Nivek wrote:Posted this in another thread, but it's relevant here too:I wrote:I'm a bit less optimistic than nate about the team's defensive performance at the end of last season. The schedule they played the last 25 games of the season was weaker than average offensively -- average 103.4 pts per 100 possessions. They allowed 102, which is a little better than average. Throw out that last Miami game where the Heat didn't play anyone, and they allowed 103 pts per 100 possessions, which is average for the schedule they played).
That's WAY better than what they did in the preceding 41 games, and I'll take average as a step forward. And maybe they can take a step to top 10 defensively with Okafor and Ariza and good health (for a change). So, there's reason to hope they can get to the playoffs in the next season or two.
Nene didn't play much and Booker was out for what, a month? When both of those guys were out there was a noticable drop off in the defense.