender to choose which player to defend, which can leave the other player open. However, Gobert's ability on defense neutralizes the effectiveness of the pick and roll. Chau says "But Gobert, by simply unfurling his arms, can track both the handler and roller, giving his teammates time to recover without leaving their individual assignments." Gobert's ability may force the offense to abandon the pick and roll or use it less. Gobert's ability on defense may force the other team to game plan differently when they play Gobert's team- the Jazz. Additionally, Gobert's ability to neutralize the pick and roll helps his teammates on defense. Like Green and Leonard, Gobert has the ability to have a defensive impact upon the outcome of the game.
How can more NBA players experience similar success on defense that Leonard, Green and Gobert have experienced? How can more NBA players be known for their stellar defensive play? There is no shortcut to success. Each player has to work on developing stronger defensive skills.
Each player has to remember the fundamentals of strong defense. Every NBA player has to stay between his man and the basketball. Each player has to know who has the basketball and know where his man is. Some NBA players have better peripheral vision than other players. Nevertheless, it is necessary that each player knows where his man is and where the ball is. Plays happen quickly in basketball, and if a defender loses sight of the basketball or the man he is covering, the opponent can score quickly. Defenses have to guard against the quick basket.
The player guarding the point guard has to make sure the point guard does not go past him and penetrate into the lane. The defender has to force the point guard into a long shot or an off balanced shot. The player guarding the point guard has to fight through screens or switch quickly on defense. One must guard against the hesitation dribble, which can lull the defender to sleep and allow the point guard to move quickly past a deceived defender. The person guarding the point guard also has to be aware of the passing lanes that the point guard is looking at. The defender has to guard against these passing lanes.
When a player gets the basketball in the corner,the defender has to decide whether to guard against the baseline or guard against the interior. If the defender takes away the baseline, the player may dribble to the inside or pass to an open player. Perhaps, the player may shoot a long jump shot from the corner. If the inside is taken away, the player may try to dribble along the baseline and try and score. Either way, the defender has to guard against the easy basket. It's better to force the player towards the double team or a teammate that is playing help defense. In some cases, it's better to take away every option except the long range jump shot. However, in today's NBA many players can make three point shots or long range shots. Still, it may be preferable to prevent the player from getting closer to the basket.
Defense always requires great effort. It always involves determination and resolve. Max Streng of "Fansided" says "Defense is hard at any level. It takes commitment from all five players, knowledge of personnel and scheme, communication, effort and often times in the NBA the shot still goes in....These are the best players in the world." As Streng says, there are many elements of sound defense. Good defense requires consistent effort and determination. The defensive players have to communicate with each other and anticipate what the offensive players are going to do next. They have to understand what play the offense is running and they have to know how to defend it. No matter how hard they try, the offense is still often successfull. Players must not become discouraged when they play defense. They have to realize that eventually their efforts will be rewarded.
In addition to effort, physical talent is also an important part of good defensive play. Jonathan Tjarks, writing for sbnation.com, emphasizes the importance of foot-speed and wingspan. Tjarks says "Elite NBA defenders all have the same profiles: great athletes with long arms." So, while the effort is important, the physical ability is also necessary.
Foot speed and wing span help a defender to contest a jump shot as well. Tjarks says "In the NBA, where the vast majority of players can knock down an open jumper being unable to contest a player's release point is essentially giving away a basket." If a player cannot reach the height of the jump shooter's hands, then it is very difficult for that defender to stop the offensive player from scoring. Foot speed enables a defender to stay in front of the jump shooter, while a good wing span helps a defender to block or contest the shot.
Team defense is also very important. Individual players need to commit themselves to playing defense, but players need to communicate with each other and help each other on the court in order to play good team defense. Players need to fight through screens, communicate when they are switching players and help a teammate to guard a talented offensive player. Teammates have to be willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. Teams that play good defense have a better chance of going deep into the playoffs and winning a championship.
In today's NBA teams are allowed to play zone defense. For many years, the zone was outlawed. Players had to guard a man. They were not allowed to guard an area, which the zone defense allows a player to do. If a player was guarding an area instead of a man, the offensive team was given a technical foul shot.
However, Chris Parker of "The Guardian" points out that in the 1990's coaches implemented offenses that worked against the man to man defense. Parker says "Teams would isolate their best scorer in the post with his teammates as far away on the other side of the court as possible, to make it hard to double." This allowed the player in the post to work against one defender. If it was a mismatch, then the offensive player could score. If it was not a mismatch, then the post player had four other players he could pass the ball to. He could pass the ball to the player who was most open. Or he could pass the ball to the best scorer.
Parker says that this change "has allowed the best defensive minds to develop tough double team schemes, where players rotate their assignments. Led by coaches like Tim Thibideau, teams have developed hybrid man-zones that flood the ball-side and leave two weak -side defenders covering three guys. It bets the defenders can rotate faster than the offense can move the ball." The zone defense fosters creativity and flexibility. It allows players another way to match up with a good team. It gives defenses the opportunity to confuse the offense and upset the rythym of the other team.
In the 2017-18 season, the Boston Celtics have been the best defensive team. Their strong defense has helped them to establish the best record in the NBA. John Schumann of NBA.com points out "The Celtics' No. 1 ranking on defense starts with having the lowest opponent effective field goal percentage. And the key has been on the perimeter. The Celtics rank second in opponent field goal percentage from mid range and fourth in opponent 3 point percentage." So, good perimeter defense has helped the Celtics have a good start to the season.
The Celtics' ability to contest shots and put pressure on opposing guards has helped the, hold opponents to a league low 95.4 points per game. Portland, San Antonio and Oklahoma City are the only other teams to hold opponents to under 100 points per game.
Defense will always be an important part of basketball. Playing good defense requires effort and determination. Wing span and foot speed also help a defensive player to be effective. Teams that play good defense have a better chance of advancing deep into the playoffs and contending for a championship.
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