The Celtics currently have the highest OFFRTG (119.4) and the 4th best NRTG (+6.2). That is all good. But they have the 22nd best DEFRTG (113.2). You would think that was related to Pace but we are 21st in Pace at 98.8 I am not real clear how they calculate Pace but taking it at face value that the higher the Pace, the more up and down the team plays, more scoring opportunities per game (for both teams), I wonder if we should be more concerned about the defense.
Last season we were #1 for DEFRTG at 106.2 with similar Pace (97.3). We were #2 in NETRTG at +7.2, only a little lower this season. So the question is, for a given NETRTG, is it better to be getting that NETRTG based on being a top offense or based on being a top defense? Last season, the Celtics were followed by GSW, PHO, MIA, and CLE in terms of DEFRTG ranking. Of course the top 5 OFFRTG were good teams too (UTA, ATL, MIL, MEM, PHO). Only PHO was in both groups.
We are winning, and beating some good teams, but I would like to see the defense tighten up. The team is largely the same as last season, we added Brogdon and RWill has been out, so that adds offense and takes out defense but is that main reason? The other obvious change is a new coach. We still mostly play the same scheme, mostly switch, sometime drop. Can that make a 7 pts/gm difference in opponents net scoring rating?