Post by jayborne on Sept 5, 2007 0:26:15 GMT -5
UOSL Team Defense Rankings
As the season winds down, the contenders are beginning to make themselves known. One the key aspects of a champion, is defense. Don't they say it wins championships? That got me interested, who are the best defensive teams in UOSL? To determine the rankings, I used 5 catergories: oPPG, oAPG, oFG%, oTPG, and margin of victory. I then ranked the teams in descending order in each category, assigning them a point value corresponding to their position. In the end, I tallied up the results and got a list of UOSL's best defenses.
1. Indiana Pacers (15)
The accusations of bias are unavoidable, but the numbers speak for themselves. While the Pacers aren't #1 in any category, their consistent placement at the top of the defensive categories earn them their title as UOSL's best defensive team. That declaration is in large part due to the well known frontline of Oden, Howard, and Young.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (17)
Though the numbers disagree, the Grizzlies may very well be the league's best defensive team. It's no secret that you better have a strong perimeter game to put some points up, because Camby and Wright own the paint. They literally out-block every team in the league besides the Pacers. They're also a big reason why the Grizzlies lead the league in oFG%.
3. Golden State Warriors (24)
Pacers do everything, the Grizzlies block shots, and the Warriors get steals. With three players ranked in the top 10 for steals (Kobe is technically tied for 10th), they cause teams fits. It's that ball hawking prowess that is the reason they cause the most turnovers per game. Their defense also benefits from their offense, which keeps a healthy margin of victory.
4. Houston Rockets (26)
At first look, the Rockets don't necessarily appear intimidating but they certainly get it done. They keep their opponents away with a healthy margin of victory, deny the flow of the ball by keeping their opponents assists low, and keep teams shooting much less efficiently than they are. Dalembert and Ming are exceptional individual defenders, but this team shines through its teams defense.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (34)
This is the point where teams start to separate themselves from the pack. While the Lakers aren't an elite defensive team, they are considerably better than the teams that follow. This team will put your PG to hell as they play the ball well (2nd in steals) and stifle the flow of the offense (1st in oAPG). If they had more impressive shot blocking and a wider margin of victory, they'd be challenging Houston for the #4 spot.
6. Utah Jazz (48)
7. Atlanta Hawks (54)
8. Milwaukee Bucks (58)
9. Phoenix Suns (59)
10. San Antonio Spurs (63)
11. Denver Nuggets (67)
12. Detroit Pistons (70)
13. Philadelphia 76ers (73)
14. Chicago Bulls (74)
15. Sacramento Kings (75)
16. Washington Wizards (80)
17. Orlando Magic (81)
17. Toronto Raptors (81)
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (84)
20. New Orleans Hornets (85)
21. Miami Heat (93)
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (97)
23. Los Angeles Clippers (99)
24. Portland Trailblazers (101)
25. Brooklyn Nets (109)
26. Boston Celtics (122)
27. New York Knicks (124)
28. Dallas Mavericks (125)
29. Seattle Sonics (136)
Yes, somehow the Sonics are an even worse defensive team than the Knicks. By a significant margin too. That's the reprocusions of having more C's in the defense category than George W's college transcripts.
As the season winds down, the contenders are beginning to make themselves known. One the key aspects of a champion, is defense. Don't they say it wins championships? That got me interested, who are the best defensive teams in UOSL? To determine the rankings, I used 5 catergories: oPPG, oAPG, oFG%, oTPG, and margin of victory. I then ranked the teams in descending order in each category, assigning them a point value corresponding to their position. In the end, I tallied up the results and got a list of UOSL's best defenses.
1. Indiana Pacers (15)
The accusations of bias are unavoidable, but the numbers speak for themselves. While the Pacers aren't #1 in any category, their consistent placement at the top of the defensive categories earn them their title as UOSL's best defensive team. That declaration is in large part due to the well known frontline of Oden, Howard, and Young.
2. Memphis Grizzlies (17)
Though the numbers disagree, the Grizzlies may very well be the league's best defensive team. It's no secret that you better have a strong perimeter game to put some points up, because Camby and Wright own the paint. They literally out-block every team in the league besides the Pacers. They're also a big reason why the Grizzlies lead the league in oFG%.
3. Golden State Warriors (24)
Pacers do everything, the Grizzlies block shots, and the Warriors get steals. With three players ranked in the top 10 for steals (Kobe is technically tied for 10th), they cause teams fits. It's that ball hawking prowess that is the reason they cause the most turnovers per game. Their defense also benefits from their offense, which keeps a healthy margin of victory.
4. Houston Rockets (26)
At first look, the Rockets don't necessarily appear intimidating but they certainly get it done. They keep their opponents away with a healthy margin of victory, deny the flow of the ball by keeping their opponents assists low, and keep teams shooting much less efficiently than they are. Dalembert and Ming are exceptional individual defenders, but this team shines through its teams defense.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (34)
This is the point where teams start to separate themselves from the pack. While the Lakers aren't an elite defensive team, they are considerably better than the teams that follow. This team will put your PG to hell as they play the ball well (2nd in steals) and stifle the flow of the offense (1st in oAPG). If they had more impressive shot blocking and a wider margin of victory, they'd be challenging Houston for the #4 spot.
6. Utah Jazz (48)
7. Atlanta Hawks (54)
8. Milwaukee Bucks (58)
9. Phoenix Suns (59)
10. San Antonio Spurs (63)
11. Denver Nuggets (67)
12. Detroit Pistons (70)
13. Philadelphia 76ers (73)
14. Chicago Bulls (74)
15. Sacramento Kings (75)
16. Washington Wizards (80)
17. Orlando Magic (81)
17. Toronto Raptors (81)
19. Minnesota Timberwolves (84)
20. New Orleans Hornets (85)
21. Miami Heat (93)
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (97)
23. Los Angeles Clippers (99)
24. Portland Trailblazers (101)
25. Brooklyn Nets (109)
26. Boston Celtics (122)
27. New York Knicks (124)
28. Dallas Mavericks (125)
29. Seattle Sonics (136)
Yes, somehow the Sonics are an even worse defensive team than the Knicks. By a significant margin too. That's the reprocusions of having more C's in the defense category than George W's college transcripts.
