Defensive Basketball

I never understand why people complain that defensive basketball is boring. I still remember when teams routinely score over 120, and basketball was the most boring sport event in North America. Tonight’s game between Detroit and San Antonio was a beauty to behold. Even though it was a blow out of epic proportion, the way the Pistons played defence was just exciting. It was non-stop all-out kind of game. Watching centres slide out to stop the opponent’s guard and then fall back to switch with his own guard seamlessly is like watching an intricate dance. Then, beyond the individual and team plays, there is the mental part of a defensive game. It is about competing against your opponent, shut him down, frustrate him, and destroy him from the inside out. It is a men’s game, grown up and tough. It is pure drama. When basketball was all offence all the time, it had no drama, no struggle; everything was just too easy. Back then it was not about who was stopping whom, but who finally missed. It was little boys shooting baskets at the driveway, watching each other shoot hoping that the other would miss. Men compete, fight, and win by their hard work and teamwork: they play defence.