why no one plays defense anymore
Much is being made across the NBA about the style of play that has come to be associated with Bruce Bowen (think: limited offensive ability and an unrelenting defensive pressure) following complaints being made to the commish of his repeated attempts to injure on the part of the Mavs (last year's playoffs) and the Knicks in the regular season this year.
Sam Smith of MSNBC.com compares the aggressive defense that Bowen plays to that of being a player with a dirty rep:
Of course he goes back in time citing examples of the Pistons in the 80's, the Jazz's Stockton & Malone and their dirty picks, Rodman wherever he went along with the Bullets Mahorn or Ruland.
The players these days (Smith mentions names like Nocioni, Terry, Howard, Alonzo, Posey even the little used Fortson ) are just labeled as "tough" and "hard-nosed" or "defensive specialists" but not dirty because their "dirty play" is just not consistent enough to warrant such a definition.
In the run'n'gun that has become the new NBA with the emphasis placed on offense anytime a player develops a reputation as a defensive specialist he will be labeled as being dirty. The hard fouls are frowned upon (see Stackhouse vs. Shaq / NBA finals 2006) and suspensions are debated but we will see more of the hard fouls if the NBA is headed in the direction of emphasizing the fast break at any cost because fast break defense does not exist. Defense exists only in the half-court set, defending the break is left to individuals going either for the swipe or the swat ...gone is the hard foul.
Like Sam Smith says you just have to look more "carefully" for it in the new legislated technical[ly] laden NBA.
Sam Smith of MSNBC.com compares the aggressive defense that Bowen plays to that of being a player with a dirty rep:
"Dirty really has been taken out of the game,
for the most part, in the NBA."
"Heck, now you can't even complain loudly
about being dirty without penalty."
"The effect is obvious.
Defenders are asked to do anything to disrupt the shooter.
Just running at a shooter and putting a hand up
reduces the chances of making a basket.
So it follows that if the shooter believes
he might come down and step on someone's foot,
he might look there instead of at the basket.
Mission accomplished."
for the most part, in the NBA."
"Heck, now you can't even complain loudly
about being dirty without penalty."
"The effect is obvious.
Defenders are asked to do anything to disrupt the shooter.
Just running at a shooter and putting a hand up
reduces the chances of making a basket.
So it follows that if the shooter believes
he might come down and step on someone's foot,
he might look there instead of at the basket.
Mission accomplished."
Of course he goes back in time citing examples of the Pistons in the 80's, the Jazz's Stockton & Malone and their dirty picks, Rodman wherever he went along with the Bullets Mahorn or Ruland.
The players these days (Smith mentions names like Nocioni, Terry, Howard, Alonzo, Posey even the little used Fortson ) are just labeled as "tough" and "hard-nosed" or "defensive specialists" but not dirty because their "dirty play" is just not consistent enough to warrant such a definition.
In the run'n'gun that has become the new NBA with the emphasis placed on offense anytime a player develops a reputation as a defensive specialist he will be labeled as being dirty. The hard fouls are frowned upon (see Stackhouse vs. Shaq / NBA finals 2006) and suspensions are debated but we will see more of the hard fouls if the NBA is headed in the direction of emphasizing the fast break at any cost because fast break defense does not exist. Defense exists only in the half-court set, defending the break is left to individuals going either for the swipe or the swat ...gone is the hard foul.
Like Sam Smith says you just have to look more "carefully" for it in the new legislated technical[ly] laden NBA.
