Chapter 24 Best Friends_3

The Bullets no longer played their "flesh-grinding" style of 1988, which was too taxing for the players, and nobody wanted to keep playing that way.

Basketball, essentially, is an offensive game, and while defense is important, players find it easier to put their energy into offense.

Most people play to find ways to get the ball into the basket, and simply scoring more than the opponent is enough.

Few find pleasure solely in playing defense and preventing the opponent from scoring.

Maybe a player or two would feel that way, but it's difficult for an entire team.

In a particular series or during the playoffs, a team could devote all their energy to defense.

But over time, they still need offense, as scoring provides a positive motivation.

Professional players need scoring stats to negotiate big contracts; no one wants to be a workhorse forever.