The Whiteboard: Defense is still important in the NBA

By Ti Windisch | Jul 18, 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Larry Nance Jr. #22 of the Cleveland Cavaliers competes for the ball with Draymond Green #23 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kyle Terada - Pool/Getty Images) /

It might never get the credit it’s due, but defense is still vitally important in the NBA.

Defense wins championships has become a trope across all sports, but as with most tropes, it comes from a place of truth. Even in an NBA that is increasingly obsessed with three-point shooting, defense is still important.

In fact, it’s just about the only thing that can determine a team a playoff spot. In the 2017-18 NBA season, the 10 NBA teams with the best defensive rating all made the postseason. The top 10 offenses cannot say the same, as the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers both missed the postseason.

Rebounding has almost no correlation, as the Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets, and Los Angeles Lakers all ranked in the top ten in rebounding percentage but missed the postseason.

Faster teams aren’t necessarily better either, as the Phoenix Suns were second in the NBA in pace and ended up with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. More teams in the top 10 in pace actually missed the postseason than made it, actually.

Offensive counting stats aren’t any more useful in determining playoff teams. Being top ten in points per game, rebounds per game or assists per game did not mean an automatic postseason berth in 2018.

Could this just be coincidence? Maybe. Eight of the 10 best defenses as per defensive rating made the playoffs in 2017. Nine did in 2016, while eight strong defenses went in 2015. It may not guarantee a postseason appearance, but having a great defense definitely tilts the odds in a team’s favor.

It also determines champions. The last 17 straight NBA champions have also been teams that had a top-10 defense as per defensive rating in the regular season, with the odd team out the 2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers squad featuring two of the best offensive players of all time in Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

Long story short, unless you’ve got two top 20 players around, you probably aren’t winning it all without playing some defense.

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