Damian Lillard's Progress On Defense

Our DRtg of 106.1 is 21sth in the league.
League median would be 15.5th.
League average is 12th.

Fortunately, our ORtg is a mindboggling 3 points above 2nd place Houston.

 

But haven't we discussed that DRtg isn't the tell all regarding defense? We are a good rebounding team, we limit possessions, and are one of the best at defending the three point line. I think when it matters "The second half", I would suspect our rating is much higher. We have become a deadly 2nd half team, especially on the defensive end.

 

link? I've spent way too much F'ing hours on these boards and I haven't seen it. DRtg is a great way to measure defense. We're not good.

 

http://www.82games.com/1314/1314POR3.HTM

On this profile, I see defensively we giving up an eFG% of 47.5%, while having a 51.5%. But looking at the shooting details, 65% of the shots are rated at 42.7% eFG. That is holding them to a very inefficient offense. So as the teams are able to score in the paint, they aren't doing it efficiently.

The offense vs. defense numbers in this link show we are outperforming our opponents in almost every category.

 

Why are you singling out jumpshots? Defense is a measure of everything on the court, and giving up a 47.5% eFG% is bad. The 51.5% offensive eFG% is irrelevant, we know Portland is a really good offensive team, but that has nothing to do with the defense.

Just about every measure out there has us as a sub-par defensive team. We're tied for 21st in the league in defensive efficiency, give up the 7th worst TS% in the league at 54.7% and give up almost 45 points in the paint every night (good for 24th in the league). The eye test pretty much matches this. They've shown spurts of good defense, whether in the final seconds or the certain quarters, but on the whole, their defense is poor and they're winning by dominating the opponents offensively.

 

Honestly I think if you're using eFG% you're cherry picking the stats to fit the story. I would LOVE to agree with you that the blazers are an awesome defensive team, but eFG% does not take FTs or turnovers in account. These are pretty big factors to miss.

 

I singled out jump shots because we allow the majority of our opponent's shots being "jump shots". Other teams are taking 65% of their shots from this area. And looking at those numbers, we aren't allowing many dunks or tips, meaning we are protecting the rim. If teams are making those 10-15 ft jumpers, then my hat's off to them. They overcame the odds.

 

I didn't say they were an "awesome defensive team". I am saying they are a mediocre defensive team. I think we are awesome in the second half though. We just give up so many easy shots in the first halves of games.

 

You're still singling out a certain stat and saying the defense is good based on that. Why are you ignoring the fact that they allow nearly 55% TS (which takes EVERYTHING into account including FTs) to account AND that they have one of the worst defensive efficiency's in the league? The truth is staring you in the face.

Oh and by the way, if you look at other teams defensive stats on 82games.com, you'll see most teams are forcing more than 65% jumpshots. Hell, the Utah Jazz force more jumpers and less paint shots than the Blazers.

 

I am not saying they are a "GOOD DEFENSIVE TEAM". Why are you guys thinking I keep saying that. I said they are mediocre. I am arguing they aren't bad and I believe I'm right. And for the "forced jump shots", it's not "forced jump shots" it's the % of those shots going in. Doesn't matter if the Jazz are forcing 100% of the shots from 15 ft. If the teams are hitting 60% of them, then it's bad defense.

 

Um no, you said this:

Your reasoning behind singling out jump shots was because "we allow the majority of our opponent's shots being jump shots". But you're still ignoring just about every other (and better) statistical measure that shows we're sub-par defensively. Ok, if you want to keep your Moda colored glasses on, be my guest, but just know you're looking at a distorted reality.

 

And? What's wrong with that? So how does this prove I said "we are a great defensive team" like you proclaimed?

I singled out the jump shots, because that is what we are focusing on, and the three point shot as well. And now you say we are sub-par? We aren't terrible now?

 

What are you talking about? This is what you first asserted about the defense:

Forgive the fact that "good" could be implied based on this.

Also, I never called them terrible, read my first post. From the beginning I said they were a sub-par defensive team. Call it sub-par, call it bad, poor whatever. Point is they're not good, they're not even mediocre (Average? I guess that's what you're saying now). There's a reason why they're in the bottom half on the league.

 

So you are saying Stotts isn't trying to hold the team to jump shots? So what's Stott's defensive philosophy then?

I said they are efficiently holding the team to take jumpers. They aren't shooting jumpers mostly?

 

Okay, you need to stop putting words in my mouth. I never mentioned anything about Stott's defensive philosophy. Also, you need to read your own posts and stop changing your positions.

Two things are being said here:

1.) Blazers are holding opponents to an inefficient offense. False, they're above average guarding jumpshots but bad overall as shown by opponent offensive efficiency and TS%.

2.) Teams are scoring inefficiently in the paint. Also false, we're one of the worst teams in the league at defending points in the paint.

Are you going to change your stance again?

 

In my link, which you aren't looking at obviously…. I am using one point of eFG%. Example… Indiana is the best defensive team in the league, and they are holding their opponents to an eFG% of 45.3% (+2 better than us, we are at 47%). So if I look at Indiana as being the ceiling of best, then look at Clippers as being the worst (eFG% of 49.2%), then are we not in the middle of the two?

 

Again, why are you singling out eFG%?

http://hoopdata.com/teamdefstats.aspx

At the very least use TS%, Indy is #1 at 49.5% and we're 23rd at 54.7%.

 

Two days without a Blazer win, and the bitching and sniping begins...

 

Is that because TS% proves your point?

 

Because I can and I will keep using it. Am I right or wrong? How gives a flying fuck what I'm using. You are saying I'm wrong, and I am not when using the model I'm using.