Moderator: THE J0KER
THE J0KER wrote:2016-17 BOTTOM-10 defenses (by defRtg):
109.7 Cleveland Cavaliers
110.0 Portland Trail Blazers
110.1 Brooklyn Nets
110.3 Orlando Magic
110.7 New York Knicks
110.7 Sacramento Kings
110.9 Minnesota Timberwolves
111.3 Phoenix Suns
111.7 Denver Nuggets
112.0 Los Angeles Lakers
2017-18 BOTTOM-10 defenses (by defRtg):
109.6 Brooklyn Nets
109.6 New York Knicks
109.9 Denver Nuggets
110.0 Atlanta Hawks
110.1 Minnesota Timberwolves
110.2 Memphis Grizzlies
110.3 Sacramento Kings
110.4 Chicago Bulls
111.0 Cleveland Cavaliers
111.6 Phoenix Suns
2017-18 TOP-10 defenses so far (by defRtg):
92.9 Denver Nuggets
97.3 Boston Celtics
102.0 LA Clippers
102.9 Golden State Warriors
103.5 Indiana Pacers
105.1 Memphis Grizzlies
105.7 Toronto Raptors
105.8 Milwaukee Bucks
106.1 Philadelphia 76ers
106.5 Miami Heat
Nobody of course expecting from us to stay #1, but if we stay TOP10, or at least TOP15 with our NBA TOP5 offense, we are almost sure bet for TOP5 seed on the West!
I'm shocked of course see our team at #1, despite it is just 3 games, but not surprised at all we are TOP15. We are #15 defense last season in opening 16 games before Millsap injury. When he is back, our 2nd best defender Harris suffers injury, so the team played less than 25 games with Harris, Millsap, and Jokic playing together. Plumlee is also some kind of defensive specialist, and he is now in best physical shape ever, and Monte Morris is better on defense than Mudiay/Devin Harris last season from the bench. Also, at the start of this season Jamal Murray struggling offensively, but seems that he takes more seriously his defensive duties. All these improvements should put us into the TOP15 half, and maybe into defRtg TOP10.
Texas Chuck wrote:I'd like to see Utah, and Denver lose
) and I'm OK with that. 
NuggetsWY wrote:What is the Nuggets' defensive approach? I ask because sometimes our players seem confused and we end up with two guys covering one with another having a free shot at the hoop.
Sometimes we switch on picks, sometimes we don't - that can result in that above situation.
When we have a mismatch, sometimes we switch back as quickly as possible, other times we don't switch back. This can result in easy points for the other team.
Where does help come from? Sometimes players look like they want to slide down from the wings to provide help but they hesitate. Sometimes players slide down from the wings to provide help but there's no rotation to cover the man they left open.
I still contend that our defense is based on the All-Star game's approach: Play defense if you feel like it and do it however you want.
The Rebel wrote:NuggetsWY wrote:What is the Nuggets' defensive approach? I ask because sometimes our players seem confused and we end up with two guys covering one with another having a free shot at the hoop.
Sometimes we switch on picks, sometimes we don't - that can result in that above situation.
When we have a mismatch, sometimes we switch back as quickly as possible, other times we don't switch back. This can result in easy points for the other team.
Where does help come from? Sometimes players look like they want to slide down from the wings to provide help but they hesitate. Sometimes players slide down from the wings to provide help but there's no rotation to cover the man they left open.
I still contend that our defense is based on the All-Star game's approach: Play defense if you feel like it and do it however you want.
OUr defensive approach changes at half time, we are the worst defensive team in the league in the 1st quarter and best in the league in the 4th quarter, which says that Malone is adjusting throughout the game. Hard to say it is not working as we keep winning, and I think we win more if he keep Craig at the 12 minutes or less mark.