In regards to your; "you can't make this stuff up" remark.
This quote is from an NBA head coach whose team's defense had been the best in the league his last two there prior to moving on to a perennial bottom feeder team whom he got in the playoffs his first season there last year. And, this year, currently has his team with the best record in the NBA Eastern Division.
"If you want to win and win in this league at the level that we hope to, you can't do it if you don't guard. And defense comes down to the effort you're willing to put in. The second effort, the third effort, the fourth effort that you're willing to put in. And right now, we don't have enough guys that are putting in the second, third and fourth effort."
Kind of self explanatory. His point is that one (the players) have to be voluntarily willing to to dig deep down within themselves to play good consistent defense, a mental toughness, mindset type of deal.
Offense, is a different animal all together, and that's where a coach's talent, prowess, etc. for same is far more critical.