Kings Head Coach Dave Joerger: Defensive History and Expectations
By Tyler Watts
Defensive Rating
Let us now view defensive rating to get a different perspective. Defensive rating is the number of points allowed per 100 possessions for a team. Therefore, it adjusts out things like pace and just looks at 100 possessions for every team.
Sacramento rated as the 8th worst team in defensive rating last year, giving up 106.3 points per 100 possessions. Just behind them as the 11th worst team at 105.4 points were Coach Joerger’s Grizzlies. Last season, probably doesn’t tell the tale for the Grizzlies because in the two previous season they ranked 27th at 99.9 points and 23rd at 102.1 points. All stats can be found here courtesy of NBA.com/stats.
The defensive rating numbers dispell the myth you hear about the Grizzlies. It is often said that because they play at a slow pace that improves their defensive stats. They still rate very highly even with the pace taken out of the equation. This is a feather in Coach Joerger’s cap and should bring some excitement to Sacramento.