IMO, you can throw all the defensive stats out the window. The NBA should come up with a new defensive stat - how many stops do you get in the last few minutes of a game, a very close game on a consistent basis. To me, that`s good defense.

Of course, the PA, FG% allowed are also good indicators of good defensive teams, however, those teams don`t always come through when they should, see above.

If it`s two minutes left in a two point game and a team/player locks a team or an opposing player down, time after time, that`s good defense.

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"We are going to be really good offensively and definsively, we are going to be a team that can beat you 120-110, or beat you 80-70" Coach Michael Curry on the 2008-2009 Pistons.

I'm sure Curry will emphasize defense, but how will we really know if the defense is any better? Are there some stats that we will be able to look at or will we just go by our subjective impressions along with player and coach quotes.

I think we should look to see if there are more articles not written this year than weren't written last year on whether the Pistons aren't playing better defense than the previous year.

Good idea. Do you have a link that doesn't show that the method will not work?

A link of this type might be somewhat persuasive but a far more compelling case would be made if one were to demonstrate that no link that advances the contrary position exists.

Regular season- we gave up 103 points per 100 possessions.
Playoffs- we gave up 104 points per 100 possessions.

Even though it was slightly worse, you have to consider that we were playing against better teams.

San Antonio showed more slippage that us. They gave up 102 in the regular season and 105 in the playoffs.

Cleveland actually had the best defense in the playoffs this year by this measure.