The Portland Trail Blazers defense has been one of the NBA’s best and has led them to a 16-4 start. The Blazers didn’t have any big additions in terms of highly regarded defensive personnel.
Last season was the beta test for their new defense at the direction of Terry Stotts. But updates have been made that have helped Portland’s defense overall.
Some changes have been more noticeable in the half court. They’ve switched more on the perimeter and in pick and rolls. Stotts says that the Blazers’ perimeter players usually handle switching amongst themselves throughout the course of a game.
Statistically, the biggest change can be seen in Portland’s approach to offensive rebounding and their excellence in defensive rebounding.
The Blazers were second in the NBA in offensive rebound rate but were only 13th in defensive rebounding rate last season. This season they are eighth in offensive rebounding while being in the top-five in defensive rebounding according to NBA.com.
One of the main changes on offense has been shooters in the corners, whether it’s Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Damian Lillard or Steve Blake those guys are getting back on defense.
“We’re trying to be a little more judicious about coming out of the corners,” Stotts said. “We’d rather have them get back unless you have a true opportunity to get an offensive board. There is more of a conscious decision of getting back in transition.”
The difference can be seen in the starting lineup of Lillard, Matthews, Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez. Their offensive rebound rate, the percentage available offensive rebounds, has gone from 27.7 percent of all available rebounds to 25.8 according to NBA.com.
The Blazers’ offensive rebounding is still a weapon as evidenced by their win Sunday in New York where they grabbed 16 offensive rebounds including a game-sealing board by Lopez.
Lopez is a top-10 offensive rebounder and Aldridge — named the Western Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday — is good for a second-chance bucket or two every night.
“We got a guy like RoLo (Lopez), who is like three people crashing the glass by himself so it makes sense,” said Lillard about the tactic to have shooters get back.
Batum’s offensive rebound rate has been cut nearly in half and most of Portland’s reserve guards never get offensive rebounds.
But the Blazers have also been much better on the defensive glass. Their weak side defense has improved and they are doing a better job of ending possessions. The addition of Chris Kaman has helped them clean up the defensive glass, as he’s currently eighth in the league in defensive rebound rate according to Basketball-Reference.
On the perimeter, Portland’s been doing their part on the defensive glass. Specifically, Lillard is more aggressive.
“We’ve been really emphasizing having a tight paint,” Lillard said. “And I’ve just been around for more rebounds. Robin and LA they have their hands full boxing guys out and sometimes the ball comes to me.”
Lillard’s defensive rebound rate is currently above that of other highly regarded rebounding point guards like Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe and Los Angeles’ Chris Paul.
“I’m just trying to get the ball and get out in transition,” he said. “So I’ve been going after the glass a little harder but it’s also cause of our positioning.”
He even sprained two fingers coming down with a defensive rebound and trying to dribble the ball out in transition.
The Blazers have replaced Mo Williams, who was worst on the team in defensive rebounding percentage last season, with Steve Blake. Lillard is the only Blazers guard who has grabs a higher percentage of defensive rebounds than Blake on this year’s Blazers.
These changes are subtle and again the Blazers are doing it collectively. But this seems to be the formula for the Blazers under the direction of Stotts and general manager Neil Olshey.
Under the radar moves and adjustments have once again led to crucial improvement. Portland has walked the walk of a defense-first team in the first 20 games of the season.
