What is the best defense we have seen?

[Carbine]

The best defense I've seen was the Chicago Bulls of 96 when they had Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and Harper out there.

[Carbine]

Just to elaborate on that a little further, you had three big time perimeter defenders on could guard a variety of play styles and Rodman who could guard Shaq to Malone to Kemp, etc. Nobody was a bad matchup for them because of Rodman ability to defend the post as well as perimeter oriented bigs.

[Manny98]

96 Bulls as a option

Does the MJ c*cksucking ever stop on this forum

[superduper]

96 Bulls as a option

Does the MJ c*cksucking ever stop on this forum

*Born in '98*

[BarberSchool]

The Russell Celtics have the best defenses all-time and it's nor particularly close. I didn't "see" those though

I use rDRTG to judge defenses, since it works across era's as you literally measure how strong a defense is relative to league average of the time. Generally, historically great defenses check out at -8.0 rDRTG or better. Very few have reached that level though. We've only seen a couple of these since the 90s. In no order:

08 Celtics (-8.6)
93 Knicks (-8.3)
94 Knicks (-8.1)
04 Spurs (-8.8)
*Pistons of 04 were at -7.7

08 Celtics probably had best frontline rotational/help defense of all time, but Era wasn't physical, if it was ... Garnett's 218lbs would have been a liability, and his light feet would not have been worth anywhere near as much.

I give those knicks teams the edge since they were as physically brutal as late 80's pistons, but nearly as disciplined positionally as 00's spurs squads. From an era where hand checking was legal, hard paint fouls were not flagrants/ejections. Eastern Conference playoffs in early to mid-90's was a special time for defensive basketball.

[72-10]

I dont like this poll at all tho.

You give 3 teams a period of time while you limit the bulls and spurs to 1 specific season each. If you said early-mid 2000s spurs I bet they'd get more votes..

I think it's pretty clear that the 95-96 Bulls' defense was better than that of those other Bulls teams, even 96-97, which would be second, and therefore I chose that as the poll option...

[BarberSchool]

I think it's pretty clear that the 95-96 Bulls' defense was better than that of those other Bulls teams, even 96-97, which would be second, and therefore I chose that as the poll option...

Yeah 4th title Bulls still had Jordan at near peak athleticism and effort, fresher pippen with something to prove/redeem, less hungover Harper, more motivated first time champions, etc.

Kidd's defensive coaching was birthed by his frustration with the size/length/footspeed of that bulls squad's perimeter/passing-lane defense. Incredibly frustrating and versatile perimeter team and iso defense.

[Vino24]

Mid 2000

[72-10]

Yeah 4th title Bulls still had Jordan at near peak athleticism and effort, fresher pippen with something to prove/redeem, less hungover Harper, more motivated first time champions, etc.

Kidd's defensive coaching was birthed by his frustration with the size/length/footspeed of that bulls squad's perimeter/passing-lane defense. Incredibly frustrating and versatile perimeter team and iso defense.

Thanks. There's no question it was the 1995-96 Bulls, though.

[Vino24]

Thanks. There's no question it was the 1995-96 Bulls, though.

Nope 2000

[72-10]

[QUOTE=Vino24]Nope 2000

[fsvr54]

04 Pistons are the GOAT defensive squad.

[MrFonzworth]

04 Pistons are the GOAT defensive squad.

This.

[Manny98]

And LeBron beat those mid 2000s Pistons in 6 games

[imdaman99]

And LeBron beat those mid 2000s Pistons in 6 games

Wade beat them first #ShowedThemTheWay