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#3 LA Clippers
The LA Clippers had a rough start to the 2021-22 NBA season with a 1-4 record. But five consecutive wins have put the team in the Top 6 of the Western Conference with a 6-4 record.
Of course, the defensive end has been the key for Tyronn Lue's team. Despite ranking 19th in Offensive Rating and 18th in points per game, the LA Clippers are sixth in the league in Net Rating. They also rank seventh in points allowed per game.
Paul George has been the leader of the team on both ends of the court. George leads the LA Clippers in Defensive Win Shares and steals, with 2.5 per game. He is currently second in the league in Defensive Win Shares and fourth in Defensive Rating.
#2 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been on the news lately due to Nikola Jokic's ugly altercation with Markieff Morris of the Miami Heat. But overall, the team has done well in the 2021-22 NBA season so far.
The Nuggets are looking to finish among the top teams in the Western Conference again. In their bid to do so, their defense has certainly been elite in the early stages of the current NBA season.
Denver's defense is currently the second-best in the NBA in terms of points allowed per 100 possessions, at 101.2. Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP, currently leads the league in Defensive Rating, at 93.8, and is second in Defensive Win Shares at the moment.
The Nuggets are 7-4 in the 2021-22 NBA season and have taken three consecutive wins despite ranking 24th in Offensive Rating so far. Denver also leads the league in points allowed per game, at 98.5.
#1 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors (10-1) have been the best team in the 2021-22 NBA season. While it is still early, the Warriors have shown strong defense for the second consecutive season. It should only get better once All-NBA shooting guard Klay Thompson returns to action.
As was the case last year, the Golden State Warriors defense has carried the team, while Stephen Curry has been brilliant on offense. The Dubs have the best Defensive Rating in the NBA this year, at 99.8, which is over seven points better than last year's LA Lakers, who led the NBA in DRtg.
While last year's Warriors were not near the top in Offensive Rating (20th), the team is third in ORtg this year. Also, despite being fifth in terms of Pace (an estimate of possessions per 48 minutes), the Warriors are fourth in points allowed per game.
Also read: Is Tobias Harris playing tonight against the Toronto Raptors? | 2021-22 NBA season
Guess the Lakers players!
