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Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 6:41 pm
by Dr Positivity
For example Detroit has more defensive history, Denver more offensive. Indiana has had both successful offensive and defensive periods.

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 7:14 pm
by penbeast0
Dr Positivity wrote:For example Detroit has more defensive history, Denver more offensive. Indiana has had both successful offensive and defensive periods.


The 70s Pistons were a strong offensive team (Lanier, Bing, etc.) and a poor defensive one except in 74 and that lasted pretty much a decade so I'd have to check the numbers for full history.

Generally agree about Denver though the Moe years had a few years where they were winning more with turnover differential (mainly defensive I would guess) rather than offensive efficiency; just they ran very high pace so people assumed they were all offense.

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 8:06 pm
by eminence
I have Utah as pretty balanced, but leaning offense. 90s with Malone/Stockton and 00s with Williams just outweighing the late 80s with Eaton and the recent Gobert run.

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 9:15 pm
by Rich Michmond
The Suns are clearly an offensive-oriented franchise. The Mavs have had very strong offences (the Motta teams, the Dirk era, Luka’s heliocentric offense) but not defences (though they did win the chip by having a very balanced team).
The Grizzlies seem defensive-oriented. The Grit and Grind moniker is there for a reason, and the Brown/Fratello teams were slow and very good on defense.

The Bucks have been balanced: Kareem's and Sidney's teams had both great offences and defences. Giannis' Bucks too. The Ray Allen era sticks out like a sore thumb though. Feels like the Blazers have never been extreme either way, though Dame last years were offense-first.

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 9:55 pm
by Jaivl
100% vibes, first thing that pops to mind

76ers balanced
Bucks balanced
Heat balanced
Spurs balanced
Thunder balanced

Bulls defensive
Celtics defensive
Grizzlies defensive
Pistons defensive

Cavs offensive
Mavs offensive
Lakers offensive
Suns offensive
Clippers offensive to the game of basketball

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Sun Sep 7, 2025 10:53 pm
by homecourtloss
Dr Positivity wrote:For example Detroit has more defensive history, Denver more offensive. Indiana has had both successful offensive and defensive periods.

penbeast0 wrote:
Dr Positivity wrote:For example Detroit has more defensive history, Denver more offensive. Indiana has had both successful offensive and defensive periods.


The 70s Pistons were a strong offensive team (Lanier, Bing, etc.) and a poor defensive one except in 74 and that lasted pretty much a decade so I'd have to check the numbers for full history.

Generally agree about Denver though the Moe years had a few years where they were winning more with turnover differential (mainly defensive I would guess) rather than offensive efficiency; just they ran very high pace so people assumed they were all offense.


I’ve thought about this before.

Spurs: Defense

Franchise Mean rORtg: +1.27
Franchise Mean rDRtg: -1.79

Best offensive seasons by rORtg: +6.3, +5.4, +4.8, +4.5, +4.1
Best defensive seasons by rDRtg: -8.8, -7.4, -7.3, -7.2, -6.6 (twice)

Mean rORtg and rDRtg in 10 best seasons: +3.1 rORtg, -4.8 rDRtg

Pistons: Defense

Franchise Mean rORtg: -.44
Franchise Mean rDRtg: +.1

Best offensive seasons by rORtg: +4.6, +3.9 (three times), +3.2
Best defensive seasons by rDRtg: -7.5, -4.9, -4.6 (twice), -3.9

Mean rORtg and rDRtg in 10 best seasons: +2.2 rORtg, -3.8 rDRtg

Nuggets: Offense

Franchise Mean rORtg: +.86
Franchise Mean rDRtg: +.99

Best offensive seasons by rORtg: +7.4, +5.4, +5, +5, +4.8
Best defensive seasons by rDRtg: -4, -3.4, -2.3, -2.3, -2.2; their worst seasons were really bad, +8,2, +7.1, +7

Mean rORtg and rDRtg in 10 best seasons: +3.2 rORtg, -.91 rDRtg

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Mon Sep 8, 2025 1:01 am
by homecourtloss
Suns: Offense

Franchise Mean rORtg: +1.40
Franchise Mean rDRtg: +.13

Best offensive seasons by rORtg: +8.4, +7.7, +7.4, +6,2, +5.8
Best defensive seasons by rDRtg: -6.1, -5.1, -5, -4.7, -4.6

Mean rORtg and rDRtg in 10 best seasons: +4.8 rORtg, -1.2 rDRtg

Lakers: Offense (moreso if not counting Minneapolis seasons)

Franchise Mean rORtg: +1.81
Franchise Mean rDRtg: -.91

Best offensive seasons by rORtg: +7.3, +6.9, +6.2, +6.1, +6
Best defensive seasons by rDRtg: -7.6, -5.9, -5.3, -5.2, -5

Mean rORtg and rDRtg in 10 best seasons: +5.2 rORtg, -2.6 rDRtg

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Mon Sep 8, 2025 2:11 pm
by jojo4341
I think the Kings would be offense. I can't speak for the Cincinnati/Rochester Royals, but if they prime Oscar, they're probably offensive as well.

Re: Divide franchises history into offensive, defensive or balanced

Posted: Mon Sep 8, 2025 4:30 pm
by Dr Positivity
jojo4341 wrote:I think the Kings would be offense. I can't speak for the Cincinnati/Rochester Royals, but if they prime Oscar, they're probably offensive as well.


Yeah offense overall as the Royals in Oscar era in addition to 50s version are offense, the Webber Kings defensive results aren't bad but their identity seems the offensive system, the late 70s/early 80s seem to lean defense, then throw in relative Fox Sabonis blip for offense.