Most Improved Defenses

Boise Blazer · Nov 28, 2014

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/featur...rs-notebook-most-improved-defenses/index.html

When it comes to competing for a championship, defense is a little more important than offense. Over the last 15 years, 26 of the 30 teams who have made The Finals (and 14 of the 15 champions) have ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency, while 22 (and 13 of the 15 champions) have ranked in the top 10 in offensive efficiency.
The San Antonio Spurs are a great example of the importance of defense. While we think first of their ball and player movement on the other end of the floor, they got back to The Finals when they got back to being a top-five defensive team.
With that in mind, it's time to look at the five teams who have taken the biggest step forward defensively this season. You would think this list would be heavy on Eastern Conference teams, who have had more opportunities to feast on the anemic offenses of their brethren. But only one of the top six most improved defenses (Memphis is sixth) comes from the East.
Here are the five most improved defenses through Thursday, according to decrease in points allowed per 100 possessions from last season.
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3. Portland Trail Blazers

2013-14: 104.7 (16th)
2014-15: 99.5 (6th)

Improvement: -5.2 points per 100 possessions
Opponents: 5 of 15 have been top-10 offenses, 4 of 15 have been bottom-10 offenses.

Blazers' defense - last two seasons
Season OppeFG% Rank DREB% Rank OppTOV% Rank OppFTA Rate Rank
2013-14 48.8% 7 74.7% 13 12.2% 30 0.253 5
2014-15 44.9% 2 76.2% 8 11.7% 30 0.270 11
Difference -3.9% +1.5% -0.5% +0.017

Amazingly, the Blazers have forced fewer turnovers than they did last season. And the 11.7 per 100 possessions that they're forcing this year would be the lowest mark since the league started counting turnovers in 1977.
But forcing turnovers is secondary to making your opponent miss shots, which the Blazers have done better at the basket, from mid-range, and from 3-point range. Not only do they rank first in opponent field goal percentage in the restricted area (55.0 percent) and 2nd in 3-point defense (29.0 percent), but only two teams - Chicago and Golden State - have forced their opponents to take a greater percentage of their shots from in between.
In part, this is an extension of in-season improvement from last year, when the Blazers ranked 23rd defensively before the All-Star break and 10th after it. But while Portland's starting lineup allowed just 97.1 points per 100 possessions after the break last season, all other lineups allowed 104.6.
So a big key has been the additions of Steve Blake and Chris Kaman, who have made Portland's bench more of a defensive unit. The Blazers have allowed just 94.2 points per 100 possessions with the pair on the floor,with Kaman ranking among the league's top rim protectors for the second straight year.
Early this month, the Blazers held three straight top-10 offenses under a point per possession. That included a game where the Mavs' No. 1 offense scored about 91 points per 100 possessions, it's lowest mark of the season.
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magnifier661 · Nov 28, 2014

Impressive! I believe this is mainly a team effort. Everyone has to work for this type of accomplishment

Boise Blazer · Nov 28, 2014

Its crazy that our defense is that good with a records low in forced turnovers.

kjironman1 · Nov 28, 2014

Great post Boise.
Repped!

HailBlazers · Nov 28, 2014

Boise Blazer said: ↑

Its crazy that our defense is that good with a records low in forced turnovers.
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Yea it blows my mind, but hey whatever works!

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