Is there anyone besides me that appreciates defense in the NBA??

I've heard from so many people here that physical, low scoring, defensive minded basketball is boring, and how they all wish that the up tempo teams were still playing. I like games that are hard fought, and won in the trenches. I enjoy watching teams with good offensive execution in the half court, and that aren't always jacking up three point shots on the fast break. I feel like i'm in basketball heaven right now, with teams like San Antonio, Detroit, Utah, and Cleveland. It really coudn't be much better.

Alas, I guess I'm alone. To me up tempo basketball is alright in an all star game, but in championship competition, I want to see guys really push and shove, and get after it. Fast break basketball is for pansies who watch Sports Center, and could care less about who wins, but only how good they look doing it.

Is there anyone besides me that appreciates defense in the NBA??
I've been telling my brother (Phoenix fan; all O and no D) the same thing. Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships. Contrary to popular belief, Michael Jordan's Bulls were primarily a defensive team. Of course Jordan's offensive heroics took a lot of attention away from the team defense but this was a team that routinely won games by scoring only 90 points. Pippen and Jordan themselves (and later Rodman) were all team defense year after year. Guys like Joe Dumars gained their claim to fame on defense and even Gary Payton got his nickname (the glove) by his defensive play. Of course their was Isaiah's Pistons who got their Bad Boy moniker playing D so hard they were considered dirty (probably were) but that was the sign of the times. Ewing's Knicks could mix it up too on the D side back when the X man and Oakley held it down. So yeah go ahead and chant "Defense", I got your back.
Reply:I appreciate defense, but I can't watch the Spurs. Although they are talented, they are whiny babies and they hit the deck on every play. The NBA needs to put a stop to the flopping.
Reply:I appreciate defense in the fourth quarter in a close game. But in the first quater with the score at 20 - 16 not at all. Its not time for that. A great defense is a secret weapon to use when you really need to get it done.
Reply:Yes, you're the only one that appreciates good defense.
Reply:Most NBA teams don't play much defense, but look who the final four are...
Reply:go spurs
Reply:I love defensive minded teams. Defense is just the best part of basketball in my opinion. I miss the good ol' days, watching Dennis Rodman, frustrate the Mailman, Scottie Pippen and Gary Payton with their lock-down defense, etc. Bring back the hand check, and have all these boys play like men's.



I believe that the NBA should change the rule about, entering the draft, instead of one year out of high school, it should be at least 3 years playing in the college level. So they can learn the fundamentals, and physical defensive play of the college game.



So what if teams play an uptempo game, where they run teams off, and score with an open jumper. But can they do that, when there's a defender right in front of them?



NBA has become for the mainstream audience.
Reply:You're not alone. For me, watching players run up and down the court again and again gets old real fast. If I wanted to see that, I'd watch track and field meets. As far as I'm concerned, run and gun is little more than flash and trash. Give me a full meal, not just dessert.
Reply:Well, lets see...



Why does a large number of the population not enjoy watching Soccer, or Baseball? Because the games are too slow. Theres too much downtime in both those sports, as there is in a Spurs/Pistons game.



I enjoy watching good defensive skills as well, however, not to the point that the commercials become just as entertaining as the game itself... It would be different if it was ONE extremely defensively minded team vs anything but another, but the reality is, Pistons Vs Spurs is going to be the lowest rated finals in NBA history.... Ill watch Dancing with the Stars i think.... lol.
Reply:Defense is a key to winning games. I appreciate defense since I'm a center. Seriously without defense you can't win games. Doesn't matter if you have agood offense when you have a bad defense.
Reply:Of course, why do you think the Spurs have been so dominant. Bruce Bowen is one of the best defenders in the league, if not ever. And Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker aren't too bad either.