Maybe I'm wrong...but I think we have a group of pretty much horrible individual...

The data shows that the starting unit is below average on defense, but the bench units (which is really multiple bench dudes sprinkled in with starters) are very much above average on defense.

League avg DRtg is 115.9

I looked it up last week, so going off memory and I may be off somewhat, but I believe the starting unit is at 118 or 119 defensively.

Recently had someone try & explain to me...our "philosophy" on defense. He's pretty sharp and pointed out "stats"...to bolster his position on how we, as a team, approach defense.


We are VERY good in a certain area...and have been, for a coupla years now...and this is NO accident. Sadly, at the same time, we are very bad...in another certain area...but are constantly trying to adjust to minimize the damage.

So, naturally, we try & emphasis our strong area...and try to play in such a way that limits our exposure in our weak area. Until our roster changes in a significant way...he says this will continue to be our philosophy...on the defensive end.

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1) Our bench this season has consisted of Dyson, Nance, Alvarado, Trey, and Naji. That’s 4 defense first players and 1 offense first player. So that checks out.

2) we are above average in all the “little things” defensively- defensive rebounding rate, turnover % forced, Free throws per FGA. Dare I say this is…good coaching?

3) we’ve allowed the lowest 3 point shooting percentage in the league, which has a fair amount of luck to it.

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Hmmm...#3 is interesting...at some point, the sample size might make the "luck" factor a bit less meaningful. When do we reach that point?

Just looked it up...

This season we are 1st in 3pt% against, on the defensive side.

Last season we were also 1st.


That suggests it's more than just random luck. I guess it could be, but odds are extremely low that this would be the case.



With our scheme, you'd almost think it's the opposite. We sell out so hard on stopping attempts at the rim and are 2nd in 3pt attempts allowed, you'd think maybe more of those are wide open, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

2nd most 3pt attempts against and 7th lowest in the league with allowing 26.0% of FG attempts at 0-3 feet out.

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Yep, we sell out to close off drives and shots at the rim....in a big way. This leads to more 3pt attempts, but as you said, there's a luck factor to 3pt% generally speaking, and we've fallen on the good side of that. Though in fairness, I believe we also did the same last season as well, so I do wonder if there's something to it perhaps, or just a good run of 2 years with a little luck on our side. Or possibly and probably, a bit of both.

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Yea it was lowest in the league last year too. I’m interested now, will look through NBA.com to see if any of their player tracking data explains it.

We’re a pretty big team so I could see our contests on the perimeter being better than average? I can remember Herb and Dyson in particular blocking 3’s

It also could be *who* we are letting shoot the shots. Milwaukee under Bud was always notorious with being completely fine with some guys shooting non-corner 3’s until their arms fell off

The problem is the starting unit is not only bad on defense but aren’t very good on offense either.

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Yea it was lowest in the league last year too. I’m interested now, will look through NBA.com to see if any of their player tracking data explains it.

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a, I know NBA.com has it but not sure I know how to find it, the 2 things I'd be most interested in...


- Either the % or the raw number of wide open 3s we give up in relation to the rest of the league

- 3pt% on those wide open attempts

Would also be interested to see that across this and last season. I may try to mess around and see if I can find that later on today.

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We’re a pretty big team so I could see our contests on the perimeter being better than average? I can remember Herb and Dyson in particular blocking 3’s

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Would be pretty on brand if Herb was the catalyst for this, which seems possible. Not just the blocks but the ground he can cover is probably usually an open 3 if someone else is closing out but turns into a covered 3 with Herb. But I wonder how much 1 person doing that can really affect those numbers as a whole.

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With our scheme, you'd almost think it's the opposite. We sell out so hard on stopping attempts at the rim and are 2nd in 3pt attempts allowed, you'd think maybe more of those are wide open, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

2nd most 3pt attempts against and 7th lowest in the league with allowing 26.0% of FG attempts at 0-3 feet out.

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They give up the second fewest shots from 0-6 feet out, but when opponents do get to the rim they shoot the 6th best against us. So we're good preventing shots at the rim, but if they ever get to the rim no one is stopping them

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It also could be *who* we are letting shoot the shots. Milwaukee under Bud was always notorious with being completely fine with some guys shooting non-corner 3’s until their arms fell off

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Yep...once you decide on your "philosophy"...which I think we have...on defense. Allowing more 3s to help on preventing penetration to our rim. Once they get all the way to our rim, we are pretty much helpless.

Then, once you decide on "who"...and "from where" you want the opponent shooting 3s...you rotate accordingly AND you want abnormally hard "close outs" at the 3-pt line. I think we have excellent "hard closers"...even a long player like BI can be a solid hard closer if you don't mind the occassional "fly by"...which I think we don't mind in the least. Just imagine a "Herb" (or even a "BI) flying at you on an apparent open 3...even when you're open...you feel the pressure.