Top defensive teams in 08-09

[Texas Longhorns]

Here's my list

1. Boston
2. Houston
3. San Antonio
4. Detroit (If they still have the same team they have right now)
5. New Orleans
6. LA Lakers
7. Utah
8. Orlando
9. Cleveland
10. Dallas

[DMannOC]

Here's my list

1. Boston
2. Houston
3. San Antonio
4. Detroit (If they still have the same team they have right now)
5. New Orleans
6. LA Lakers
7. Utah
8. Orlando
9. Cleveland
10. Dallas

I am almost 100% sure that Orlando wont be in the top ten. Nelson, Turk, Out of position Shard just doesnt = top ten defense to me but i do hope your right. Also i dont see NO up there either as Paul, Peja, and West arent really good defenders.

IMO:
1. Houston
2. Detroit
3. Boston
4. San Antonio
5. Utah

[Texas Longhorns]

I'm basing Orlando, Cleveland, and New Orleans off of last season's stats. They were all top 10 or near it. I don't know though, you maybe right. I don't watch either of those teams on a consistent bases to be able to disagree with you.

[Copperhead]

Here's my list

1. Boston
2. Houston
3. San Antonio
4. Detroit (If they still have the same team they have right now)
5. New Orleans
6. LA Lakers
7. Utah
8. Orlando
9. Cleveland
10. Dallas

I am almost 100% sure that Orlando wont be in the top ten. Nelson, Turk, Out of position Shard just doesnt = top ten defense to me but i do hope your right. Also i dont see NO up there either as Paul, Peja, and West arent really good defenders.

IMO:
1. Houston
2. Detroit
3. Boston
4. San Antonio
5. Utah

If I'm not mistaken, NO ranked anywhere from 5-7 in defense last season. Julian Wright is a good defender and they just added Posey who is also a good defender.

[FlashTheKilla]

Here's my list

1. Boston
2. Houston
3. San Antonio
4. Detroit (If they still have the same team they have right now)
5. New Orleans
6. LA Lakers
7. Utah
8. Orlando
9. Cleveland
10. Dallas

I am almost 100% sure that Orlando wont be in the top ten. Nelson, Turk, Out of position Shard just doesnt = top ten defense to me but i do hope your right. Also i dont see NO up there either as Paul, Peja, and West arent really good defenders.

IMO:
1. Houston
2. Detroit
3. Boston
4. San Antonio
5. Utah

If I'm not mistaken, NO ranked anywhere from 5-7 in defense last season. Julian Wright is a good defender and they just added Posey who is also a good defender.

You are not mistaken. Paul IS a good defender, when he has Tyson Chandler backing up his gambles. Bonzi Wells is also relatively good defender. Posey should help a lot. I expect Hornets to be a top 5 defensive team next year.

Why does Cleveland get worse at defense? IMO they are at least top 7.

[fivas14]

Utah shouldn't be in the top 10. they have the potential to but after what I watched for 90+ games last year, they're not top 10......yet

[miller31time]

Orlando was the 6th best defensive team last season. No reason for them to take a big drop and fall out of the top-10, health permitting.

[Texas Longhorns]

lol Guys, that's my opinion of them, you can post your own views of each team.

[Copperhead]

If I'm not mistaken, NO ranked anywhere from 5-7 in defense last season. Julian Wright is a good defender and they just added Posey who is also a good defender.

You are not mistaken. Paul IS a good defender, when he has Tyson Chandler backing up his gambles. Bonzi Wells is also relatively good defender. Posey should help a lot. I expect Hornets to be a top 5 defensive team next year.

Why does Cleveland get worse at defense? IMO they are at least top 7.

Thanks. I was thinking they were ranked somewhere between 5 and maybe 7 or 8. And I know people say Paul isn't a good defender (mainly because of his size) but he's feisty a lot of times and if people watch enough of the guy they'll see he forces a lot of turnovers. He'll either steal the ball or cause the opponents to travel or lose the ball out of bounds.

[Texas Longhorns]

Paul was close to making all-defensive team last season.

EDIT: Just checked... He made all-defensive 2nd team last season, so I would put him as one of the top defensive PG's.

[Loose Cannon]

1) Houston
2) Boston
3) San Antonio
4) Detroit
5) Philadelphia

[Cowology]

I think Boston, Detroit, San Antonio & Houston are all clearly top 4 once again. I might bump Houston up to #1 with the addition of Artest and the subtraction of Posey from Boston.

1) Houston
2) Boston
3) San Antonio
4) Detroit

5) Cleveland/Orlando

[Ballings7]

Houston
Boston
San Antonio
Detroit
Philadelphia

Will be interesting to see how Boston goes now after they got their big intro season out of the way... do they coast more like the Spurs, or go for 60+ wins again?

[That Nicka]

LOL @ anyone who put Utah in their top 5


Lakers D will surprise a lot of people... They get talked about a lot for playing bad D but they were rated #5 in the league in defensive efficiency while only having Bynum the first half of the season and only having Pau for the 2nd half of the season.... Having 2 footers who are both good defenders will make them even better this year

[dreamcloud]

Does anyone have a link to last years stats for every teams' defensive efficiency & OP FG%?

[Texas Longhorns]

http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_ ... able1.html

[dreamcloud]

Thanks for the link. And damn, Boston was far ahead of the pack in OP FG%

[Rasho Brezec]

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. San Antonio
4. Houston
5. Philadelphia
6. Cleveland
7. New Orleans
8. Portland
9. Dallas
10. Orlando

[jax98]

Before the nightmare season, Chicago was one of the best defensive teams. In fact, we were better before we had Ben Wallace. I wouldn't be surprised to see us climb back into the top-10.

[Jumpstop]

I'd place Portland in the top 10. They were 8th in opponent PPG and FG% and I think they only got better on defense.

But Houston and Boston should be top on the list. Followed by Spurs and Philly.