I've been really happy with the defensive improvement with this team from last year. We still have a game here and there where we don't show up on that end (such as the 76ers game) but overall we are much better. Hopefully we can keep it going on that end.
I think it is less about pace than that a much higher percentage of our shots are 3 pointers which, when missed, lead to long rebounds and easier transition. That is a tradeoff worth making, but it will clearly put a ceiling on our transition defense metrics (and our overall defense as a result)
Mbah great defender, Tucker great defender and hustler, Ariza also very good at defense, harden has improved hustle and defense, Gordon also improved overall, Clint capela overall a better defender and bigger body, chris Paul returning and he’s a defensive Sarg
Advanced stats-wise, how does the team seem to fare with Nene on the court as opposed to Capela this year?
Some comments on our "defense" A quick look at our defensive four factors, indicates we aren't actually good at stopping people from scoring per se, but outstanding in the other categories (weird?) Opponent eFG% - 21st in the league at 52.5% Opponent TOV% - 12th in the league at 14.5% Our DRB% - 1st in the league at 83.4% Opponent FT rate - 6th in the league at 17.9% So we don't actually stop people from scoring efficiently, but we force alot of turnovers, rebound the hell out of amisses and we don't foul. Our top ten defense really focuses on limiting possessions.
Last year even when we won 24 out of 26 games we really struggled on the defensive end. This year, it's night and day. Anderson and Capela have clearly improved. Tucker and LMM bring a defensive presence off the bench we simply didn't have last year in Brewer and Dekker. And on the telecast yesterday, they said we were first in defensive rebound percentage. We rarely give teams second chances while getting plenty ourselves. Capela and Tucker have been monsters on the glass. I wish we still had Bev, he would be so happy with this defensive unit. But CP3 is just as good if not better defensively. And when we stagger his and Harden's minutes there will be an elite playmaker at all times on the court, reducing our turnovers and transition opportunities for the opposition. As good as we've been, there's a lot of room for improvement.
Who knew that just shoring up Beverley, starting Gordon and replacing Lou and Dekker with two defensive minded forwards was enough to be this good.
I haven't looked at the stats but I have been watching all the games and the Rockets to my eyes are genuinely playing good defense. Luc and Tucker especially have been big contributors but it seems like it's either infectious or the team has changed its approach because even guys like Anderson are at least playing hard and limiting mistakes even if they're not some kind of smothering force. They still have some lapses and the occasional dud game but that happens to every team and I actually kind of like watching them play defense this year, which hasn't been true in a long time.
#8 in Def Rtg #2 in Off Rtg #2 in Net Rtg https://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1 That's pretty elite! And that's not even with CP3 back yet.
The main thing is its way to early to look at these types of stats. 14 games into the 2016-17 season, the Los Angeles Clippers had the top defense, by DRtg in the NBA (they finished with the 12th in DRtg). The Spurs had the 8th best defense through 14 games and finished with the top defense. The Warriors, who finished 2nd in DRtg, were 15th through 14 games.
I don't think its too early to look at those stats, provided you are just looking at what has happened so far, and not as a predictor of how you will finish.
