Hardy isn’t the guy for this job. It isn’t working

[JazzFever]

Hardy’s defensive coaching skill is 10/10 on the worry scale for me. We talk endlessly as to whether or not he plays the crappy vets or the crappy young guys, but the real issue is that he sucks as a defensive coach. If we can give him credit for his great offensive system and success we have to be as reasonable about the defensive end.

And no, defense is not about “motivating” guys to play hard.

Defense, especially in the NBA, is very much about motivation- much more than offense. Everyone wants to play well offensively- its where you get paid, and how you get pub. Defense is for those who want to win and are willing to wear themselves out to do so. That is very much motivation, and why you often see less physically gifted players still excel at it- again, look at the Nets- suddenly a defensive juggernaut. Its 100% the coaching and motivating players to implement that coaching with effort.

 

[KqWIN]

Defense, especially in the NBA, is very much about motivation- much more than offense. Everyone wants to play well offensively- its where you get paid, and how you get pub. Defense is for those who want to win and are willing to wear themselves out to do so. That is very much motivation, and why you often see less physically gifted players still excel at it- again, look at the Nets- suddenly a defensive juggernaut. Its 100% the coaching and motivating players to implement that coaching with effort.

More than offense? Sure. But defense is skill, talent, strategy, and ability just like offense. The idea of motivating your way to a good defense is fantasy. Defense is abled to be played by less physically gifted players because defense requires high level thinking, and that becomes more true by the day. The ability to quickly make decisions is a skill on both ends.

PS: The idea of offense getting you paid is totally antiquated.