TMac: never seen a defense like that... NBA is in trouble

[stretch]

The Rockets scored a season-low 34 points in the second half on 11-for-33 shooting.

"It's not disappointing," McGrady said. "It's a hell of a team over there. They outplayed us. I've never seen a defense like that. I mean, if they play defense like that, night in and night out, the NBA is in trouble because that was defense at its finest."

[canman1971]

That is awesome. It will certainly be beneficial in the playoffs.

[CanSee17]

Never been a huge TMac fan but that's classy stuff...

[Vator]

I was saying this earlier. We won 22 games with defense and hustle. The Celtics did to us what we have been doing to everybody else. They beat us up on the glass, got offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points, role players stepped up, they hustled for every ball, dove on the floor, closed out every shooter, bumped every cutter, every screener, every ball handler, and just beat us into submission. You get tired of having to go to battle every possession for 48 minutes. It mentally and physically drains you to have to grind it out like that. You know that nothing is goning to be easy as soon as you start going back up the floor with the ball. That is how they had been winning and got a taste of their own medicine last night, lol.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Houston also had no answer to the C's size inside, with KG, Perk, Powe, and Glen Davis imposing their will. That's where the absence of Yao or Landry hurts Houston.

Hell of a game...the first half was a boxing match where both teams delivered body blows and kept standing, second half the C's delivered the KO punch. But an entertaining game, for sure!

And 22 games, I don't care even if it was mostly against crap teams, it's HARD to do...if it's so easy, why haven't there been more streaks like it? I tip my hat to Houston!

[daveisceltics]

Good game. Great ending.
This team is in playoff mode.

I just hope when Ray comes back he shoots the ball well again.

[thefoulness]

Wow, that's quite the praise from TMac.

And frankly, it's true.

The C's play the best D since the Pistons were in their prime a few years back. Probably better.

[death valley40]

lmao TMAC has never been out of the first round of the playoffs. How the hell would he NO!. he's never played the Spurs in the WCF's



Spurs playoff defense > Boston regular season defense

[Al n' Perk No Layups!]

lmao TMAC has never been out of the first round of the playoffs. How the hell would he NO!. he's never played the Spurs in the WCF's



Spurs playoff defense > Boston regular season defense

It's "know" not "no."

[JahReid]

LOL. It's the Rockets ending the streak with the team it started with. Amazing.

[Pogue Mahone]

The C's play the best D since the Pistons were in their prime a few years back. Probably better.

Very good, yes, but not quite 2004 Pistons good. Or 2004 Spurs good. Or, well--- see for yourself.

Rank Year Team PPP (End Season Rank)
1. 2004 San Antonio Spurs 94.1 (1st)
2. 2004 Detroit Pistons 95.4 (2nd)
3. 2004 Indiana Pacers 97.2 (3rd)
4. 2004 New Jersey Nets 98.0 (4th)
... 2001 San Antonio Spurs 98.0 (T-1st)
... 2001 Phoenix Suns 98.0 (T-1st)
7. 2001 New York Knicks 98.2 (3rd)
... 2000 Los Angeles Lakers 98.2 (1st)
8. 2003 New Jersey Nets 98.3 (1st)
9. 2000 San Antonio Spurs 98.6 (1st)
10. 2008 Boston Celtics 98.7 (1st)


The Celtics are currently ranked 10th in Defensive efficiency since 2000 with a bunch of games to go. While there is certainly a difference in playing defense in 2008, as opposed to seasons up to 2003 (rule change + additional points of emphasis), the fact remains that the Celtics offense may hold them back from winning it all. They keep teeter-tottering between 9th and 12th place in offensive efficiency.

Only two teams have won a title since 1980 with an offense or defense ranked outside of the top-10 in the league, as measured by points per possession.

The first team was the 2001 Lakers squad. They had an offensive efficiency of 108.4 (2nd) and defensive efficiency of 104.8 (21st.) The league average that season was 103.0 per 100.

The second team was the 2004 Pistons. They had an offensive efficiency of 102.0 (18th) and a defensive efficiency of 95.4 (2nd.) The league average was 102.9 per 100.

While the saying "Defense Wins Championships" is often true, it is equally true to state "Offense Wins Championships". You need both with the caveat that your defense need only be good enough to support your offense and vice versa.

While I am delighted with the team, overall, I don't want to see any more Glen Davis or Tony Allen than is absolutely necessary. I would appreciate less James Posey playing a power position, as well. In certain match-ups, fine, but the team suffers, on the whole, with too many extended minutes of each and not enough Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe.

[AlCelticFan]

Pogue,

But haven't the average points per game gone up over the past 5 years? I'd love to see the defenses with that taken into account.

[SuigintouEV]

Pogue,

But haven't the average points per game gone up over the past 5 years? I'd love to see the defenses with that taken into account.

This is points per possession not ppg unless im mistaken

[bmac]

Yeah where is a list that accounts for inflation?

Anyways, this is nothing new, McGrady always throws praise KG's way.

A couple years ago he mentioned how difficult it is to play vs. the Timberwolves due to KG;s ability to defend the pick-and-roll so well.

Praise is always good though.

[AlCelticFan]

Oh, well even if it is points per possession I believe the average points per possession has also gone up over the past 5 years.

Poque, your thoughts?

[PPAW4Life]

Currently the league average for team scoring is 99.6 ppg and the league average pace is 92.4, that being said....when the Pistons won the title almost 5 seasons ago...the league average team scoring was 93.4 ppg and the league average pace was 90.4, so that means there has been a change in the league and my guess is that Stern and the officials focused more on increasing scoring for fans.

Edit: current season has the league fielding 12 teams averaging over 100 ppg and in 2003-2004 when the Pistons won the title, a mere two teams averaged over 100+ ppg.

Also in that season there were 4 teams averaging under 90 ppg....this year there are ZERO teams averaging under 90 ppg.

[Truthiracy]

Currently the league average for team scoring is 99.6 ppg and the league average pace is 92.4, that being said....when the Pistons won the title almost 5 seasons ago...the league average team scoring was 93.4 ppg and the league average pace was 90.4, so that means there has been a change in the league and my guess is that Stern and the officials focused more on increasing scoring for fans.

Edit: current season has the league fielding 12 teams averaging over 100 ppg and in 2003-2004 when the Pistons won the title, a mere two teams averaged over 100+ ppg.

Also in that season there were 4 teams averaging under 90 ppg....this year there are ZERO teams averaging under 90 ppg.

Good work getting those stats, and this is no coincidence. I'd like to see Personal Fouls/Free Throw numbers in 2004 in comparison to this year.

[PPAW4Life]

I'd like to see Personal Fouls/Free Throw numbers in 2004 in comparison to this year.

Surprisingly the average team PF per game for current 2008 and back then 2004, are the same at around 21 PF per game.

Team FTA per game in 2008 currently is around 25 per game, in 2004 around 24 per game....not much difference.

Team average FT% currently .754 and in 2004: .752.....so it doesn't look like the added points are from the line.

Maybe 3 pointers me thinks?

[Pogue Mahone]

But haven't the average points per game gone up over the past 5 years? I'd love to see the defenses with that taken into account.

Yes but I was talking the pace-neutral "points per possession". It is often simply multiplied by 100 to a. Make it easier to read (lots of numbers after decimal places mess with people for some reason) and b. 100 possessions is approximately one average game.

There has been an "inflation", though, if you will. I addressed that directly underneath the defensive rankings. To wit:

While there is certainly a difference in playing defense in 2008, as opposed to seasons up to 2003 (rule change + additional points of emphasis)...

In hindsight, poorly worded and I apologize for that. My point was that, "Yes, indeed, perspective is needed when judging efficiency." Comparing a team's offensive and defensive efficiency to it's peers does that.

This is points per possession not ppg unless im mistaken

Correct.

[Airball Master]

whats so good about the defense