Top 5 defensive teams in the 2021-22 NBA season in terms of Defensive Rating

The NBA 75th anniversary logo seen during a game.
The NBA 75th anniversary logo seen during a game.

The 2021-22 NBA season is close to finishing its first month of action and some teams have already shown that they are contenders to make it into the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Of course, one of the best habits a team can have in the NBA is a good, intense defense, and some units have excelled in that regard so far.

While a couple of teams have been surprising in both conferences, some of the preseason favorites have run into trouble. These troubles have been caused by on-court chemistry, off-court dramas or, simply, injuries.

While regular-season defense does not always translate to the situational defense needed in the NBA Playoffs, it is always a good sign for a team to have a reliable defense.


Five-best defensive teams in the 2021-22 NBA season according to Defensive Rating (DRtg)

In this article, we will give you the five-best teams in the NBA right now in terms of Defensive Rating. As we've mentioned in other articles before, the advanced stat was developed by Dean Oliver, author of the book Basketball on Paper and the definition is simple:

"For players and teams, it is points allowed per 100 possessions."

Different teams naturally play at different paces due to strategy or simply because of the style of players on the rosters. Consequently, rate statistics are a good way to measure the performance of each NBA team on both ends of the court with the same sample.

Without further ado, let us take a look.


#5 Utah Jazz

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives around Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz.
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks drives around Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz.

It isn't a surprise to see the Utah Jazz among the top defensive teams during an NBA regular season in recent years. Quin Snyder's team was fourth in Defensive Rating last year, allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions, and is currently fifth in the NBA with a 104 DRtg.

Although the Jazz's defense is 29th in the league in terms of turnovers forced to rivals per 100 possessions, the defense has been good at protecting the rim. The Jazz are in the Top 10 in blocks per 100 possessions.

Rudy Gobert, reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is definitely Utah's best rim-protector and a big piece of what the team does defensively. Gobert is currently second in the NBA in Defensive Rating with 94.7.

The Utah Jazz are currently second in the Western Conference with an 8-3 record.


#4 Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets.
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets.

It is a surprise to see the Brooklyn Nets among the best defensive teams in the NBA. Of course, it is still early in the 2021-22 NBA season, but Steve Nash's squad has done a pretty good job defensively so far, according to advanced stats.

The Brooklyn Nets are currently fourth in Defensive Rating in the entire NBA, with 103.5 points allowed per 100 possessions, a big turnaround from the team's 113.8 from last year (23rd in the league).

Of course, the offense has also flipped since last year. The Brooklyn Nets had the best attack in the league last year, with a 118.3 Offensive Rating, but are currently 20th at 106.7 points scored per 100 possessions.

Despite the offense being rated that low, Kevin Durant's squad is 8-4 and is third in the East right now.

#3 LA Clippers

Paul George #13 and Reggie Jackson #1 of the LA Clippers.
Paul George #13 and Reggie Jackson #1 of the 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

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with teammates.
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with teammates.

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

Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high-fives Stephen Curry.
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high-fives Stephen Curry.

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

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Edited by Anantaajith Raghuraman