The idea that defense wins championships is being challenged in today’s NBA due to the proficiency of modern offenses, and former NBAer and host of the “Old Man and the 3” podcast spent some time on a recent episode with fellow ex-NBAer and current broadcaster Tim Legler of ESPN exploring whether that old adage is still true.
Teams must be elite offensively to compete for a title now, but does defense still matter for elite ball clubs when contending? The impact of defenses on high-powered offenses has diminished, and players with increasingly versatile offensive skills have altered defensive game plans, making it challenging to funnel the ball to less proficient scorers.
What does the evidence tell us about the importance of defense to contenders in today’s NBA?
Check the clip above to hear their case for the role of defense on the league’s biggest stage.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
