I hold fond memories watching the NBA growing up as a kid. My first memories were watching Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal dominating the NBA. When they would put up more than 100 points a game multiple games in a row it was a big deal, because it didn’t happen often. However, in the current climate of the NBA it is becoming a regular occurrence for multiple teams a night to surpass this total and to do it every night. In the 2013-14 NBA season 16 out of the 30 NBA teams are averaging 100 or more points a game, more than half of the league. Compare this to a decade ago the 2003-04 NBA season when there were only 2 teams, the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings who were able to average 100 points or more (105.2 ppg and 102.8 ppg respectively). (All stats found on this page http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/defense-per-game/sort/avgPointsOpponent/year/2004) 7 of the 16 teams that are surpassing that total this year have a under .500 record. Clearly putting points up on the board is not the problem for these teams, its the other side of the ball, the defensive side where they struggle. This year not a single team in the NBA is able to hold their opponents on average under 90 points a game. The highly praised Indiana Pacers defense leads the league in this category allowing 90.3 points per game, while number two on the list the Chicago Bulls allow a full 2 points (92.3). However, compare this to the 2003-04 season when 9 teams in the NBA held their opponents under 90 points on average with the Detroit Pistons leading the way allowing an average of 84.3 ppg. The Pistons would win the NBA Championship that year, beating the highly favored LA Lakers that year that had 4 future hall of famers in their ranks; Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. Now these numbers might not mean as much because you could argue it is a different league with different dynamics, but most NBA experts argue that the barometer to judge a defense is field goal percentage. Where points per game are more subjective to an era, field goal percentage is all around a more objective statistic regardless of the year. This year only 11 teams in the NBA are holding there opponents to 45% shooting from the field or less. In contrast to the 2003-04 year when 22 teams in the NBA were able to hold their opponents under 45% shooting from the field or less. Some argue that the NBA is better off the way it is now. That it is more entertaining with higher scoring games, but to the NBA traditionalist like myself it is disappointing to see the level of the defensive aspect drop as it has.
Sources:
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/defense-per-game/sort/avgPointsOpponent/year/2004
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/team/_/stat/defense-per-game/sort/avgPointsOpponent
