Which side of the court is the hardest to learn? Offense or Defense?

[Monkhouse]

Which side of the court would you say requires the most work and discipline in learning?

Also which skill set would you say would be the hardest to teach? For instance, having a post game? Being able to create your own shot efficiently? Being a defensive stopper?

I would say the hardest thing to really teach someone defense. I feel that with offense you can learn to add improvements to your game, but at some point you have to be logical and understanding of your limitations and abilities.

To me, most players that can create or score off the dribble drive are born with the natural knack/gift of being able to score well. But to me, the most important and hardest thing to learn would be solidifying defense. Defense wins championship, whereas offense helps you do extremely well in the regular season.

In a slow paced playoffs, you'd rather have a team that can score but be more defense orientated.

[nebist]

It's a good question.  I think both can be equally challenging to teach.  As a coach, I would prefer players that are naturally oriented towards defense and then teach or coach up offensive skills.  This is not because I think defense is harder to teach, but because offense gets the vast majority of the publicity/glory/stats, so I would rather have players with a defensive mindset first because I think they will be more coachable.  That being said, if a kid can't shoot or dribble, even the best coach is going to have a tough time with their offense. 

[Big Rondo]

Takes more natural ability to play good defense than it does offense. Anybody can learn proper shooting mechanics and good technique, you can't teach quick hands and quick feet, a big body or any number of other things involved in playing good D.

[jambr380]

I said Offense...and I think so by a fair margin.

For one, somebody may not be the best at team defense, but anybody can learn to exert the effort it takes to play great man defense. It really is an effort thing - even when you think you can't play any harder, there is always another gear.

With offense, while you can teach somebody how to shoot or how to dribble [with varying levels of success], it is very difficult to teach an overall feel of the game [instincts on when to cut, timing on passes, position posting up, etc]. There are so many more aspects to offense than simply shooting a basketball that go undetected.

I realize that great defenders like Garnett have mastered the art of defense - far more than just exerting effort, but one can learn to be a good defender, I just don't think the same goes for offense.

[CelticG1]

Definitely leaning toward offense.

Defense is very similar when you cross over sports in my opinion. You play a certain way regardless of the sport and the goal is the same

[timobusa]

I say Defense, as a guy who played in a somewhat decent high school basketball team.

Defensive schemes are a lot trickier to remember, like switching, hedging and all that stuff.

Offense came easier to me, but maybe its just me.

[Edgar]

that thing you do that makes the ball bounce....

[LarBrd33]

When it comes to players like Avery Bradley and Tony Allen, a lot of that comes down to pure effort.  Simmons was talking to Jalen Rose on his podcast and they talked about how Tony Allen warms up by using a medicine ball... he prepares like a boxer.  And as a result, it causes "pure defense" guys like Bradley and Allen to have terrible touch around the basket. 

I think team defense is probably often complex to learn... especially if you're a big man.  But man-on-man defense often comes down to effort and will. 

Running an offense is very difficult.  The traditional Point guard position is probably the hardest to learn.  So much goes into it.  That's why you have to value a guy like Rondo who does it so well despite being limited offensively. 

I guess my uneducated guess it that for guards, offense is the hardest to learn.. but for bigs, defense is the hardest.  There's something to be said for good footwork, but a lot of bigs simply have to back people down and dunk... learning defensive rotations and proper post defense is very complicated.  Learning how to run an offense like Rondo and learning how to control a defense like KG has got to be equally complex.   Throwing down dunks or using 100% of your energy towards man-on-man defense has got to be the least complex.

[CelticsFan9]

I'd have to say offense is more difficult.

Like we've seen with Thibs and the Bulls, if you can get everyone on the team to buy into a system -- and I mean everyone -- you can put in Daequan Cook, for example, and trust that he's going to make the correct rotations, and play defense the way Luol Deng would (not at the same level, obviously).

When you look at offense, it's tougher because a lot of times teams have to make in-game adjustments on that end.  If Carmelo doesn't have it going, Woodson has to be able to switch it up.  Then you look at a team like the Spurs, where they've been able to create a foundation that allows Parker, Duncan, and Manu to still contribute even if they're having off-night.  I guess offense becomes easier if you're given the time to let it grow and develop, while keeping your core around (Duncan and Pop, primarily).

[ManUp]

Offense.

Just about anyone can be coached into being a solid overall defender. The same can't be said on the other side of the court. Offense requires more skill and natural ability.