Zach Lowe getting hyperbolic

[kraidstar]

2008 Celts: 90.3 points allowed, 98.9 Def Rtg, .457% eFG% allowed (.497% allowed = league average), Opp 15.2% FG%

2022 Celts: 104.5 points allowed, 106.9 Def Rtg, .502 eFG% (.532% allowed = league average), Opp 12.5% TOV%

What are those numbers relative to league averages?

League average is 112 Def Rtg this year; 107.5 Def Rtg in 2008.

So, 2022 is 5.1 points / 100 better than average; 2008 was 8.6 points / 100 possession better than average

Lowe was talking aboit the second half of the season here. So 2008 was more impressive over 82 games, but the last few months of 2022 i think have been better. Smaller sample size, but incredible nonetheless.

[Roy H.]

2008 Celts: 90.3 points allowed, 98.9 Def Rtg, .457% eFG% allowed (.497% allowed = league average), Opp 15.2% FG%

2022 Celts: 104.5 points allowed, 106.9 Def Rtg, .502 eFG% (.532% allowed = league average), Opp 12.5% TOV%

What are those numbers relative to league averages?

League average is 112 Def Rtg this year; 107.5 Def Rtg in 2008.

So, 2022 is 5.1 points / 100 better than average; 2008 was 8.6 points / 100 possession better than average

Lowe was talking aboit the second half of the season here. So 2008 was more impressive over 82 games, but the last few months of 2022 i think have been better. Smaller sample size, but incredible nonetheless.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-rankings-since-january-1st-2022

Our Def Rtg is 106.7 since January 1.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-rankings-since-february-1st-2022

It’s 107.8 since February 1.

[gouki88]

2008 Celts: 90.3 points allowed, 98.9 Def Rtg, .457% eFG% allowed (.497% allowed = league average), Opp 15.2% FG%

2022 Celts: 104.5 points allowed, 106.9 Def Rtg, .502 eFG% (.532% allowed = league average), Opp 12.5% TOV%

What are those numbers relative to league averages?

League average is 112 Def Rtg this year; 107.5 Def Rtg in 2008.

So, 2022 is 5.1 points / 100 better than average; 2008 was 8.6 points / 100 possession better than average

Lowe was talking aboit the second half of the season here. So 2008 was more impressive over 82 games, but the last few months of 2022 i think have been better. Smaller sample size, but incredible nonetheless.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-rankings-since-january-1st-2022

Our Def Rtg is 106.7 since January 1.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-team-defensive-rating-rankings-since-february-1st-2022

It’s 107.8 since February 1.

Interesting, thanks.

I give the edge to 08 by default because it has KG, and I view him as the supreme defender of the last 20 years. But I think that it's a discussion is a testament to this current squad.

[Roy H.]

I think a lot of fans are confused about what led to our turnaround:

October -> Dec 31: 109.0 Def Rtg, 110.1 Off Rtg

Jan 1 -> Apr 15: 106.7 Def Rtg; 119.4 Off Rtg

The defense got slightly better, but was always pretty good.  It’s the offense that exploded.

[gouki88]

I think a lot of fans are confused about what led to our turnaround:

October -> Dec 31: 109.0 Def Rtg, 110.1 Off Rtg

Jan 1 -> Apr 15: 106.7 Def Rtg; 119.4 Off Rtg

The defense got slightly better, but was always pretty good.  It’s the offense that exploded.

I think the defence also got relatively better, compared to the competition. It seemed as if a lot of players and teams took a while to get into a shooting and scoring rhythm (us included). Our offence has been awesome though

[colincb]

I think a lot of fans are confused about what led to our turnaround:

October -> Dec 31: 109.0 Def Rtg, 110.1 Off Rtg

Jan 1 -> Apr 15: 106.7 Def Rtg; 119.4 Off Rtg

The defense got slightly better, but was always pretty good.  It’s the offense that exploded.

Ranking the Celtics offensive/defensive ratings per 100 possessions compared to the league is more indicative of how the Celtics were doing.

For example, the Cs defensive rating in OCT was better than MAR, but they were ranked 29th in the NBA in OCT and 2nd in MAR.

Here are their monthly games, DRtg, DRank, ORtg, and ORank

M   --G--      --D--   -R-      --O--   -R-
10   06      109.6   29      105.4   27
11   15      105.3   05      109.7   26
12   15      112.5   25      112.6   15
01   16      104.5   02      113.8   10
02   11      103.1   01      117.7   09
03   14      109.8   02      122.4   02
04   05      112.8   10      131.7   01

Celtics defensive ranking was all over the place for the first 3 months, perhaps because of Brown's injury and aborted return.

Their offensive ratings in November and December also were all over the place during the period when JB was out or should have been.

Celtics offensive rating and ranking improved every month, but really took off after the trade deadline in particular.

[Edit: Seems to be the trend for NBA offenses to improve as the season goes on (and hence defensive ratings should erode) looking at the data for several teams.]

[Surferdad]

This team is loaded with smart, athletic defenders.

At the heart of it all is Timelord.

Want some more non-hyperbole?

Rob has a remarkably similar body and skillset to Bill Russell. People might laugh at that but the measurements are there, guys like Rob are ultra rare, even in the NBA. Add to that good court vision and the elusive "will to win" and you have an anchor that can take this team to incredible heights.

This is a very special time to be a Celtics fan.

TP for you, was going to post something like this.

[kraidstar]

I think a lot of fans are confused about what led to our turnaround:

October -> Dec 31: 109.0 Def Rtg, 110.1 Off Rtg

Jan 1 -> Apr 15: 106.7 Def Rtg; 119.4 Off Rtg

The defense got slightly better, but was always pretty good.  It’s the offense that exploded.

Ranking the Celtics offensive/defensive ratings per 100 possessions compared to the league is more indicative of how the Celtics were doing.

For example, the Cs defensive rating in OCT was better than MAR, but they were ranked 29th in the NBA in OCT and 2nd in MAR.

Here are their monthly games, DRtg, DRank, ORtg, and ORank

M   --G--      --D--   -R-      --O--   -R-
10   06      109.6   29      105.4   27
11   15      105.3   05      109.7   26
12   15      112.5   25      112.6   15
01   16      104.5   02      113.8   10
02   11      103.1   01      117.7   09
03   14      109.8   02      122.4   02
04   05      112.8   10      131.7   01

Celtics defensive ranking was all over the place for the first 3 months, perhaps because of Brown's injury and aborted return.

Their offensive ratings in November and December also were all over the place during the period when JB was out or should have been.

Celtics offensive rating and ranking improved every month, but really took off after the trade deadline in particular.

[Edit: Seems to be the trend for NBA offenses to improve as the season goes on (and hence defensive ratings should erode) looking at the data for several teams.]

TP

Yeah the C's improved drastically at both ends. We were blowing assignments like crazy the first half, and there was little effort in general. No way our defense wasn't bad.

We were playing like selfish, lazy slugs. Any success we might have had was due to pure individual talent or apathy in our opponents. Cuz we sure weren't playing like a team.

[18isGREATERthan72]

Didn't the league average offensive rating explode right when our defensive run started?

Our DRTG basically stayed right where it was while teams were scoring about 10% more on average across the league.  This basically indicates even though our numbers stayed the same, in relation to the league we got 10% better defensively.

This also was around the time our offensive numbers increased too though, which is where our net rating really took a leap.

[tonydelk]

In order to be the best we've seen in a long time the C's need to win a championship this year. It will cement this statement if they do.

[Roy H.]

Didn't the league average offensive rating explode right when our defensive run started?

Our DRTG basically stayed right where it was while teams were scoring about 10% more on average across the league.  This basically indicates even though our numbers stayed the same, in relation to the league we got 10% better defensively.

This also was around the time our offensive numbers increased too though, which is where our net rating really took a leap.

There’s a lot of variability.  Anecdotally, teams seem to slack off around February.  Less defense is played because teams are tired, teams start to tank, etc.  To our team’s credit, they went in the opposite direction, playing with intensity to the final game.

[Moranis]

The way I look at it, is Boston's entire top 8 are all + defenders and the only guy that even plays in the rotation that isn't in the 9th man, PP.  Smart is the DPOY.  R. WIlliams would have been a DPOY contender and almost certainly would have made an All Defense team without the injuries (and he still might make an all defense).  Jaylen, Jayson, Derrick, Daniel, Grant, and Al are all excellent defenders (and Jaylen is great).  They all have the speed, length, size, and strength to guard multiple positions, which allows the team to play a crazy switching style defense.  There are very few teams in history that I recall have that.  Even great defensive teams like the 08 C's or the Warriors have at least 1 guy in the starting unit that you have to hid defensively. 

Honestly I think the only team that I can think of that compares with this team is the 96 Bulls.  Their starting 5 was Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Longley.  That is 3 of the best defenders in the sport at the time (and arguably the greatest defender ever in Rodman) along with 2 other + defenders.  They lost some defense on the bench with Kerr, Kukoc, Wennington, Brown, Buechler, and Salley, but that starting 5 didn't let anyone score. 

[18isGREATERthan72]

Didn't the league average offensive rating explode right when our defensive run started?

Our DRTG basically stayed right where it was while teams were scoring about 10% more on average across the league.  This basically indicates even though our numbers stayed the same, in relation to the league we got 10% better defensively.

This also was around the time our offensive numbers increased too though, which is where our net rating really took a leap.

There’s a lot of variability.  Anecdotally, teams seem to slack off around February.  Less defense is played because teams are tired, teams start to tank, etc.  To our team’s credit, they went in the opposite direction, playing with intensity to the final game.

I think it's close.

I think if you were to take that 2008 team and ask them to guard a 2022 team, they would do worse guarding them than this team would do guarding a 2008 team.

2008 team, would have the best defender (KG) but 2022 team would probably have the next 4 or 5 in my opinion.

[18isGREATERthan72]

Didn't the league average offensive rating explode right when our defensive run started?

Our DRTG basically stayed right where it was while teams were scoring about 10% more on average across the league.  This basically indicates even though our numbers stayed the same, in relation to the league we got 10% better defensively.

This also was around the time our offensive numbers increased too though, which is where our net rating really took a leap.

There’s a lot of variability.  Anecdotally, teams seem to slack off around February.  Less defense is played because teams are tired, teams start to tank, etc.  To our team’s credit, they went in the opposite direction, playing with intensity to the final game.