I'm going to throw out some defensive stats here.

FG% allowed is a great way to eliminate tempo from the equation and see who plays the best D. The best way is to take points per possession allowed, but I can't find that right now.

In FG% allowed, here are the top 10 teams:
1) Houston (Yao/Mutumbo/Battier)
2) Orlando (Twin towers/ Ariza)
3) Chicago (Big Ben/ Coach Skiles)
4) Detroit (Sheed/Tay/Rip/CB...)
5) New Jersey (Kidd)
6) Utah (Coach Sloan/ Kirilenko/ Boozer)
7) San Antonio (Duncan/ Pop)
8) Cleveland (Big Z)
9) New Orleans (Chandler)
10) Dallas (Avery)
11) Phoenix (Stoudamire/ Marion)

So, we are the best defensive team without a Center. We still got it.


Other surprising stats:
We own the best differential between shots blocked (#1) and getting our shots blocked (#3). We are almost the best on both sides of the equation. That is a testament to us blocking shots from every position; Sheed (63 blocks), Naz (37), Tay (29), Davis (27), Dice (24), JMax (21), Rip (12), CB (11), Flip (7), and Delf (4). This is better than a team with a dominant blocker, because they won't be able to adjust their game play to avoid all of our guys in the playoffs.

And the only 2 teams that get blocked less than us are Phoenix and Dallas. We don't play the same style as them, so I think it reflects the bball IQ of our players. They have a good feel for when they shouldn't force a shot.

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"If I'm sitting there arguing with the officials, I'm giving an alibi for the team." MC