DEFENSE: EFFORT, PASSION AND COMMITMENT
by Lute Olson
Defense wins basketball games. Offense only determines the
margin of victory.
It’s always interesting to hear people talk about teams
that are great defensive teams, as opposed to those that
are not. Defense is all about effort, passion and
commitment. So why aren’t all teams great on the defensive
end of the floor? After all, effort, passion and
commitment should be components all teams should possess.
It’s simple. If you commit to becoming a good defensive
player then you will become a good defensive player. You
have to put forth the effort and have passion. There is no
better example of this than Kevin Garnett, of the Boston
Celtics.
We often hear analysts say, “He plays every possession
like it was his last.” That’s good, but anyone can expend
energy. It’s more than just pounding the floor and looking
the part. There has to be a purpose behind it all and
Kevin Garnett certainly plays with a purpose. But it’s
more than just effort and passion. He is committed to
being a great defensive presence.
Presence is the key. There are a lot of excellent
defensive players, but Garnett brings a defensive presence
to the floor that is contagious. He makes those around him
better. For the entire careers Ray Allen and Paul Pierce
were viewed as outstanding scorers. They were not known as
defensive-minded players. Last season they became very
good defenders. That is a credit to Garnett. His presence
was the foundation for Boston being the best defensive
team in the NBA.
Sometimes the message doesn’t come through clearly enough
for some players. That thought that we can simply outscore
the other team is what dominates their thoughts. But when
you see it first-hand it tends to have a different effect.
Looking at the NBA landscape this season we find Cleveland
is a much better defensive team than a year ago.
Defensively they are among, if not, the best in the NBA.
The Cavaliers took a cue from Boston -- Defense wins games
and raises banners.
That same message should be received at the college level.
In any given year, you will find the most successful teams
in March are also some of the best defensive teams.
Offensive explosions may help get you to the month of
March, but that alone will not get you much further.
We often hear analysts say, “This is important defensive
possession.” But why is that possession any more important
then the first possession of the game? Time and situation
dictate that, but players should remember that all the
previous possessions led to this one possession. Had you
gotten a stop earlier, perhaps this would not be that most
important possession of the game.
It’s simple -- Every possession is important.
It’s important to play every possession as if it were the
final possession of the game. What happens in the closing
moments is what analysts always highlight, but plays
throughout the game will dictate whether it comes down to
that proverbial final possession.
Rarely do you hear that the steal in the opening moments
was the difference in the game, simply because there are
so many possessions remaining. In baseball it could be the
failed sacrifice in the third inning and it football it
might be the dropped pass on third down in the first
quarter that is talked about in the aftermath.
In both cases there is still plenty of time to overcome
the failure to execute, but if you don’t overcome it with
a victory it becomes the topic of discussion after the
game.
But basketball is different. It’s not dissected to the
extent of those other sports.
In the final analysis it’s usually a handful of
possessions, during the course of the game, that determine
how good or bad a team is statistically. Players have the
physical ability to be excellent defenders, but they don’t
always put forth that effort on every possession.
