Offense vs, Defense

[raspsa]

Is it easier to teach a scorer/shooter to play good defense or would it be simpler to get someone with a dtrong defensive background and improve their scoring/shooting skills?

[HarlemHeat37]

Defense easily IMO..you have to get them early though..once you pick up too many bad tendencies and get used to not playing defense, a lot of guys become lost causes at that point..

You can teach somebody to shoot, but it's very difficult to teach somebody to become a scorer..

Defense is a lot easier..if you just give a consistent effort and being consistent energy, you can at least be an average defender IMO..if you have ANY good physical attributes AND give consistent effort, you can find your niche as a defender and find a specialty defensively..

[raspsa]

Defense easily IMO..you have to get them early though..once you pick up too many bad tendencies and get used to not playing defense, a lot of guys become lost causes at that point..

You can teach somebody to shoot, but it's very difficult to teach somebody to become a scorer..

Defense is a lot easier..if you just give a consistent effort and being consistent energy, you can at least be an average defender IMO..if you have ANY good physical attributes AND give consistent effort, you can find your niche as a defender and find a specialty defensively..

Spurs have tried converting scorers/shooters like Finley, Bonner, Mason, RJ etc. into passable defenders with questionnable results overall. Perhaps they got introduced to the Spurs system a little too late when age and bad habits were taking a toll.
On the other hand, Bowen was an outstanding defensive specialist who became a credible 3-point threat. I guess it pays to specialize since he was a one-trick pony on offense but a good one.