NBA Storylines: The five most improved defenses Club, discussing how this season has seen gains in the defensive capabilities of the Thunder, Rockets, Wolves, Magic and Blazers.
However, 12 clubs have improved upon their season-long scoring defense of 100 possessions per possession. These five people have experienced the largest decline. Maximum decline, points permitted for every 100 possessions
1. Houston Rockets
The Rockets’ defense has improved significantly despite giving up 131.9 points per 100 possessions and losing three straight games. They would have had the third-largest decrease in points allowed per 100 possessions over the previous 25 seasons (8.2).
This is where the Rockets’ progress begins—in transition, where good defense (and terrible defense) begin. The most in the eighteen years of Synergy tracking, they conceded 25 points per game in transition two seasons ago. They exceeded it in the previous campaign, giving up 27.2 points per game in transition. For this season? Of all defenses over the past six seasons, the Rockets’ 14.9 transition points allowed per game are the fewest!
In the area where their opponents have shot a league-low 32.4%, the Rockets may have had some luck when it comes to their inside game. Second Spectrum data, however, indicates that 14% of their opponents’ 3-point attempts have been closely or extremely closely contested, an increase from the season’s 8% minimum.
When comparing opponent field goal percentage in the paint, which dropped from 60.4% (28th) last season to 54.6% (seventh) this season, the perimeter effective field goal percentage has decreased significantly. That relates to transition’s improvement once more.
In addition to playing against the third and fourth-ranked offenses in the league, the Rockets’ current three-game defensive slump is part of their limited five-game span over the past seven days. Before concluding the five-in-seven stretch in New Orleans the next night, they take on the Mavs, who have the sixth-ranked offense, on Friday (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass).
2. Timberwolves of Minnesota
Comparing the previous season, the Wolves’ defense was far stronger than their attack. Moreover, their defense has improved the most, as they have moved up from eighth to first place in the Western Conference.
Similar to the Rockets, the opponent 3-point percentage has significantly decreased for the Wolves. Their opponents’ percentage of 3-pointers contested hasn’t increased as much, but they are the only team in the top five in terms of opponent field goal percentage in the paint (third) and opponent effective field goal percentage on shots outside the paint (second).
Rudy Gobert’s minutes on the floor (-5.8) and his minutes off the floor (-5.4) have indicated a considerable decline in the Wolves’ points allowed per 100 possessions. The opposition’s free throw percentage has dropped by the second-largest amount in the league. Naz Reid committed 5.1 fouls per 36 minutes on average the previous season; this season, he has only committed 2.7.
Only the Wolves have faced more teams from the top 10 offensive rankings (9) than from the bottom 10 (8) in terms of games played. Following their Thursday (9 p.m. ET, NBA TV) home game against the 24th-ranked Lakers, those statistics will be even.
3. The Magic of Orlando
Similar to the Wolves, the Magic were stronger on defense the previous season and have carried that success into this season, ranking in the top five.
The opponent 3-point percentage has increased for the Magic, in contrast to the other four teams on this list. Nevertheless, from 42.5% (the fourth-highest) to merely 38.5% (the 14th-lowest) this season, their opponents’ 3-point percentage has dropped, the second-biggest decline in the league. Additionally, their basket defense has outperformed that of Indiana, the club with the most decline.
As the only club in the top five in both opponent turnover rate and defensive rebounding percentage, the Magic are among the best at restricting their opponents’ shooting opportunities. With just 259 total minutes and fewer than 20 minutes in each of his 19 games, Jonathan Isaac possibly the Magic’s finest defensive player has been kept to a minimum. Isaac leads the league in thefts and blocks per 36 minutes, and the Magic have allowed just 102.2 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court.
It’s the first time the Magic have lost three games in a row, and they still face a difficult schedule. Within the next seven days, they will visit the Bucks (third) on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass) and take on each of the top three offensive teams in the league.
4. Trail Blazers from Portland
The Blazers, who were among the worst teams in the league last season, have had some defensive lapses of late, but they are still among the league’s most improved teams in that regard. Their defensive rankings have really been in the bottom five for the previous four years.
Forcing turnovers is one of the Blazers’ strong defensive strategies. With a substantial margin, they saw the biggest jump in the league in their opponent turnover rate, which now stands at second place (16.0 per 100 possessions) after ranking 19th (13.6) the previous season. Synergy tracking shows that this season, they’ve only averaged 2.3 possessions per game of zone (14th most), down from 13.6 (second most) the previous year.
Even though the Blazers’ opponent effective field goal percentage (54.8%) is a bit below average (54.3%), this is a major increase over the previous campaign. However, every single one of those gains has come from free throws. In comparison to their 10th-place performance from the previous season, their opponents have shot significantly better in the paint (62.2%, the greatest opponent mark in the league).
5. The Thunder of Oklahoma City
With their offensive ranking 30th the previous season, the Thunder were statistically the most improved club in the league last season. When the league average is considered, their defensive performance this season has improved significantly.
After improving from 1.6 (fourth) to 2.8 (first) steals per game last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now leads the league. With 16.3 opponent turnovers per 100 possessions, the Thunder lead the league; nevertheless, they had the same rate as the previous season, when they finished second.
With the decline in paint time outpacing the decline in outside shots, they have witnessed the third-largest reduction in opponent effective field goal % in the league. There has also been a notable decline in the proportion of their opponents’ shots that fall into the paint, with that percentage falling from 50% (the 13th lowest) to just 46% (the second lowest) this season. Although the opponents have shot worse in the paint when Chet Holmgren is on the court (53.1%) than when he is off the floor (54.4%), that rate has been constant when he is on the floor.
Only five of the Thunder’s twenty-five games have been against teams with offensive rankings currently in the top ten. They have a crucial game on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass) against the Clippers and their seventh-ranked offense.