I have a friend that doesn't really understand the game of basketball very well, but he thinks hes the king **** and knows just about everything. He is trying to tell me that anyone that can handle the shooting guard position can also play the small forward and vise versa. He also thinks there is no difference between center and power forward, and anyone that can play one position can play the other. I was trying to explain to him that alot of times there are guys that can only play at one position, and there are a difference between each of the positions. I couldn't really put it into words to help explain it, but can someone just explain the differences between the 2 and the 3, and explain why you cant just throw anyone into either position? He asked me if I think Grant Hill could play shooting guard, and I said no. I wasn't sure exactly how to explain it, but I just know there is a difference between the two. I understand sometimes when you are trying to go big, then things change, but just in a regular scheme is what were talking about.
Pure 3's will usually not have the ball handling skills you'll need for the guard slots. Pure 2's are usually not physical enough to swing to the 3 i.e. reggie miller.
Actually the SF positions is supposed to be a very versatile position, they're normally supposed to be able to slash, handle the ball a little, rebound, post up, and be the active guy. They're like the middle between an inside and a perimeter player. Not all SG's can play SF. For example Ronald Murray is a SG, but he's 6'4.. He doesn't have the height to play SF, and while he can handle the ball does not have the mentality to be a PG, so he's basically just a SG. A players capability of playing a position is not determined by when the team plays small ball or things like that. It's determined by if the guy can start at the position. So if New Jersey wants to play McInnis-Kidd-Carter-Jefferson for 3 minutes in the game, it does not mean that Jefferson can play PF. It is true that many times the positions are interchangeable, but it's not true to it's always like that. For example: Guys that can play SG/SF (are capable of starting at both and will not have mismatch problems defensively against a regular player at the position): Kobe Bryant Lebron James Vince Carter Paul Pierce Tracy McGrady Boris Diaw Ricky Davis Joe Johnson Hedo Turkoglu etc etc Guys that can play SG but not SF (can play SG, not able to defend SF's, and usually these guys are smaller SG's that can be a ball handler, but can't run an offense): Ronald Murray Ray Allen Ben Gordon Leandro Barbosa Rashad McCants Juan Dixon Jamal Crawford David Wesley Deshawn Stevenson etc Guys that can play SF but not SG (again, they can't guard SG's without struggling, might also not be capable enough ball handlers when penetrating against much smaller players, these guys a lot of times are guys that can play PF, but aren't strong enough or good enough inside to be starting PF's, not all, but some): Rashard Lewis Peja Stojakovic Andrei Kirilenko Antawn Jamison Al Harrington Lamar Odom Antoine Walker etc Most of what it comes down to is ability to defend the position. The bigger SF's are usually not quick enough to guard the SG position, and most of them don't have the handles to play SF (exception Odom, Walker for the most part), though not all are like this. Similarly, the smaller SG's can't play SF because they will be mismatched on the defensive end, usually has little to do with skill. You could add that they don't give you everything most SF's do in terms of rebouding also. If you look at how guys like Rashard Lewis, Carmelo, Al Harrington etc can post up. If they're being guarded by one of those 6'2-6'4 PG's, or even 6'5 guy (who doesn't have some insane wingspan, they'll eat them alive. For todays game, this is what you'd expect from both positions: Shooting Guard: Play very good defense, create shots in the halfcourt offense, be able to hit the outside shot because they're critical in spreading the floor for the team. The shooting guard should be able to play as a catch and shoot guy and be able to create shots off the dribble. They're the usually the primary bail out player on a team, and they should have some ability to help the PG with ball handling duties. Small Forward: Also play good defense, be good in isolation situations. Like the SG should also be a bail out guy when the offense breaks down, and should have good slashing ability. Does not need to be as good a shooter as the SG, but should be able to hit open shots. The small forward should also be able to rebound, and be a hustle and dirty work kind of guy for the team. The SF should have some sort of a post game, the better his post game, the better. Lastly a SF should be able to handle the ball, not neccesarily have super dribbling skill, but be able to run the offense if the PG is overly pressure. This allows the SG to focus on scoring more than playmaking if the PG is pressured. That's what I think the positions are idealy supposed to do. Normally on teams you can't get all you want from each positions. Many teams will have a SF who is the shooter, and a SG who is mainly a slasher. Offensively you can usually interchange them. Many teams also will have SF's that cannot be relied on as secondary playmakers, many times you see SG's taking that role. Not relating to assists, but in terms of running the offense, most SG's will get more assists because they get more touches.
