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With advanced basketball statistics being used more than ever, analytics is being used to track a player's capability. Whether it be points per game or assists per game, stats are being used to understand how players influence their respective franchises.
One of the most underused statistics is the net rating. Net rating is an offensive rating minus defensive rating. It is used to learn how good a particular team is on the offensive side of the floor as well as the defensive.
Come crunch time, it is absolutely consequential for a team to be solid on both the ends of the floor. Past champions have always shown up and showed out when it matters most. The game is all about efficiency. Maximum points and minimum allowed is the aim of all teams.
Now, we look at the five teams who have the highest 4th quarter net rating in the NBA.
#5 Los Angeles Clippers - 4.9
Arguably the best team on paper, the Los Angeles Clippers have a truly amazing team with top two-way players. Coached by Doc Rivers, the Clippers have a net rating of 4.9 which is the fifth-best in the league.
With players such as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers have a dominant presence on both the ends of the floor. They are ever-present on defense with the likes of Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell and the likes of Lou Williams and Marcus Morris Sr on the offensive end.
Doc Rivers and co. have a field goal percentage of 46.2 and with George missing chunks of the season due to injuries, the Clippers are only going to get better when he gets a consistent run of the games on the side.
#4 Boston Celtics - 5.5
The Boston Celtics have the fourth-best net rating in the entire NBA. With a net rating of 5.5, the Celtics have one of the best offenses in the league led by Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker.
Brad Stevens and co. are currently third in the Eastern Conference and are only one game behind the Toronto Raptors who hold the second seed. With one of the best young cores in the NBA, the Celtics are unsurprisingly one of the best teams on both the ends of the floor.
Veteran leaders like Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward continue to be a presence on the defense with Marcus Smart being one of the contenders for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. With the abundance of talent, they have all the tools to go and win a championship in this campaign.
#3 Los Angeles Lakers - 6.7
Led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers have been the team to beat in the Western Conference this season. Top of the conference, the Lakers have a 45-12 record and are nearly six games ahead of the second-placed Denver Nuggets.
Coach Frank Vogel has a reputation for being defensive-minded and it has resulted in the Lakers being one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The likes of Dwight Howard and Avery Bradley along with Davis are constantly switched on defensively while their offensive business is taken care of by LeBron James.
With the third-highest net rating in the NBA during the fourth quarter, it just goes to show how clutch the team has been on both the ends of the floor resulting in plenty of wins.
#2 Milwaukee Bucks - 7.0
The best team in the league, Milwaukee Bucks are on track to win 70 games this season which is staggering considering only Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors have achieved that feat.
They have the MVP among their ranks in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is once again likely to defend the honor. With the likes of Lopez brothers, Khris Middleton and the Greek Freak, the Bucks are absolutely monstrous on the defensive end of the floor. They have the second-best net rating in the fourth quarter, which is a testament to how solid they have been on both the ends of the floor.
With the Greek Freak running the offense for Mike Bundeholzer and co. Milwaukee has one of the most efficient attacks in the league filled with sharpshooters and big men.
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder - 9.8
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the most clutch team in the NBA right now. Led by the most clutch player in the league in Chris Paul, the Thunder are sitting fifth in the Western Conference and are only four games behind the Denver Nuggets who hold the second spot.
After losing Paul Goerge and Russell Westbrook in the offseason, many predicted the Thunder to struggle this campaign despite possessing the likes of Paul, Steven Adams, and Danilo Gallinari. However, they have been one of the surprise packages of the season. Billy Donovan and co. have shown great character and refused to quit in close games.
With the progress to the playoffs looking increasingly likely, the Thunder can make some serious noise in the postseason.
