Blazers currently are giving up 109.8 points per 100 possessions which is 13th in the league. They are scoring 104.2 (28th ranked offense) for a net rating of -5.7 (22nd). Next we play the 0-5 Grizzlies twice at home so this might even improve further before it likely regresses. I had thought this team would be much worse defensively. Do you think some of this defensive success can last over the bulk of the season?
Yes, as we have added better defenders like Timelord/Camara/Ayton/Brogdon and Shape's D has improved as well. Dame's D was bad and Simon's who has not played last 4 games not so good either, we should easily be better than last yr on D
I hesitate saying this but the "Lillard effect" on a team's D? and that is amplified as he replaced JRrue, an elite defender. Let's revisit this after 20-25 games
Their coach is an idiot. He's treating Dame like a 3&D guy instead of letting him lead the offense while hiding him on defense. Also, sidebar. It's wild how much Giannis sucks at setting screens.
Agree on that issue to a point but decent defense isn't something that scouts. They are either playing good defense or they aren't. Defense is about communication and spacing with a bunch of hard work. Then there is trusting each other to be in your position. There is an old saying good defense is beat by better offense.
I know you are not Dwight so maybe Dwight is reading what you are writing? He said this very same thing as well.
Now trade Brogdon to the Raptors for Precious Achiuwa. He'll be our long term PF. Grant can slide over to SF. We'd be a beastly rebounding team.
After watching Toronto against us I did think about how badly they could use Brogdon. I think Toronto would do it while adding Porter and Young as filler. But can Camara give us the same while keeping Brogdon? They both measured the same at the combine (6'7" barefoot) but Precious does weigh a lot more so maybe. Tough call
Just wondering how moving Grant to SF helps the "beastly rebounding". Mr. 1 rebound in 38 minutes as the PF is really a contributor to rebounding at all. Thybulle had the same number of rebounds in 17 minutes. Mays had the same number of rebounds in only 8 minutes Walker had twice as many rebounds in 10 minutes Grant seems to be allergic to rebounding.
As long as Billups keeps preaching defense, which I fully expect, the Portland defense will continue to be much improved from seasons past barring injury. Ayton and Williams are vastly improved over Nurk. They are space eaters. Sharpe is much improved and Scoot has the ability. I like what Camara brings. He is learning from the big guys and being a rookie is optimal. The standard is being set from day one. I've never been able to get a good read on Grant's defensive ability.
of the 5 teams Portland has played, Philly and LAC have top-10 offenses, the other 3 teams ranked 17, 19, & 22. So, a 13th ranking in defense might just be schedule. In fact, if you add up the offensive ratings of Portland's opponents, 3+5+17+19+22, and divide by 5 games, it's 13! So yeah...schedule, although the Blazers should get some credit for a 1-4 home/road imbalance it helps having Brogdon and Sharpe defending in the backcourt. And as useless as Thybulle seems on offense, he's still a pretty effective defender on the perimeter. And, Philly and Orlando were the only teams of the 5 Portland has faced that had any offensive presence in the paint. That's going to change and, it's quite probable that when Ant returns, Portland's defense will get worse. Scoot/Sharpe/Thybulle to Scoot/Ant/Sharpe will be a defensive downgrade
13th in Drtg 28th in Ortg 22nd in Netrtg idk what our SOS is, but probably not very high. I'm enjoying the Defensive rating while I can.
[QUOTE="wizenheimer, post: 5601720, member: 21278 and, it's quite probable that when Ant returns, Portland's defense will get worse. Scoot/Sharpe/Thybulle to Scoot/Ant/Sharpe will be a defensive downgrade[/QUOTE] Maybe but as I watched the Pistons put up 59 in the first half as Cade and Harris scored at will on the perimeter I thought to myself..... Ant could defend about the same but actually score a couple of points. It seemed like they hit their first 8 threes without missing.
