Nov 21, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center
Kevin Seraphin(13) attempts to dunk the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Kyrie Irving(2) and Cavaliers forward
Shawn Marion(31) defend in the second quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 91-78. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Defense, Not Required
Are we still buying that premise of defense wins championships in the NBA?
If so, there’s no way that the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be holding the NBA Finals trophy in June. Cleveland ranks 26th in defensive rating (allowing 107 points per 100 possessions) and are allowing 102.7 points per game. They’re also allowing their opponents to shoot nearly 48 percent from the field, which is good enough for 28th in the NBA — just above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.
Props.
In comparison, the 2010 Miami Heat only allowed 94.6 points per game to their opponents (sixth in the NBA) and 100.7 points per 100 possessions (fifth in the NBA). All that, and the Heat still fell short of winning the NBA championship.
But I’ll go on.