Does Defense win Championships or not?

I think an elite defensive team with an average offense is much more likely to win a championship than an elite offense with an average defense.

Or to put it another way. Mediocre defensive teams DO NOT win championships. Mediocre offensive teams CAN win championships.

Obviously, having both a great defense and a great offense would be ideal.

 

How about having the other teams score less points than you?

 

It was because scola and brooks could do what rafer and hayes couldn't and thats knocking down shots. As DD has said, you need balance. The new rules as far as hand checking has made scoring easier, but its offset by the colangelo inspired zone which makes zero sense. The days of the old knick ball vs the heat are dead and gone. You have to defend and have the ability to get stops, but you also have to be able to hit shots.

 

Playas have no problem giving 100% on offense, while defense is another story. Many playas in various degrees rest up on defense for the next offensive set.

"Defense wins championships" is an over statement. But it is the coach's mantra to get his team to the next level. The Rockets two championships were a result of Rudy T getting his team to buy in to playing defense 48 minutes, every game.

 

If you get your offense done, you can play defense on top it to win.

If you don't have offense, defense will give you nothing but a blank feeling of overachieving and worse chance in the lottery.


Defense is cheap.
Offense is not.

Mediocre is cheap.
Championship is not.


"defense win championship" is a phrase only for already super talented offensive players, not for Hayes likes.

 

Teams win championships.
Defense wins championships.
Leaders win championships.
Hard work and determination win championships.

These are bonded together forever in the basketball world. Without one, all suffer greatly.

 

In a 7 game series D always makes a BIG difference.

 

I feel like this used to be true, back in the "illegal defense" days. But I think that rule changes have had a big enough affect on teams now such that this is no longer true.

 

Yes Defense does help to win games but when it all counts at the conclusion of the game the winner is the team who has put the ball in the basket the most.

 

I'll amend this statement. The 2001 Lakers were ranked 21st defensively (probably because Shaq was in rare form in regards to regular season laziness) but in the playoffs they raised their level on that end of the court. In the post season they were ranked 1st by a good margin, holding opponents to only 97.9 points every 100 possessions.

You would think that would be the case but I just have not seen this in practice. I think, what has happened is teams have adjusted their defenses accordingly. Defending PG's 1on1 has become futile so versatile help defenders have become more important. Those wiry 6'8-6'11 tweener forwards who were known as weak defenders over a decade ago are now making a much bigger impact.

 

this^ i was about to reply with the same answer. Championships are won when having great offensive tools while playing good defense.

 

You have to make shots. If yao is clogging the lane as you say, bu the other team is making mid range game involving yao in every pnr possible, they will get open shots and make shots. When utah beat the rockets the first year, utah shot a high fg% and the rockets not so much. Anytime they needed a shot, they put him in the pnr and knocked down jummper after jumper or got some backdoor cuts. The rockets still had chances to win the games and series, but because rafer,luther,chuck,and shane couldn't create or make shots, they lost the game. The 2nd ring team wasn't a good defensive team despite having dream. They were ok, but offensively, they could win either way. They dropped like 130 on utah and scored in the 100's every game vs orlando also.

 

no. Great offensive players get their points because of their talent not because of loose defense.

 

The truth is simple - the reason why so many coaches or people say "Defense wins Championships" is due to the offensive focus in the league. Everyone loves to watch the high-scoring fast paced teams/players because they are entertaining.

I don't think the saying implies that any team should only focus on defense and therefore have poor offense. But simply that because offense is such a priority in the entertainment of the game (over that of Defense), developing a defensive team will help you win championships. Really, there is nothing without balance.

 

by outshooting your oppnonent or stopping your opponent from making shots?