Kings Head Coach Dave Joerger: Defensive History and Expectations
By Tyler Watts
Summary
First, let us review what we uncovered so far. Coach Joerger’s Grizzlies were one of the best team in the NBA in holding down opponents points, around league average at limiting 3 point production, and rated highly in defensive rating. The Kings in those 3 seasons were near the worst in the league in all those categories.
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So what can we expect moving forward?
Improvement! Some people will surmise that the Grizzlies have great personnel that fit a defensive culture and allowed them to be a top defensive team in those 3 seasons. I will grant you that they have the personnel to fit that strategy, but they needed a game plan and coaching to be that good defensively. Coach Joerger was supplying at least part of that piece.
I suspect the Kings will be around the middle of the pack in opponent’s points per game. The new coaching emphasis, new players, and the team playing at a slower pace than last season will help them settle in around mid-pack. In limiting 3 point production, I expect improvement, but the Kings will probably finish closer to the bottom third than mid-pack by the season’s end. In defensive rating, I suspect a rating between 15th and 10th worst in the NBA. All those finishes would be improvements on last season and it is important to remember that those would be a step in the right direction.
Allow Coach Joerger time to build up the defensive end of the floor because I suspect things only continue to improve until the Kings are one of the league’s top 10 defensive teams. Patience and belief Kings fans, the defense is about to improve.