Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 10, 2016 13:19:18 GMT -5
Here's my article from Celtics Green Blog today:
Random Thoughts on the Importance of Defense
In a basketball game, two factors determine who wins: how many points you score and how many points the other team scores. In an era when it's easier to score than to defend, a guy who can stop the other team from scoring is often more valuable than someone who can put the ball in the basket.
My favorite scene in a movie comes from "The Air Up There" where Kevin Bacon plays a coach who goes to Africa to recruit a player for his team. While there he ends up teaching a group of natives how to play basketball. In explaining the importance of playing defense, he tells them, "Defense is more important than breathing!" at which point one player holds his breath until he falls over. I just love that scene. But, there is a lot of truth to that phrase as well. The old saying goes that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.
Offense may get the ooh's and ahh's from the crowd, but defense is what wins games and ultimately, championships. Everyone wants to see the high flying dunks and the fast paced offense because it is exciting. But it takes tough defense if you are going to win a championship.
Defensive minded players who aren't afraid to do the dirty work are often at a premium in this league. After watching Jae Crowder shut down his opponent throughout last season, Phil Jackson said that passing on him was his biggest mistake as a GM. Good defense doesn't always show up on the stat sheet and so a player has to be unselfish if they commit to playing tough in your face defense. Every team needs at least one lock down perimeter defender on the team as well as a good defender in the paint.
Danny Ainge has been drafting and signing players who take pride in being able to stop the other guys from scoring. In Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jay Crowder, the Celtics have three of the best on the ball defenders in the league. They are adding Jaylen Brown, the third pick in this year's draft, who also excels on the defensive end of the court.
If you add Al Horford to a lineup of Bradley, Smart, Brown and Crowder, you have one of the most athletic and defensively devastating lineups in the league and a coach who wants to not only work on offense, but stress playing defense as well. I believe a coach has to be committed to emphasizing defense and I believe that Brad Stevens is that kind of coach.
When Doc was coaching the Celtics, he made the comment that he worked on offense in practice because that was the hardest to get and they would pick up the defense while working on offense because after all, while they were working on the offense, half the team had to play defense. After hearing him say that, I always had reserves about Doc's coaching.
When Tom Thibodeau was the lead assistant, the Celtics had a top defense because he put defense first and it showed. After Thibodeau left, the Celtics defense dropped to closer to the bottom of the league because Doc didn't put a premium on making his players play defense. But, Brad Stevens seems to want players who take pride in their defense and he puts a premium on team defense and that may be one of the reasons that it seems that his teams over achieve.
I remember the Pistons/Spurs series from a few years back where both teams played very tough defense and we were seeing final scores in the 60's and 70's and everyone was saying what a boring series it was. I really enjoyed those games because I love defense and when it is played the right way, is absolutely exciting. I mean, it is the equivalent of a no hitter in baseball.
This summer I have read many trade proposals from fans who want to offer Bradley, Smart and Crowder for players who may be scorers, but who don't put a premium on defense. If we make a trade, I really hope it's for a two way player, especially if we trade one of our key defenders. For my part, rather than trade one of these top defenders, I'd much rather work with one of those defenders to improve their shot, which shouldn't be all that hard if they work hard enough.
There are players that we can look at who came into the league with questionable shooting ability and end up being excellent shooters. Jason Kidd comes to mind. In his rookie season, he shot 38% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc. At the peak of his career, he shot 43% from the field and 46% from beyond the arc and he was 5th all time in total 3 pointers made. I don't see why any one of our young players can't make a similar improvement with plenty of work and coaching.
Defense may not be more important than breathing, but it certainly is essential to winning a championship. The Celtics have brought in players who can defend and we have a coach who can pull it all together. The Celtics have made a commitment to defense and have improved their roster with defense in mind. I wouldn't want to be a team facing them this season. It's going to be fun to watch the Celtics keep their opponents from getting the ball to go into the hoop.
In a basketball game, two factors determine who wins: how many points you score and how many points the other team scores. In an era when it's easier to score than to defend, a guy who can stop the other team from scoring is often more valuable than someone who can put the ball in the basket.
My favorite scene in a movie comes from "The Air Up There" where Kevin Bacon plays a coach who goes to Africa to recruit a player for his team. While there he ends up teaching a group of natives how to play basketball. In explaining the importance of playing defense, he tells them, "Defense is more important than breathing!" at which point one player holds his breath until he falls over. I just love that scene. But, there is a lot of truth to that phrase as well. The old saying goes that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.
Offense may get the ooh's and ahh's from the crowd, but defense is what wins games and ultimately, championships. Everyone wants to see the high flying dunks and the fast paced offense because it is exciting. But it takes tough defense if you are going to win a championship.
Defensive minded players who aren't afraid to do the dirty work are often at a premium in this league. After watching Jae Crowder shut down his opponent throughout last season, Phil Jackson said that passing on him was his biggest mistake as a GM. Good defense doesn't always show up on the stat sheet and so a player has to be unselfish if they commit to playing tough in your face defense. Every team needs at least one lock down perimeter defender on the team as well as a good defender in the paint.
Danny Ainge has been drafting and signing players who take pride in being able to stop the other guys from scoring. In Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jay Crowder, the Celtics have three of the best on the ball defenders in the league. They are adding Jaylen Brown, the third pick in this year's draft, who also excels on the defensive end of the court.
If you add Al Horford to a lineup of Bradley, Smart, Brown and Crowder, you have one of the most athletic and defensively devastating lineups in the league and a coach who wants to not only work on offense, but stress playing defense as well. I believe a coach has to be committed to emphasizing defense and I believe that Brad Stevens is that kind of coach.
When Doc was coaching the Celtics, he made the comment that he worked on offense in practice because that was the hardest to get and they would pick up the defense while working on offense because after all, while they were working on the offense, half the team had to play defense. After hearing him say that, I always had reserves about Doc's coaching.
When Tom Thibodeau was the lead assistant, the Celtics had a top defense because he put defense first and it showed. After Thibodeau left, the Celtics defense dropped to closer to the bottom of the league because Doc didn't put a premium on making his players play defense. But, Brad Stevens seems to want players who take pride in their defense and he puts a premium on team defense and that may be one of the reasons that it seems that his teams over achieve.
I remember the Pistons/Spurs series from a few years back where both teams played very tough defense and we were seeing final scores in the 60's and 70's and everyone was saying what a boring series it was. I really enjoyed those games because I love defense and when it is played the right way, is absolutely exciting. I mean, it is the equivalent of a no hitter in baseball.
This summer I have read many trade proposals from fans who want to offer Bradley, Smart and Crowder for players who may be scorers, but who don't put a premium on defense. If we make a trade, I really hope it's for a two way player, especially if we trade one of our key defenders. For my part, rather than trade one of these top defenders, I'd much rather work with one of those defenders to improve their shot, which shouldn't be all that hard if they work hard enough.
There are players that we can look at who came into the league with questionable shooting ability and end up being excellent shooters. Jason Kidd comes to mind. In his rookie season, he shot 38% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc. At the peak of his career, he shot 43% from the field and 46% from beyond the arc and he was 5th all time in total 3 pointers made. I don't see why any one of our young players can't make a similar improvement with plenty of work and coaching.
Defense may not be more important than breathing, but it certainly is essential to winning a championship. The Celtics have brought in players who can defend and we have a coach who can pull it all together. The Celtics have made a commitment to defense and have improved their roster with defense in mind. I wouldn't want to be a team facing them this season. It's going to be fun to watch the Celtics keep their opponents from getting the ball to go into the hoop.
