Trail Blazers' defensive challenges heading toward the playoffs

To date, the Portland Trail Blazers have allowed just 0.94 points per shot attempt on the season, placing them among the top five staunchest defense in the league. But although the defense has been strong for the majority of the season, a few glaring weaknesses have emerged over the team’s 63 games thus far.

For one, prior to Thursday’s game against the Detroit Pistons the Trail Blazers centers gave up a league-worst 0.11 points per screen. What that number suggests is that the Trail Blazers don’t do particularly well in defending screen setters. This makes some sense, as the team’s priority has long been to encourage long two-point shots when defending the pick-and-roll. The team’s adherence to a defensive philosophy that forces opponents to take easier shots, over more efficient shots, is a new take on defense in the NBA. While other teams employ similar defensive strategies, the Trail Blazers have been the most consistent, and arguably the best at dictating the type of shots their opponents take.

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Since the team creates relatively few turnovers—just 12.5 per game—the defense relies heavily on forcing teams to miss shots, and securing the defensive rebound as a means of limiting opponents’ possessions. Such a strategy certainly favors the Trail Blazers’ personnel, as they currently lead the league in defensive rebounding and are fourth in opponent field goal percentage.

The Trail Blazers’ defense is the key to their success. Opponents shoot an average of 26.4 mid-range attempts per game while the Trail Blazers give up just 38.4% shooting within that range, compared to the league average of 39.5%. While a 1.1% difference seems insignificant, its important to keep in mind that the midrange jump shot is becoming reviled by offenses in the NBA as the most inefficient of attempts. This Portland defense forces teams to shoot nearly 4.5 more midrange shots per game than the league average, which is incredibly significant.

Furthermore, with just 19 games remaining this season, the Trail Blazers’ continue to hold opponents to a league best 37.0% shooting in the 15-19 foot range while also giving up (or forcing, depending on your perspective) the fourth most attempts from that distance, at 14.7 per game. When the Trail Blazers’ defense influences opponents shot attempts they are quite successful, but when teams find ways to shift shot distribution in their favor, the Trail Blazers struggles.

Feb 22, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos (41) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Dorell Wright (1) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

But, the Trail Blazers’ have struggled against teams that dictate shot distribution, particularly when team’s take high percentages of shots in the paint—the only area of the court where the team ranks outside of the top 10 in field goal percentage allowed. Team’s like the Memphis Grizzlies that score higher percentages of their points in the paint give the Trail Blazers’ real trouble on the defensive end of the floor.

The Trail Blazers’ recent win against the Houston Rockets—another team that scores a high percentage of points in the paint, provides a good counter example. In that game, Portland succeeded in skewing Houston’s shot selection toward the mid-range.

Four of the Trail Blazers’ next six opponents are playoff bound, and with the postseason fast approaching the team would like to establish a winning rhythm, further refine the defensive strategy that has served the team well all season, and head into the playoffs primed to defend at a high level. With the team’s top perimeter defender and defensive anchor, Wesley Matthews, out for the season, the integrity of the Trail Blazers’ defense scheme will be more important than ever to their success.

Next: Trail Blazers start road trip with win in Toronto

Trail Blazers’ defensive challenges heading toward the playoffs

By Casey Baumann | Mar 15, 2015