Spurs are having a historically good defensive year so far

[Kidd K]

The Spurs so far to date this season have a higher Defensive Rating above league average than any team in NBA history as of the 1970's (stats from basketballreference). Didn't bother looking further back than that.

The top 5 Defensive Ratings better than that year's league average:

2016 Spurs: -9.7
2004 Spurs: -8.8
2008 Celtics: -8.6
1993 Knicks: -8.3
1994 Knicks: -8.1


So to date, the current Spurs are the most outstanding defensive team in NBA history for a given season as of 1970. You might be thinking, well not all of those teams won titles. True, but let's look at their Offensive Ratings too.

2016 Spurs: +5.4 (3rd in NBA)
2008 Celtics: +2.7 (8th in NBA)
1994 Knicks: -0.6 (16th in NBA)
2004 Spurs: -0.7 (15th in NBA)
1993 Knicks: -1.9 (22nd in NBA)


Tbh you can see a trend. Close to league average offense with amazing league best defense = very good success. Amazing D and notably better than average offense = title. Spurs this year have an amazing defense and excellent offense.

Season isn't half over yet but this is a historically great team thus far.

Go Spurs :bobo

[spursfaninla]

Yes, Spurs are playing REALLY well, and are clearly and easily the best defensive team in the league.
However, I am curious as to why basketballreference.com's defensive rating does not appear to match the ESPN defensive efficiency metric, and I mean they are WAY off.
Current Spurs defensive efficiency rating:

2016: 93.3
As an example:

ESPN 2008 defensive efficiency ratings:
Boston: 82
Houston: 86
Detroit 87
Spurs 87.8

2007:
Spurs: 82

2004:
Spurs: 78.5


Another website gives the Spurs defensive efficiency as 2nd since 2003, when the spurs team just edged out our current defensive efficency to date:

https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/defensive-efficiency?date=2004-06-16

Spurs 2016: .927
Spurs 2003: .921