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We often focus on offensive talent, but let's talk about the most stacked defensive teams in NBA history. This year Celtics have strong defenders at their top 7 rotation and it got me thinking - how does they compare historically to other ATG defensive teams?

Some older teams to consideration:

1963/64 Celtics:

G: KC Jones
G: Sam Jones
F: Tom Heinsohn
F: Satch Sanders
C: Bill Russell

Bench: John Havlicek, Willie Naulls, Frank Ramsey

1969/70 Knicks:

G: Walt Frazier
G: Dick Barnett
F: Bill Bradley
F: Dave DeBusschere
C: Willis Reed

Bench: Cazzie Russell, Mike Riordian, Dave Stallworth

1973/74 Celtics:

G: JoJo White
G: Don Chaney
F: John Havlicek
F: Paul Silas
C: Dave Cowens

Bench: Paul Westphal, Don Nelson

1978/79 Seattle Supersonics:

G: Gus Williams
G: Dennis Johnson
F: John Johnson
F: Lonnie Shelton
C: Jack Sikma

Bench: Fred Brown, Paul Silas

1980/81 Philadelphia 76ers:

G: Maurice Cheeks
G: Lionel Hollins
F: Julius Erving
F: Caldwell Jones
C: Darryl Dawkins

Bench: Andrew Toney, Clint Richardson, Bobby Jones

1982/83 Milwaukee Bucks:

G: Brian Winters
G: Sidney Moncrief
F: Junior Bridgeman
F: Maqrues Johnson
C: Bob Lanier

Bench: Paul Pressey, Alton Lister, Harvey Catchings

1989/90 Pistons:

G: Isiah Thomas
G: Joe Dumars
F: Dennis Rodman
F: Bill Lambeer
C: James Edwards

Bench: Vinnie Johnson, Mark Aguirre, John Salley

2019 raptors

gasol/siakam/kawhi/green/lowry/vanvleet are all excelent to superstar level defenders

2012/2013 miami before wade injuriea

bosh, lebron, battier and wade are a elite defensive top 4, birdman was underated too

22 Jaless Memphis is really **** good......



It wasnt some regular season mirage as some thought..........they held Warriors to a 101.6 ortg in the 3 games without Ja with 16% turnover rate and .527ts.......

Tyus, Melton
Bane
Brooks, Ziaire
Jaren, Slowmo
Adams, Tillman, Clarke

theyre a really young core so they dont have the accolades or legacy of other teams.........but we might look back as their careers develop and realize the level of talent they had once these players start branching out and forging their legacies. We already know Steven is a defensive and rebounding stud and Jjj was top 5 in Dpoy voting but the rest are under the radar. Slowmo was also a great defender for Spurs. Jaren will prolly win a Dpoy and Brooks and Bane will prolly make all defense teams

Grindhouse Grizz had some stacked defensive cores too

90s Knicks too had some incredible defensive depth too

2011 Bulls with Deng and Noah and the whole bench mob thing with Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, etc.

2009 Rockets: Mutombo, Yao, Hayes, MWP, Battier, Lowry.

Jaivl wrote:2009 Rockets: Mutombo, Yao, Hayes, MWP, Battier, Lowry.

..... joking right?

Mutombo.....wasnt he in his 40s then and did he even play for them? Thats underwhelming outside of Battier/Mwp.....Their defense was better the season before too before Mwp or Lowry got there.......I dont think Lowry was making much of a defensive impact then

Rodman's effort might have began to wax and wane a bit more in his later years, but imagine being able to pressure and switch with Harper, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman right now. Don't think Longley would be as much of a weak point as people seem to think he would either tbh.

GSP wrote:

Jaivl wrote:2009 Rockets: Mutombo, Yao, Hayes, MWP, Battier, Lowry.

..... joking right?

Mutombo.....wasnt he in his 40s then and did he even play for them? Thats underwhelming outside of Battier/Mwp.....Their defense was better the season before too before Mwp or Lowry got there.......I dont think Lowry was making much of a defensive impact then

2007 and 2008 had better RS defenses, but 2009 has the cooler names and fits better the premise of the OP. And considering Hayes and especially Yao were better defensive players than MWP at this point, that just goes to show how much you know.

Mutombo was borderline unplayable due to offense, he would still be a positive defender in his 60s. Houston had a sub-100 DRtg in his minutes from 07 to 09.

The 04 pistons, imho.
An all time great defender in ben wallace (x4 DPOY!!!) (3 bpg)
A very good and big defender in rasheed (2 bpg)
An exceptional wing defender in tayshaun prince, great length and mobility (x4 all def)
The worst defender in the lineup, but still easily an above average defender, in rip hamilton
An elite defensive PG with good size in chauncey billups (x2 all-def)

Then you had a big bruiser in corliss williamson, a great defender like lindsey hunter... really an incredible defensive personnel

NO-KG-AI wrote:Rodman's effort might have began to wax and wane a bit more in his later years, but imagine being able to pressure and switch with Harper, Jordan, Pippen and Rodman right now. Don't think Longley would be as much of a weak point as people seem to think he would either tbh.

Yeah, that would be n.2 after pistons to me. The level of athleticism and defensive ability of that team made no sense

lebron3-14-3 wrote:The 04 pistons, imho.
An all time great defender in ben wallace (x4 DPOY!!!) (3 bpg)
A very good and big defender in rasheed (2 bpg)
An exceptional wing defender in tayshaun prince, great length and mobility (x4 all def)
The worst defender in the lineup, but still easily an above average defender, in rip hamilton
An elite defensive PG with good size in chauncey billups (x2 all-def)

Then you had a big bruiser in corliss williamson, a great defender like lindsey hunter... really an incredible defensive personnel

yea, not sure how people left this team out

also the 05 Spurs, the 80s Celtics (Dennis Johnson, McHale, Parish, Walton, etc..)

euroleague wrote:

lebron3-14-3 wrote:The 04 pistons, imho.
An all time great defender in ben wallace (x4 DPOY!!!) (3 bpg)
A very good and big defender in rasheed (2 bpg)
An exceptional wing defender in tayshaun prince, great length and mobility (x4 all def)
The worst defender in the lineup, but still easily an above average defender, in rip hamilton
An elite defensive PG with good size in chauncey billups (x2 all-def)

Then you had a big bruiser in corliss williamson, a great defender like lindsey hunter... really an incredible defensive personnel

yea, not sure how people left this team out

also the 05 Spurs, the 80s Celtics (Dennis Johnson, McHale, Parish, Walton, etc..)

Bird should def be mentioned if guys like Chauncey and Rip are. Much better defender than either and was a good defender most his career before back issues, made 3 straight all D in his athletic peak too

GSP wrote:

euroleague wrote:

lebron3-14-3 wrote:The 04 pistons, imho.
An all time great defender in ben wallace (x4 DPOY!!!) (3 bpg)
A very good and big defender in rasheed (2 bpg)
An exceptional wing defender in tayshaun prince, great length and mobility (x4 all def)
The worst defender in the lineup, but still easily an above average defender, in rip hamilton
An elite defensive PG with good size in chauncey billups (x2 all-def)

Then you had a big bruiser in corliss williamson, a great defender like lindsey hunter... really an incredible defensive personnel

yea, not sure how people left this team out

also the 05 Spurs, the 80s Celtics (Dennis Johnson, McHale, Parish, Walton, etc..)

Bird should def be mentioned if guys like Chauncey and Rip are. Much better defender than either and was a good defender most his career before back issues, made 3 straight all D in his athletic peak too

Yes, those celtics too. Tremendous size and both backcourt and frontcourt are great

2015 Warriors? Bogut, Green, Iguodala, Klay is a formidable 4.

70sFan wrote:G: Isiah Thomas
G: Joe Dumars
F: Dennis Rodman
F: Bill Lambeer
C: James Edwards

Bench: Vinnie Johnson, Mark Aguirre, John Salley

I would say the previous year's roster was better

Couple of teams that come to mind post 2005.

2022 Celtics
Guards: Marcus Smart, Derrick White
Wings: Tatum, Brown, Grant Williams
Bigs: Horford, Time Lord

2021 Bucks
Guards: Jrue, DDV
Wings: PJ Tucker, Khris Middleton, Pat Conn
Bigs: Giannis, Lopez

2019 Raps
Guard: Lowry, FVV
Wings: Kawhi, Danny Green, OG Anunoby, Norm Powell
Bigs: Marc Gasol, Siakam, Ibaka

2015 Warriors
Guards: Klay, Curry
Wings: Iguodala, Livingston, Barnes
Bigs: Bogut, Draymond, Ezeli

2011 Bulls
Guards: Rose
Wings: Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, Bogans
Bigs: Noah, Asik, Gibson, Kurt Thomas

2008 Celtics:
Guards: Rondo, Tony Allen, Ray Allen
Wings: Pierce, James Posey
Bigs: KG, Perkins, PJ Brown, Glen Davis