This season, the Heat's defense is incredibly strong, and they have repeatedly played defensive masterpieces. According to Stat Muse, the Heat conceded only 94 points per 100 possessions this season, which is even the best defensive efficiency in the NBA since the introduction of three-pointers. As a result, many people have also included the Heat in the ranks of championship-fighting teams.
From this, this article will review the 10 teams with the best defensive efficiency in a single season since the NBA introduced three-pointers in 1979-80, to see what their fate is in that season, and can they bring some inspiration to the Heat this season?
Spurs, 2003-04
Points lost per 100 rounds: 94.1
On this list, the Spurs are the team with the most times on the list. The Spurs in 2003-04 made their defense to the pinnacle. Bruce Bowen was named to the defensive first team for the season, and Duncan was named the best defensive second team. However, compared to defense, the Spurs' offensive efficiency this season was only in the middle of the 29 teams (16th). In the end, the Spurs fell under Fisher's "0.4 second miracle" in the second round of the West End, losing 2-4 to the Lakers, defending the title.
2. Spurs, 1998-99
Points lost per 100 rounds: 95
The Spurs' victory depends on defense, which was decided when the team won the first title. In the first season after the collapse of the Bulls Dynasty, the NBA ushered in a shrinkage season, after the Spurs, who had ranked second in the league in defensive efficiency in the previous season, naturally sat on the first throne, and Duncan was also selected as the best defensive team for the first time in his career. Coupled with the offensive efficiency of ranking 11th in the league, the Spurs, which are balanced in attack and defense, have become the favorite to win the championship. In the end, the Spurs won the first championship in team history, and they lost only 2 games in 15 games in four rounds of the playoffs.
Spurs/Suns, 2000-01
Points lost per 100 rounds: 98
Duncan had admired Kidd, and the two almost joined forces at the Spurs. The 2000–01 season was also the second time Duncan and Kidd were named to the Best Defensive Team (the last time was in the 1998–99 season). The Spurs and Suns also shared the league's defensive efficiency first title under the leadership of the duo. However, compared to the Spurs' offensive and defensive balance, the Suns are seriously biased (only 22nd in offensive efficiency) and eventually exited in the first round. The Spurs made it to the Western Conference Finals, but were shaved 4-0 by the Lakers.
4. Nets, 2002-03
Points lost per 100 rounds: 98.1
This is another team that bears kidd's mark. Before Kidd joined in 2001, the Nets attacked and defended. After Kidd joined, the Nets reached mid-range offense and defense became elite. In the previous season, the Nets conceded 99.5 points per 100 possessions, which was the first in the league, and this season set a new high. In addition to Kidd, the addition of Uncle Mu, who was also selected as the best defensive second team in the previous season, also made the Nets defense more solid. In the end, the Nets reached the Finals again, but lost 2-4 to the Spurs.
5. Knicks, 1993-94
Points lost per 100 rounds: 98.2
Some people have lamented the variety of Pat Riley's coaching style. He created the Showtime Lakers, but he shaped the Knicks into a predatory army, ranking first in defensive efficiency for three consecutive seasons in the early 90s. The 1993–94 Knicks reached the pinnacle of the period. Oakley was named to the Defensive All-Defensive Squad, and in addition to him, Ewing, Stax, Derek Harper and Anthony Mason were also selected for the All-Defensive Team. In the playoffs, the Knicks fought bravely from the East Side, but lost to the Rockets in the finals seven games and passed the championship.
6. Lakers, 1999-00
During the triple crown, the Lakers' defensive efficiency was only in the 2000-01 regular season, falling to the 21st place in the league. But after the playoffs, the Lakers' defensive efficiency immediately became the best. In the previous season, the Lakers' defensive efficiency reached the highest level during the three consecutive championships. In the end, under the leadership of the OK combination, the Lakers completed a stunning reversal in the fourth quarter of the seventh game of the Western Conference Finals, winning the first championship in team history since 1988.
7. Celtic, 2011-12
From day one of the Big Three formations, the Green Army has been a defensive team, and it remains so in the 2011-12 season. Garnett and Rondo were both named the best defensive second team in the season, and the Green Army played the most defensive efficiency of the Big Three in the final season of the Big Three. But their offensive efficiency this season was only the league's fourth-to-last. In the end, they were seriously biased and lost to the Heat, which also had the Big Three in 7 major battles in the East Final.
Spurs, 2004-05
Points lost per 100 rounds: 98.8
From 2003 to 2006, the Spurs were the number one defensive efficiency list in the league for three consecutive seasons, with the Spurs playing the highest defensive efficiency of this period in 2004-05. Duncan and Bowen were selected for the best defensive team together, which is a special honor for the Spurs. At the same time, the Spurs also ranked 8th in offensive efficiency this season. Balanced in attack and defense, they easily played from the West End, and fought 7 games with the defending champion Pistons, laughing to the end.
9. Nets, 1982-83
Points lost per 100 rounds: 98.9
The 76ers had three players named best defensive first team this season, and Bird and McHale also joined forces to be selected for best defensive second team, but to people's surprise, the Nets, who were not selected for the best defensive team that season, were the team with the highest defensive efficiency. The Nets are not without defensive thugs, and Buck Williams and Michael Ray Richardson have also been named to the Defensive Team of the Year in their careers. In the end, the Nets, who were first defensively and fifth in offense, stopped in the first round.
10 Celtic, 2007-08
I believe that many fans still clearly remember how strong the Green Army defense of the first season of the formation of the Big Three was, and Garnett was also elected as the best defensive player, filling the gap in the history of the Green Army. In addition, Tony Allen, who played for the Green Army at the time, has just entered the fourth season of his career, and he has been selected to the defensive team six times after moving to the Grizzlies. The green army of the season does not need to be repeated, they finally won the championship, and the three old boys' wishes were fulfilled.
In summary, defensive efficiency first does not guarantee a championship. In fact, according to statistics, since the NBA introduced three-pointers, only seven teams with the highest defensive efficiency have won championships this season; in addition to the four teams mentioned above, there are also the Green Army in the 1985-86 season, the Bulls in the 1995-96 season and the Warriors in the 2014-15 season.
The good news is that this season's Heat not only lead the defensive efficiency, but also ranks 4th in the league in offensive efficiency. Perhaps, for this team that just reached the finals last year, we all have a little bit of a small look. (Supine Braces/Hairy)