Ranked Defense Watch

[Immortal Spur]

Thought it might be fun to keep track of this while the season progresses..

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[marinoman]

Wow we skyrocketed up a spot, I guess that’s something

[John B]

We don’t really have a defensive stopper, but team defense should get better as season goes.

[timvp]

Not last? Pretty impressive given the personnel, tbh.

[Immortal Spur]

I wonder how far we can climb.

[bklynspursfan]

24th now in DRTG

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html

[Immortal Spur]

24th now in DRTG

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html

:wow

[r0drig0lac]

24th now in DRTG

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html

pistons 2004 i see you

[DAF86]

If we can somehow get to the middle of the table, I will be satisfied.

[Mirrornick]

DeMVP

[Mugen]

If we can somehow get to the middle of the table, I will be satisfied.

If the Spurs can get to 15th in DRating, I'll get one of these GNSFs to suck you off tbh.

[DAF86]

If the Spurs can get to 15th in DRating, I'll get one of these GNSFs to suck you off tbh.

Make sure is one of the super homer bunch. They seem to be good at sucking off.

[bklynspursfan]

pistons 2004 i see you

:lol

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

If we can somehow get to the middle of the table, I will be satisfied.

I think after normalization they will be somewhere in the middle. Sure, the personnel is less than ideal but simply giving effort, which is a given when playing for Pop combined with a semblance of a defensive system, which the Spurs do have, will get you above a few teams that barely care to guard anyone. Spurs even employ the occasional zone defense, including switching to it within a single defensive possession, which is more than most teams are capable of.

The bigger question is how far the offensive rating will fall after normalization, because it will and this is what will form this team's ceiling.

[Chinook]

I think after normalization they will be somewhere in the middle. Sure, the personnel is less than ideal but simply giving effort, which is a given when playing for Pop combined with a semblance of a defensive system, which the Spurs do have, will get you above a few teams that barely care to guard anyone. Spurs even employ the occasional zone defense, including switching to it within a single defensive possession, which is more than most teams are capable of.

The bigger question is how far the offensive rating will fall after normalization, because it will and this is what will form this team's ceiling.

Dunno if the ORtg will far much. It's not like the team is leading the league there. 11th seems sustainable, given LMA has yet to arrive.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Dunno if the ORtg will far much. It's not like the team is leading the league there. 11th seems sustainable, given LMA has yet to arrive.

Hope you're right, I expect it closer to 20th but I might be a bit too negative. If Forbes can continue being good and DeRozan's playmaking elite, then yes. I think they desperately need another ball handler and creator or someone emerging as one, otherwise they'll stumble into scoring droughts.

[bklynspursfan]

19th now in Drtg. With the Pels coming up, that could drop em a few spots again if they let em score like they have been

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html

[YGWHI]

19th now in Drtg. With the Pels coming up, that could drop em a few spots again if they let em score like they have been

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html

Pels seemed pretty weak in last games. Plus, LMA always plays good defense against AD. IMO the Spurs finish #16 this week.

[SAGirl]

The sun's contributed big time to the cause. They were missing Devin Booker but who cares.

[Immortal Spur]

from last to middle of the pack. nice.

[Fireball]

we played shitty teams ... lets see if the improvements regarding defensive cohesiveness outweighs the upcoming much tougher opponents

[kaji157]

Would me nice to watch what happens here.

[TDMVPDPOY]

pau better from the bench

have either pondexter or cunningham play pf alongside lma

upkeep defense 48mins

[Mirrornick]

I don't remember any team play any defense this year. Can't even fight through screens without getting a call.

[skin27]

Our defense looked good against the suns because they suck and booker did not play.LOL


Let see how they handle pelicans..

[bklynspursfan]

1058925253164961797

[Immortal Spur]

i wonder where our defense ranks over the last four games

[skin27]

It’s nice to see the team play good defense..I hope that can maintain it

[Dhbsr555]

The rotation was actually good tonight

[Mr. Body]

:lol at all those who disparage Pop

[cd021]

8th in Offense, 17th in D, not including the Pels game. :wow

[Dhbsr555]

I’ll take it

[Immortal Spur]

What is the teams ceiling on d???

The system gonna make a lot ppl here eat crow... lost Green, Leonard, Anderson... playing Mills, Forbes, Beli heavy minutes... :wow

[buttsR4rebounding]

i wonder where our defense ranks over the last four games

Over the last 4 Spurs are #1 with 95.2/100 possessions.

[Immortal Spur]

Over the last 4 Spurs are #1 with 95.2/100 possessions.
thanks! had no idea how to find that. That's incredible.

[Cry Havoc]

:lol at all those who disparage Pop

Seriously, it's the biggest case of Dunning-Kruger I've ever fucking seen.

[NASpurs]

thanks! had no idea how to find that. That's incredible.

https://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=4

The offensive rating drops to 16th in that same time period though :lol

[Immortal Spur]

https://stats.nba.com/teams/advanced/?sort=DEF_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2018-19&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&LastNGames=4

The offensive rating drops to 16th in that same time period though :lol
I'm not worried about the offense tho, that's been coming easy

[Spurtacular]

Patty Mills makes the other team's PG look like an MVP candidate on a nightly basis; and amazingly enough, Forbes is an even worse defender than him.

[RC_Drunkford]

I really thought Pop was delusional thinking he could fix this defense with his schemes. Especially considering the personell. But he did it. Give him credit

[r0drig0lac]

I’ll take it

top 10 in both sides on the court? me too

[YGWHI]

8th in Offense, 17th in D, not including the Pels game. :wow


Pels seemed pretty weak in last games. Plus, LMA always plays good defense against AD. IMO the Spurs finish #16 this week.

Wasn't wrong at all.

People here just overreact after some loss but the Spurs are fine.

[bklynspursfan]

1061685652234887168

[Seventyniner]

1061685652234887168

Not bad at all. If the team stays healthy, I expected something like 6th on offense and 15th on defense on the season, but this differential is about right.

[exstatic]

1061685652234887168

Pop, doing work with string, baling wire, duct tape, and smoke & mirrors. Maybe he realized that with the new rules, the premium on top defenders would be reduced, and the Spurs could still put a good team defense out there with guys giving real effort, and switching nearly everything.

[r0drig0lac]

1061685652234887168

good

[John B]

1058925253164961797
This and the new ticky tac rule, Pops is doing what Pops knows best. Now if only the league could cleanup those Harden sissy foulbaits.

[J_Paco]

Pop, doing work with string, baling wire, duct tape, and smoke & mirrors. Maybe he realized that with the new rules, the premium on top defenders would be reduced, and the Spurs could still put a good team defense out there with guys giving real effort, and switching nearly everything.

Elite or very good individual defenders are still necessary, but I think the emphasis on team defensive concepts and "playing on a string" will be more vital than ever.

The Tony Allen's, Bruce Bowen's & Ben Wallace's - guys with HOF level defense but no semblance of an offensive game - of the league will be fazed out more and more as teams look for defenders that can provide at least a modicum of offense.

The days of the defensive specialist (and plodding center) are dying if the league (office) continues to favor offense and perimeter scoring.

Sadly, cause I do miss the varying skillsets and abilities of the 90's and early 2000's.

[Maddog]

This and the new ticky tac rule, Pops is doing what Pops knows best. Now if only the league could cleanup those Harden sissy foulbaits.


Elite or very good individual defenders are still necessary, but I think the emphasis on team defensive concepts and "playing on a string" will be more vital than ever.

The Tony Allen's, Bruce Bowen's & Ben Wallace's - guys with HOF level defense but no semblance of an offensive game - of the league will be fazed out more and more as teams look for defenders that can provide at least a modicum of offense.

The days of the defensive specialist (and plodding center) are dying if the league (office) continues to favor offense and perimeter scoring.

Sadly, cause I do miss the varying skillsets and abilities of the 90's and early 2000's.

Pop has adjusted before. After 99 they changed the rules. Also has been fairly flexible as far as offensive schemes.
This one is trickier as he doesn't have elite personnel, but given the slow start

[exstatic]

Elite or very good individual defenders are still necessary, but I think the emphasis on team defensive concepts and "playing on a string" will be more vital than ever.

The Tony Allen's, Bruce Bowen's & Ben Wallace's - guys with HOF level defense but no semblance of an offensive game - of the league will be fazed out more and more as teams look for defenders that can provide at least a modicum of offense.

The days of the defensive specialist (and plodding center) are dying if the league (office) continues to favor offense and perimeter scoring.

Sadly, cause I do miss the varying skillsets and abilities of the 90's and early 2000's.

Bruce Bowen does NOT belong on the list with those two yayhoos. While he couldn't create a lick, he was a pretty damn elite 3 point shooter, and one of the vanguards of the 3 and D movement. His career mark was 39% on 2.4 attempts per game, and he led the league in 2002-2003 with 44% on 2.8 attempts per game. His floor spacing absolutely allowed prime Tim and young Tony to operate with impunity in the paint.

Tony Allen couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and Ben Wallace needed to be within 2 feet of the basket, preferably dunking, to see the ball go in the hole.

[Chinook]

We've gone over this, but Bowen was definitely a guy who took advantage of his time offensively. His shooting would not really matter in the modern game, where stand-still corner-campers have been around long enough to be accounted for. Maybe Bruce would have adjusted. But dude took 84 percent of his threes from those spots with the Spurs and eventually worked his way to taking 90 percent there by his final year with the club. Dude wasn't a zero on offense, but I definitely wouldn't project that as a strength if you could bring him back in his prime.

[Figa]

don't want to ruin the party but .....cupcake schedule tbh.
I would be surprised if the Spurs are still the 12th defense after the brutal incoming 1 and half month. I hope Pop proves me wrong...

[Mugen]

Still super early and they haven't played anybody of note (including getting lit up by the Magic).

But if Pop can get this roster to to the top 1/3 defensively in the league, it'd be easily his best defensive coaching season of his career and arguably of all time tbh.

[John B]

Bruce Bowen does NOT belong on the list with those two yayhoos. While he couldn't create a lick, he was a pretty damn elite 3 point shooter, and one of the vanguards of the 3 and D movement. His career mark was 39% on 2.4 attempts per game, and he led the league in 2002-2003 with 44% on 2.8 attempts per game. His floor spacing absolutely allowed prime Tim and young Tony to operate with impunity in the paint.

Tony Allen couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, and Ben Wallace needed to be within 2 feet of the basket, preferably dunking, to see the ball go in the hole.
I strongly believe Bruce was a HOF defensive player. He defended the best perimeter scorers of his time, from Allen to Nash, Kobe and even Dirk day in and day out. And as much as Timmy was big for us, we couldn’t win without a prime wing defender like Elliott, Bruce and Kawhitter. A prime Bruce would made it very difficult for Curry to setup the tempo with his closeins and busy hands, and even probably caused him an ankle injury tbh.

[J_Paco]

I strongly believe Bruce was a HOF defensive player. He defended the best perimeter scorers of his time, from Allen to Nash, Kobe and even Dirk day in and day out. And as much as Timmy was big for us, we couldn’t win without a prime wing defender like Elliott, Bruce and Kawhitter. A prime Bruce would made it very difficult for Curry to setup the tempo with his closeins and busy hands, and even probably caused him an ankle injury tbh.

I think he meant that Bruce was better equipped as an offensive player than Allen and Wallace, although I disagree. Not that he wasn't an elite (or all-time great) level defender which he most definitely was.

[HarlemHeat37]

Bowen would have never made it in today's NBA:lol he was given A LOT of leeway by the refs with his hands, he would have fouled out in 10 minutes today..

[SuperCam]

post suns-bukakke bump