Risers and Falling Defensive Teams

[Erick Blasco]

 

 

9. Indiana Pacers (102.4 Defensive Rating; 19th last year)

The Pacers set out to upgrade their defense incrementally last summer, and the additions of Dahntay Jones and Earl Watson have paid dividends so far. Indiana has gotten an even bigger lift from the development of second-year center Roy Hibbert, who is blocking 6.4 percent of opponents' two-point attempts. Among starters, only Oden (7.5 percent) has a better block rate. Fittingly, the Blazers and Pacers are first and second in the league in defensive field-goal percentage.

 

FALLING DEFENSIVELY

 

1. Orlando Magic (104.9 Defensive Rating, 12th)

The league's best defensive team a year ago has struggled at times this season. Orlando has been playing some makeshift lineups with Rashard Lewis suspended until Monday and a variety of players hobbled. Still, the poor start has been a cause for alarm for the Magic, with Stan Van Gundy criticizing the defensive efforts of Jameer Nelson and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard. Before Nelson was sidelined by a torn meniscus, Orlando was 4.6 points worse per 100 possessions on defense with him on the floor. Oddly, while the sample size is small, no other full-time starter has been a net minus defensively. As for Howard, his blocked-shot rate is down from last year's 5.9 percent to 4.4 percent, more in line with his career numbers. Equally troubling is that Howard's foul rate is up from 4.2 percent of possessions last year to 6.0 percent this season. Howard is too good not to improve on that, which will help the Magic's defense as a whole.

 

 

 

 

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