re: Modern NBA defenses are so tough

quote:

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if the theory that players are just more advanced were true there would be equally advanced defensive players who could stop offense

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This is a presumption you're trying to pass off as logic.

This would only work in an open system without rigidity provided by rules (including things like a limited size of the court).

This is where efficiency and strategy come into play. Teams finally realized how dumb they were in the past and started taking advantages of the inherent issues provided by the very structure of the game, primarily the 3 point shot, picks, and passing.

You presume that there should be a similar defensive efficiency, but that's why it's a presumption and not logic. Defenses are constrained by the size of the court, 3 point shot, picks, and being reactive to things like movement and passing. There is no magic pill they can take to make up for these disadvantages.

The NBA will have to severely alter the structure of the game, doing things like condensing the court, pushing back the 3, eliminating 3 in certain areas (like the corner), making close-range shots worth 1 point, and punishing picks harder. Maybe implement a limit on passes per possession. Stuff like that would have to be implemented to give the defensive improvement you're presuming.