Difference between SG and SF?

[josh99]

What is the main difference between a SG and a SF?

[iamgine]

WIKIPEDIA FTW!

The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team.[1] Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as combo guards. Jamal Crawford, for example, is a shooting guard who is more of a playmaker than a shooter. A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman. An example would be Kobe Bryant.
Characteristics and styles of play

The Basketball Handbook by Lee Rose describes a shooting guard as someone whose primary role is to score points. Typically, shooting guards are taller than point guards and more athletic. Size at the position varies; most shooting guards in the professional game are between 6 ft 3 and 6 ft 9 inches or 1.91 to 2.06 m. Many bigger shooting guards also play small forward. While they are usually the best jump-shooters on the floor, some shooting guards (such as Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Ben Gordon, Kobe Bryant, Jason Richardson, Tracy McGrady, and Dwyane Wade) are known for attacking the basket. Shooting guards should be good ball handlers and be able to pass reasonably well, though passing is not their main priority. Since good shooting guards may attract double-teams, they are frequently the team's back-up ball handlers to the point guard.




The small forward, or, colloquially, the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall. The small forward position is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the main five basketball positions, due to the nature of its role. Most current NBA small forwards are between 6'5"/1.96 m and 6'10"/2.08 m in height.

Famous small forwards include Julius Erving, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Chris Mullin, James Worthy, Larry Bird, Bernard King, Scottie Pippen and many others.

Small forwards are primarily responsible for scoring points and also often as secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forwards and centers, although a few who play as point forwards have considerable passing responsibilities. Many small forwards in professional basketball, however, are prolific scorers. The styles with which small forwards amass their points vary widely, as some players at the position like the Hornets' Peja Stojaković are very accurate straight up shooters, while others like the Houston Rockets' Ron Artest prefer to "bang inside", initiate and/or not shy away from physical contact with opposing players, while others are primarily slashers such as Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James. One common thread between all kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line", that is have opposing players called for committing shooting fouls against them, as fouls are frequently called on the defense when offensive players "take the ball hard" to the basket, that is, aggressively attempt post-up plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks. Therefore, accurate foul shooting is an imperative skill for small forwards, many of whom record a large portion of their points from the foul line.

Defense is often a major priority for small forwards, who are often counted on using their athleticism and size as defensive advantages. Shawn Marion of the Miami Heat and Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons who with their length and athleticism are able to guard any position on the floor and are often called upon to do so. Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, while not a star offensive player, is a masterful and tenacious defender, both on the perimeter and closer to the hoop. Former small forwards known for their defensive abilities include Scottie Pippen, one of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA for most of his career.

[craiye]

That's exactly why Wikipedia can be extremely innaccurate. Crawford is a playmaker and not a shooter? Bah. He's a chucker. Ben Gordon attacks the basket? Riiiight.

Some points are on though - I know it wasn't you who wrote it, just criticizing the content. The differences boil down to a few things:

Height - SFs are generally taller than SGs
Scoring - Most teams rely on their SG to score moreso than the SF
Playmaking - SGs are often seen as the "backup" ball handler and tend to have better passing/playmaking skills than anyone outside of the PG.
Rebounding - SFs are generally counted on to rebound more than SGs because of their height advantage (compared to the SG on the team).

That's about it...

[Posterize246]

Shooting guard is traditionally quicker, possibly 2 inches or so shorter, and less physical. It also requires you to be a better ball handler.

[josh99]

WIKIPEDIA FTW!

The Shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team.[1] Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as combo guards. Jamal Crawford, for example, is a shooting guard who is more of a playmaker than a shooter. A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman. An example would be Kobe Bryant.
Characteristics and styles of play

The Basketball Handbook by Lee Rose describes a shooting guard as someone whose primary role is to score points. Typically, shooting guards are taller than point guards and more athletic. Size at the position varies; most shooting guards in the professional game are between 6 ft 3 and 6 ft 9 inches or 1.91 to 2.06 m. Many bigger shooting guards also play small forward. While they are usually the best jump-shooters on the floor, some shooting guards (such as Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Ben Gordon, Kobe Bryant, Jason Richardson, Tracy McGrady, and Dwyane Wade) are known for attacking the basket. Shooting guards should be good ball handlers and be able to pass reasonably well, though passing is not their main priority. Since good shooting guards may attract double-teams, they are frequently the team's back-up ball handlers to the point guard.




The small forward, or, colloquially, the three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall. The small forward position is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the main five basketball positions, due to the nature of its role. Most current NBA small forwards are between 6'5"/1.96 m and 6'10"/2.08 m in height.

Famous small forwards include Julius Erving, Rick Barry, John Havlicek, Chris Mullin, James Worthy, Larry Bird, Bernard King, Scottie Pippen and many others.

Small forwards are primarily responsible for scoring points and also often as secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forwards and centers, although a few who play as point forwards have considerable passing responsibilities. Many small forwards in professional basketball, however, are prolific scorers. The styles with which small forwards amass their points vary widely, as some players at the position like the Hornets' Peja Stojaković are very accurate straight up shooters, while others like the Houston Rockets' Ron Artest prefer to "bang inside", initiate and/or not shy away from physical contact with opposing players, while others are primarily slashers such as Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James. One common thread between all kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line", that is have opposing players called for committing shooting fouls against them, as fouls are frequently called on the defense when offensive players "take the ball hard" to the basket, that is, aggressively attempt post-up plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks. Therefore, accurate foul shooting is an imperative skill for small forwards, many of whom record a large portion of their points from the foul line.

Defense is often a major priority for small forwards, who are often counted on using their athleticism and size as defensive advantages. Shawn Marion of the Miami Heat and Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons who with their length and athleticism are able to guard any position on the floor and are often called upon to do so. Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, while not a star offensive player, is a masterful and tenacious defender, both on the perimeter and closer to the hoop. Former small forwards known for their defensive abilities include Scottie Pippen, one of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA for most of his career.

Thanks. I should have thought of Wikipedia.

[SayTownRy]

Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, while not a star offensive player, is a masterful and tenacious defender, both on the perimeter and closer to the hoop.

wiki author knows the score

[gasolina]

In the pro game its not so much. But in the playground, there's a big difference.

Most pick up games I play is on zone. The 3 must have reasonable enough rebounding skills and interior D not to become a liability on defense.

And on offense, he must have a jumpshot as well. Coz he won't be hanging down low.

[Posterize246]

In the pro game its not so much. But in the playground, there's a big difference.

Most pick up games I play is on zone. The 3 must have reasonable enough rebounding skills and interior D not to become a liability on defense.

And on offense, he must have a jumpshot as well. Coz he won't be hanging down low.

i didn't know pickup games had positions

everytime i play it's a point guard bringing the ball up and then every other guy

[Ryoga Hibiki]

The wiki articole is pretty lame, imo.
You know why your question is coming? It's because in modern basketball there's no difference between SG and SF, just like between PF and C.
The only distintion is the usually one is bigger/taller than the other, but they're basically doing the same things on the court.

The Wizards and, maybe, the Rockets are the only teams that actually run plays in the 2-2-1 format, using so 2 guards back, 2 forwards on the wings and a center inside, while almost any other team uses 1 point guard with most of the handling duties, 2 swingman outside and 2 big men in the post.
That's why, for instance, we have still people arguing about Duncan being a center or power forward when there's no clear distinction between the two (<= that's why the arguing never ends).

[Luigi]

The wiki articole is pretty lame, imo.
You know why your question is coming? It's because in modern basketball there's no difference between SG and SF, just like between PF and C.
The only distintion is the usually one is bigger/taller than the other, but they're basically doing the same things on the court.

The Wizards and, maybe, the Rockets are the only teams that actually run plays in the 2-2-1 format, using so 2 guards back, 2 forwards on the wings and a center inside, while almost any other team uses 1 point guard with most of the handling duties, 2 swingman outside and 2 big men in the post.
That's why, for instance, we have still people arguing about Duncan being a center or power forward when there's no clear distinction between the two (<= that's why the arguing never ends).

I agree. There are points, swingmen, and big men. Too bad the All Star game divides guard and forwards and centers. Back in the day that might work, but not any more. Players like Duncan fight to be a Forward to be a starter and swingmen get all strategic in calling themselved 2s or 3s. I hate it.

[Mathius]

Pretty much most of you are completely wrong. The difference between a SG and a SF is based entirely on what type of system you're running.

And lets be honest, in most cases, we classify players by their offensive position, not defensive, so it really depends on what offense you're running.

Mathius

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

What is the main difference between a SG and a SF?

one is small
the other is smaller

[Jasper]

I would humbly say " ones taller than the other "

[InspiredLebowski]

In Indiana, absolutely nothing.

[1~Gibson~1]

Shooting Guards
Shoot Better
Quicker
Smaller
a little less athletic

Small Forwards
Athletic(er)
Bigger
Stronger
Taller