Then why is it that there are no elite athletes that don't have elite defensive skills?  And vice versa?

Very good point. I also don't think I've seen any good athletes who are not good defenders as well.

So are you looking for bad defense or bad athleticism?

Posted by billscnb on 6/2/2011 7:46:00 PM (view original):
So are you looking for bad defense or bad athleticism?

I think perhaps the point is whether this is actually realistic. (At least that's my point.) Are good athletes always good defenders in real life? 

Just ask Amare Stoudemire if being a great athlete makes you a great defender or Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest if being below average-average athletically prevents you from being a great defender. This definitely needs to be adjusted along with so many D1 players being great offensive and defensive players, how many college players are actually great at both?

I don't think Artest and Bowen are below average athletically. Artest is a sculpture. There's got to be some correlation to perfect form and athleticism isn't there? Bowen is no slouch I don't think either...

It depends.  Does athleticism mean strength and jumping ability or body control.  I would submit that a good defender probably has good spatial awareness and body control most of the time.

Posted by pepwaves on 6/2/2011 7:49:00 PM (view original):

Posted by billscnb on 6/2/2011 7:46:00 PM (view original):
So are you looking for bad defense or bad athleticism?

I think perhaps the point is whether this is actually realistic. (At least that's my point.) Are good athletes always good defenders in real life? 

To me it's both a question of realism as well as wanting to know better how the game works.

It's pretty difficult to isolate which is more important on the defensive end when you can't isolate one from the other.

Not to mention that as a general rule, better variety in players is good for the game.