Defense in College Basketball
Chris strikes back for the college boys in his defense of NCAA defense.
Let's get this out of the way before we start: everyone knows that, day in and day out, NCAA defenders are hustling twice as hard as their NBA counterparts. This is a fact that both sides of the argument will concede. Yet, NBA fan boys will try to distract you with tales of Rodman facing up with Jordan in the 80s or how good Kobe can be when he actually decides to try on defense. But, at the end of the day, impressive as the performances behind these tales are, they are just that: tales, anecdotes of an uncharacteristically high level of play which are as scarce on the court as Marbury in the Knicks locker room.
But setting the tired "hustle" argument aside, there are more reasons why NCAA defense is better to watch than NBA. The claim made previously is true: it is rare to see a match up between two players who have "learned all of the nuances of professional basketball" in the NCAA. Which is exactly why I like it. The formula for effective scoring in the NBA is simple - beat your man, and either pull up for a jumper or get to the rack. Effective NBA defense is the just the balance of the equation - stop your man... and hope like hell your teammates are doing the same. The so-called "nuances of professional basketball" could be learned playing one-on-one. The college game emphasizes help defense and rewards teamwork and strategy. I'm not trying to say this always works out well - just look at Loyola-Maryland's fated "triangle and two" against Davidson and Steph Curry for evidence - but when it does, the precise coordination of five players acting in symphony is beautiful to watch. How often does an entire NBA arena rise to its feet in support of a defensive stand? The fact of the matter is this actually happens during the first half of regular season games in Durham and East Lansing. Seriously. Sure the student section has something to do with it, but it's also indicative of the attitude towards the game at the college level: either live as a team, or die, as individuals.*
*Coach Tony D'Amato, Any Given Sunday, 1999
Let's get this out of the way before we start: everyone knows that, day in and day out, NCAA defenders are hustling twice as hard as their NBA counterparts. This is a fact that both sides of the argument will concede. Yet, NBA fan boys will try to distract you with tales of Rodman facing up with Jordan in the 80s or how good Kobe can be when he actually decides to try on defense. But, at the end of the day, impressive as the performances behind these tales are, they are just that: tales, anecdotes of an uncharacteristically high level of play which are as scarce on the court as Marbury in the Knicks locker room.
But setting the tired "hustle" argument aside, there are more reasons why NCAA defense is better to watch than NBA. The claim made previously is true: it is rare to see a match up between two players who have "learned all of the nuances of professional basketball" in the NCAA. Which is exactly why I like it. The formula for effective scoring in the NBA is simple - beat your man, and either pull up for a jumper or get to the rack. Effective NBA defense is the just the balance of the equation - stop your man... and hope like hell your teammates are doing the same. The so-called "nuances of professional basketball" could be learned playing one-on-one. The college game emphasizes help defense and rewards teamwork and strategy. I'm not trying to say this always works out well - just look at Loyola-Maryland's fated "triangle and two" against Davidson and Steph Curry for evidence - but when it does, the precise coordination of five players acting in symphony is beautiful to watch. How often does an entire NBA arena rise to its feet in support of a defensive stand? The fact of the matter is this actually happens during the first half of regular season games in Durham and East Lansing. Seriously. Sure the student section has something to do with it, but it's also indicative of the attitude towards the game at the college level: either live as a team, or die, as individuals.*
*Coach Tony D'Amato, Any Given Sunday, 1999
Labels: ncaa
posted by Gen at
8:03 AM
3 Comments:
This creative blend of math and sport is the kind of original thinking that revolutionizes the way games are played. Let's review:
1) Effective NBA scoring = (beat your man) + (pull up for jumper) OR (beat your man) + (get to rack)
2) Effective NBA defense = (stop your man) + (hope like hell your teammates are stopping their men)
While quantification of abstract concepts often proves difficult, I'd characterize your system of equations as strong-quite strong. I assume you're currently developing collegiate counterparts, and I for one cannot wait to settle this debate once and for all; mathematically, no less.
Also, when does a defensive performance in the NBA constitute "an anecdote" and when does it actually count? Is it an anecdote when it refutes your argument and a true example of defensive nature when it supports your view? If so-- I know that game.
Nolan Richardson's 40 minutes of hell was very enjoyable to watch. You never see stuff like that in the NBA.
It constitutes 'anecdotal evidence' when it is widely acknowledged to be a rare occurrence, an outlier from the average behavior.
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