Boston Celtics and the 10 Most Impressive NBA Team Defensive Performances
Contrary to popular belief, NBA teams do churn out fantastic defensive performances. In this article, I will rank the top 10 defensive performances of the 2010-2011 NBA regular season thus far.
You may be surprised at a couple of the teams that have flexed their defensive muscles.
As always let me know your thoughts and opinions regardless if they are positive or negative.
10. Boston Celtics Vs. Atlanta Hawks November 22nd, 2010
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The Atlanta Hawks are known for playing a fast-paced style of offense that is conducive to SportsCenter Top 10 highlights.
On this day though, the Hawks would not produce any highlights worth remembering in their 99-76 loss to the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics used their physical style of play and swarming defense to ground an Atlanta team that prefers to play an up-tempo game with talents such as Josh Smith and Joe Johnson.
The Celtics set the tone by holding Atlanta to 13 points in the first quarter and never looked back in a game that only cemented Boston’s reputation as one of the top defensive units in the league.
9.Philadelphia 76ers Vs. New Orleans Hornets December 12th, 2010
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Philadelphia does not have a reputation for being one of the stingiest defensive teams in the NBA, but on this night against New Orleans the 76ers defense was as good as it gets.
Philly held New Orleans to 23 first half points in their 88-70 victory. Despite Chris Paul’s 25 points, the Hornets were never able to muster up any consistent scoring.
The fact that New Orleans made only 24 field goals on the evening and had only six fast break points is a testament to just how swarming the 76ers' defense truly was.
8.Chicago Bulls Vs. Indiana Pacers December 13th, 2010
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Chicago put together yet another dominant defensive performance against the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls whipped the Pacers 92-73 and allowed only three Pacer players to score in double figures.
Indiana’s woeful 3-19 shooting from three-point range only added to the Pacers struggles and for the most part Chicago was able to suffocate any momentum that Indiana tried to muster.
Clearly, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer’s presence in the paint was a little too much for the Pacers to handle on this night.
7.Washington Wizards Vs. Charlotte Bobcats December 20th, 2010
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Washington held Charlotte to 11 points in the third quarter of the Wizards 108-75 thrashing of the Bobcats.
That aforementioned statistic by itself earns Washington a spot on this list amongst the other top defensive performances.
In addition, Washington forced Charlotte into 29 turnovers and held the Bobcats to two made three-point field goals on the evening.
One final telling statistic is Washington’s 26 fast break points compared to Charlotte’s meager six transition points.
All in all, this night in our nation’s capital was a defensive clinic taught by one of the more unlikely teams in the NBA.
6.Chicago Bulls Vs. New Jersey Nets March 17th, 2011
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Chicago hardly performed like a well-oiled offensive machine in their 84-73 victory over New Jersey, but the Bulls stifling defense was ultimately enough to ensure the victory.
Chicago forced New Jersey into 3-19 shooting from three-point range and forced Nets point guard Deron Williams into a 1-12 shooting performance which resulted in a measly five points for the dynamic floor general.
New Jersey only scored 50 points throughout the first three quarters of the game and scored the majority of their points in the final quarter of the game.
5.Los Angeles Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic February 13th, 2011
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You can talk to any team in the NBA and they will tell you how hard it is to ground Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
That is why Orlando’s 89-75 defeat of the Lakers is so impressive and definitely deserving of a spot on this list.
The Magic held Kobe Bryant to 17 points, which is well below his 24.7 points per game average.
In addition, the Lakers were held to 13 percent three-point shooting and only managed five fast break points which ultimately lead to their small 75 point output.
4.Orlando Magic Vs. Toronto Raptors January 21st, 2011
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Toronto is going through some tough rebuilding pains, but it’s nights like the Raptors endured in Orlando that really take a toll on a player’s psyche.
Toronto only scored 72 points in their 112-72 loss to Dwight Howard and the Magic. It was a game in which the Magic held the lowly Raptors to 35 percent shooting on the evening and only 31 points throughout the third and fourth quarters.
DeMar Derozan paced the Raptors with 16 points, but it would not be nearly enough to slow down “Superman” and the Magic.
3.Miami Heat Vs. Orlando Magic October 29th, 2010
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This early season matchup between the Heat and the Magic was a highly anticipated tilt that had all the makings of an instant classic. Unfortunately, the actual performance did not match the hype and fans were treated to a 96-70 blowout in which Miami dominated Orlando.
The Magic started out the game strong scoring 45 points throughout the first two quarters, but the team limped through the second half of the game and only put up 25 more points for a grand total of 70.
Orlando has established a reputation for their vaunted three-point shooting, but that marksmanship abandoned them in this game as they made just 4-24 shots from behind the arc.
2.Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Los Angeles Lakers January 11th, 2011
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The Los Angeles Lakers have the personnel to make life miserable on opposing NBA teams that visit the Staples Center, and when the hapless Cleveland Cavaliers made the journey to Tinseltown, all signs pointed to a beatdown by the Lakers.
Clearly no one was expecting a memorable classic, but no one had any idea that the Los Angeles would hold Cleveland to 57 points as part of the Lakers 112-57 stomping of the Cavaliers.
The Lakers forced the Cavaliers into 19 turnovers on the evening and only allowed one made three-point field goal throughout the 48 minutes that this laugher of an NBA game lasted.
1.Boston Celtics Vs. Milwaukee Bucks March 13th, 2011
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In what can only be described as a masterful defensive performance the Boston Celtics held the Milwaukee Bucks to 56 points in their 31 point victory on March 13th.
The Celtics swarming defense forced the Bucks to shoot a horrific 31 percent from the floor and only allowed three made three point field goals on the evening.
Earl Barron was the only player to score in double figures for Milwaukee and paced the Bucks in scoring on the evening with his 10 points.
The 56 point defensive effort by Boston is the fewest points allowed in the shot-clock era.
