Reflection On Wilt’s 55 Rebounds
Basketball and especially the NBA is a sport largely centered on its fans and they want to be entertained. When it comes to making the fans jump off their seats it’s offense rather than defense that usually does the trick. They love seeing the amazing dunks, 3 pointers and last second shots. That’s why fans love watching Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker rather than the boring but fundamentally sound Tim Duncan. I have no problem with that. Showtime stuff really brings in the fans. My worry though is that it seems that fans today might value showtime over fundamentals, offense over defense.
When Kobe scored 81 points, when then rookie Charlie Villanueva scored 48 - such were big stuff last season and were most celebrated. Notice they were offensive feats. I challenge you to remember a celebrated defensive play last season. I admit that even I can’t remember. This brings me to Wilt Chamberlain. Everybody talks about his 100 points in a single game especially last season when Kobe came quite close at 81.
What nobody really talks about is his rebounding record. While he has the most points at 100 he also has the most rebounds in a game at 55. It’s a record I believe will never be beaten especially since the best rebounders today like KG and Dwight Howard only do around 20 on a good day. 55 rebounds! That’s stuff of legends and that’s why he’s one of the greatest ever. That being said, this is my chance to say (and I’m sure Scott Skiles will agree with me) that NBA players and fans should give more value to defense than it’s being given now. Guys who think they can make it in the NBA by just being an awesome dunker (like some guys I’ve seen in the past) are seriously wrong. Maybe they can make it with those And1 guys but not the NBA.
I leave by saying that I hope that more and more players believe that learning the fundamentals and learning defensive play is the key to winning. ultimately, winning is the only way to draw the crowds and you win by doing these things. An amazing offense is good but defense is better. Sometimes I wish that all NBA teams follow the Scott Skiles philosophy: If you can’t play defense you can’t play.
[edited for a lot of wrong grammar]
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1 opinion for Reflection On Wilt’s 55 Rebounds
archangel joseph
Jan 8, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Defense well played often spells victory. Just look at the great teams…most of them played good defense even if all we remember is the shots that went in. The great Boston and Lakers teams, Blazers during Walton’s year, New York in the early ’70’s, the Bulls during the 6-year run (with excellent defense by all concerned even if all that come to mind are the heroics and acrobatics of Michael…)
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