June 15, 200917 yr I'm sure there may be other reasons, but my initial thought is the skill level of NBA players. When you press a team, if they can handle the ball and beat it, it usually results in a good shot on the other end. In the NBA, pressing would likely result in a high number of high percentage shots on the offensive end because of the skill level. Unlike college, in the NBA, you frequently have tall frontcourt players who can handle the ball pretty well to go along with their guards (who themselves are often tall)...they have unlimited time to practice in the NBA, so they could prepare better for a press...and, they're better shooters/finishers meaning they'd convert more of the easier shots they'd get from beating the press. In college, teams don't get as much time to prepare, the players aren't as skilled, they're not as big...it's just easier to wreak havoc. You take the tradeoff of giving up a few easy hoops to control the tempo and get some easy ones yourself. The risk/reward in the NBA isn't worth it. Teams occasionally press in the NBA...1) It works better when used in spots and 2) its used, not so much to create TO's, but to make teams start their offense deeper in the shot clock. In that way, it could be used to control tempo, by actually slowing things down a little instead of speeding them up. The great Bulls teams of the '90's had a devastating full-court press that they used quite a bit by NBA standards. But, that was a rare team with size and athleticism almost everywhere, spearheaded by two of the best defenders in league history. Jordan and Pippen were both long, athletic, elite defenders whether they were roaming or playing man-to-man. Additionally, Horace Grant was a long, athletic PF who could cause problems. Later, they had Rodman, a great defender himself. And, Ron Harper, not elite, but at 6'6, he could cause problems. That team had the personnel to pull it off. I'm sure some of the more talented teams could probably press teams like the Clippers and destroy them, but against the top teams it wouldn't work. Why spend an inordinate amount of time on something that would be a liability against elite teams? Couldn't agree more. To put it simply they are just to good to defend 1 on 1 in the open court like that. You saw what happened when Orlando pressed the Lakers on the last bucket of game 4. D Fish wide open 3.
June 15, 200917 yr I am going to tonight. I tried to last night but the Lakers fans crashed the site. :lol:
June 15, 200917 yr I am going to tonight. I tried to last night but the Lakers fans crashed the site. :lol: :lol: Congrats my friend...
June 16, 200917 yr Couldn't agree more. To put it simply they are just to good to defend 1 on 1 in the open court like that. You saw what happened when Orlando pressed the Lakers on the last bucket of game 4. D Fish wide open 3. So the "best athletes in the world" can't full court press? That's kind of hard to believe. Fish was wide open because Nelson for no good reason at all backed inside the arc and just let him shoot it. Poor defense, I agree. More of a poor strategy not to foul on the inbounds. Also, I don't understand how a zone is legal if you cannot be in the lane over 3 secs? I will still watch a little, just see a few players I like, but overall, I'm not a fan. Regular season is a snorefest, and even the playoffs weren't that good this year.
June 16, 200917 yr So the "best athletes in the world" can't full court press? That's kind of hard to believe. Fish was wide open because Nelson for no good reason at all backed inside the arc and just let him shoot it. Poor defense, I agree. More of a poor strategy not to foul on the inbounds. Also, I don't understand how a zone is legal if you cannot be in the lane over 3 secs? I will still watch a little, just see a few players I like, but overall, I'm not a fan. Regular season is a snorefest, and even the playoffs weren't that good this year.Sure they can press, but the guys bringing the ball up can break a press a lot better than anyone in college. Good example: Rick Pitino. I think his strategy worked his first game as Celtics coach against the Bulls, but he was soon looking for a way out.
June 16, 200917 yr Regular season is a snorefest, and even the playoffs weren't that good this year. You definitely didn't watch much of the Playoffs.
June 16, 200917 yr You definitely didn't watch much of the Playoffs. Exactly...I don't really follow the NBA, but I found myself drawn to the NBA playoffs this season. In past seasons I would watch a few games, and then a few games of the Finals, but this year I watched most of the games because they were so tough and so close through most of the series. Definitely one of the most exciting playoffs I've ever seen.
June 16, 200917 yr You definitely didn't watch much of the Playoffs. Not much. Can't stay up for the West coast games. Watched some of the Cavs games. The entire Eatern Conf. finals. A couple of the W. conf finals and all 5 of the finals. Tell you what though. I did go to a Cavs game this past season. That was a blast.
June 16, 200917 yr I think the Nuggets were the most exciting team this postseason... Most tats:thumb:
June 16, 200917 yr Author What was the best series in the playoffs? Bull/Celtics? Celtics/Magic? Lakers/Rockets? *shudder* Hawks/Heat?
June 16, 200917 yr Bulls/Celtics. You couldn't miss a game, you never knew what was going to happen. Rondo's stats were unreal. Great great series.
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