Predicting the 5 best defensive teams in the 2021-22 NBA season

3) New York Knicks

New York Knicks v Cleveland Cavaliers - Tom Thibadeou

We probably should have expected the New York Knicks to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA once Tom Thibodeau took over the head coaching role. Thibodeau is highly regarded as a defensive specialist who gets his players to commit to that end of the floor while placing them in optimal situations for their skillsets.

It also helps when some of those skillsets come from the likes of RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Julius Randle, and Nerlens Noel. The loss of Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock may be more substantial than anticipated, considering they are being replaced by Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. The frontcourt defense remains, and that is the most essential.

At this point, Tom Thibadeou feels like the coach to bet on when it comes to rolling out a high-level NBA defense.

2) Milwaukee Bucks

2021 NBA Finals - Game Six - Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks somehow tied for ninth-best defensive rating in the NBA last season. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a perpetual Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Jrue Holiday is often mentioned by his peers as one of the most underrated defenders in the NBA.

Brook Lopez's drop coverage has proven to be successful and Khris Middleton is locked in on a nightly basis. PJ Tucker has departed for the Miami Heat, but Semi Ojeleye and Donte DiVincenzo should be capable of picking up the slack.

DiVincenzo seems undermentioned as someone who started 66 games before suffering a torn ligament in his left ankle prior to the NBA Playoffs. Ojeleye has been somewhat hyperbolically labeled a "Giannis stopper" throughout his career with the Boston Celtics.

If the main core of the Milwaukee Bucks can remain healthy, their roster is more than capable of being the top defense in the NBA.

1) Utah Jazz

Portland Trail Blazers v Utah Jazz - Rudy Gobert

The Utah Jazz have the best defensive player in the NBA on their roster in Rudy Gobert. The 7'1 french big man swallows up defenders with his 7'9" wingspan and legimitmatley scares NBA players away from driving to the basket. He averaged 2.7 blocks per game, second only to Myles Turner last season, and led the way for Utah to finish with the third-best defensive rating.

While Gober is an undeniable anchor to this elite Utah defensive roster, he is far from the lone impact player on that end. Mike Conley made the All-Defensive team back in 2012-13, and has remained a high-level point of attack defender since to this point in his career.

Donovan Mitchell's standout quickness translates well to his lateral speed and he is never one to back down from a challenge. Joe Ingles is going to lock you up while talking trash the entire game. Royce O'Neale has been criminally undermentioned as a valuable NBA starter.

The losses of Derrick Favors and Georges Niang could make for a slight adjustment period to start the year, but the chief parts of a continual top NBA defense remain in place.