[Brickcity]

They play much better defense in NBA than college.  The game is entirely different. It’s predicated on length athleticism and 3’s. With a couple exceptions, there is not much low post play.  With most teams, its run, spread, slash, kick, shoot. With some high pick and rolls thrown in. Plus you have a much deeper 3, and players with the ability to shoot it from 5 feet beyond the arc.  Off the dribble. Often creating their own space with a step back. Meaning there is more floor to cover.   The athleticism is off the charts.  Absent that athleticism, most have little chance. So they are looking first and foremost at athletic ability and the potential to grow.

When the NBA plays defense, it does so at a much higher level than in college. However, due to the great athleticism etc. that you point out, playing defense is exhausting and does not bring rewards justifying the required effort. When you have guys who can jack up a shot from anywhere on defense's half court and have it go in most of the time, you really can't defend against that. You certainly can't do it over a long season where you play 4 or 5 games a week. Guys take plays off on defense all the time. When the playoffs arrive, you will see more intensity and more defense. Night in, night out, not so much. As you point out, the NBA is looking for athletes that can meet the NBA physical requirements. Hopefully when they find those guys they can teach them to play basketball and not look "lost" out there. Some of them are capable of it, moist aren't. That is why guys who can meet the physical requirements AND actually have basketball skills are so important in the league.

Sure they take some possessions (and even games off)  defensively.  But I inferred from your comment (perhaps wrongfully) that you were saying that they played “better” defense in college.  They don’t. In fact they don’t do anything better in college.  It is much  easier to defend in college, cause the courts compressed and you don’t have near as many scorers.  The game is considerably slower to boot.

Watching Okpala play, I never got the sense that he was into "team basketball." Not surprised that he jumped ship ASAP.

What will be interesting is a guy like Isa Silva. Let's assume for the moment he wins the starting PG spot next season and has a great year. My guess is he'll bolt too. I remember watching an interview with him - I think it may have been at the time of his Stanford commitment - and he couldn't stop talking about his desire to play in the NBA. I'd never heard a Stanford recruit talk so blatantly about his dream of playing in "the league." That's not to say that he's not a team-oriented guy or won't love playing at Stanford. What I do think it means is that the moment he thinks he has a shot to be drafted - especially if it's in the first round - he's gonzo.

[Brickcity]

They play much better defense in NBA than college.  The game is entirely different. It’s predicated on length athleticism and 3’s. With a couple exceptions, there is not much low post play.  With most teams, its run, spread, slash, kick, shoot. With some high pick and rolls thrown in. Plus you have a much deeper 3, and players with the ability to shoot it from 5 feet beyond the arc.  Off the dribble. Often creating their own space with a step back. Meaning there is more floor to cover.   The athleticism is off the charts.  Absent that athleticism, most have little chance. So they are looking first and foremost at athletic ability and the potential to grow.

When the NBA plays defense, it does so at a much higher level than in college. However, due to the great athleticism etc. that you point out, playing defense is exhausting and does not bring rewards justifying the required effort. When you have guys who can jack up a shot from anywhere on defense's half court and have it go in most of the time, you really can't defend against that. You certainly can't do it over a long season where you play 4 or 5 games a week. Guys take plays off on defense all the time. When the playoffs arrive, you will see more intensity and more defense. Night in, night out, not so much. As you point out, the NBA is looking for athletes that can meet the NBA physical requirements. Hopefully when they find those guys they can teach them to play basketball and not look "lost" out there. Some of them are capable of it, moist aren't. That is why guys who can meet the physical requirements AND actually have basketball skills are so important in the league.

Sure they take some possessions (and even games off)  defensively.  But I inferred from your comment (perhaps wrongfully) that you were saying that they played “better” defense in college.  They don’t. In fact they don’t do anything better in college.  It is much  easier to defend in college, cause the courts compressed and you don’t have near as many scorers.  The game is considerably slower to boot.

Watching Okpala play, I never got the sense that he was into "team basketball." Not surprised that he jumped ship ASAP.

What will be interesting is a guy like Isa Silva. Let's assume for the moment he wins the starting PG spot next season and has a great year. My guess is he'll bolt too. I remember watching an interview with him - I think it may have been at the time of his Stanford commitment - and he couldn't stop talking about his desire to play in the NBA. I'd never heard a Stanford recruit talk so blatantly about his dream of playing in "the league." That's not to say that he's not a team-oriented guy or won't love playing at Stanford. What I do think it means is that the moment he thinks he has a shot to be drafted - especially if it's in the first round - he's gonzo.