2019-20 Around the NBA: Archived

[Kammrath]

I thought Dallas played pretty hard on defense in the playoffs

They definitely played harder on D. But they didn't play defense with the relentless tenacity that championship teams do. 

It may be an effort thing, but it also may be that they aren't playing on instinct (due to not enough familiarity or a poor scheme?). You play faster when you are working on instinct alone. When you have to think you slow down....a LOT.

And like I say frequently, defense is all about TEAM work. If you have even one guy not doing his part then none of it works and you all look like idiots.