We had one of these threads last year and it is probably worth launching one for this season as well. Many seem to think Duke is playing the best D we have seen in many years (at least since 2010). Kedsy is the genius who has all the great defensive stats and I leave it to him to provide us with an ongoing tally of what Duke is doing**.
But, I wanted to get the thread started with this article praising the phenomenal on the ball D from Tre Jones. I think Tre is our best on-the-ball defender since at least Duhon, maybe since Wojo or maybe even Billy King. Truly remarkable for a freshman!
-Jason "**- I know Kedsy posts his stats in the post game thread, but I am hoping he will do it here too so we can track the D on an ongoing basis from game-to-game" EvansJones’ knee bruise came when he dove on the floor for a loose ball, easily the sixth time in the game the freshman point guard had done so. While slapping the floor to prepare for a defensive stand has long been a tradition at Duke, this year’s team, led by Jones, is doing so with their bodies, not their palms.
Zion Williamson, the team’s 285-pound future NBA draft pick, has also made a habit of throwing himself to the floor to corral loose balls. The effort has produced a suffocating pressure defense not seen in Durham since the heyday of the early 1990s.
Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?
Defensive stats vs. Kentucky:
dRtg: 1.02
eFG%: 47.5%
3pt%: 23.5%
2pt%: 52.4%
%threes: 28.8%
FT rate: 64.4%
DR%: 69.4%
TO%: 18.2%
a/to ratio: 1.13:1
%assisted: 65.4%
fast break: 12 fb points for 14.3%
block%: 5.1% (7.1% of two-point shots)
dRtg: 0.92
eFG%: 43.6%
3pt%: 38.7%
2pt%: 28.1%
%threes: 39.7%
FT rate: 9.0%
DR%: 74.5%
TO%: 12.8%
a/to ratio: 2.2: 1
%assisted: 78.6%
fast break: 9 fb pts for 12.5% of points scored
block%: 32.1% (56.3% of two-point shots)
dRtg: 0.63
eFG%: 33.1%
3pt%: 16.7%
2pt%: 36.0%
%threes: 26.5%
FT rate: 4.4%
DR%: 67.3%
TO%: 26.2%
a/to: 0.47:1
%assisted: 42.9%
fast break pts: 4 fb pts for 8.7%
block%: 16.2%; 22.0% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 0.88
eFG%: 41.5%
3pt%: 28.6%
2pt%: 40.6%
%threes: 39.6%
FT rate: 50.9%
DR%: 78.4%
TO%: 17.9%
a/to: 0.62:1
%assisted: 42.1%
fast break pts: 2 fb pts in first half; box score didn't say in second half
block%: 7.5%; 12.9% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 1.02 (adjusted 90.4)
eFG%: 43.5%
3pt%: 34.4%
2pt%: 35.6%
%threes: 41.6%
FT rate: 11.6%
DR%: 64.0%
TO%: 12.7%
a/to: 1.56:1
%assisted: 50.0%
fast break pts: 18 fb pts for 25.0%
block%: 14.3%; 22.2% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 1.23 (adjusted 108.0)
eFG%: 60.0%
3pt%: 52.6%
2pt%: 52.2%
%threes: 29.2%
FT rate: 29.2%
DR%: 62.9%
TO%: 15.2%
a/to: 1.45:1
%assisted: 32.4%
fast break pts: 17 fb pts for 19.1%
block%: 9.2%; 10.9% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 0.88 (adjusted 0.78)
eFG%: 43.0%
3pt%: 31.3%
2pt%: 41.7%
%threes: 25.0%
FT rate: 39.1%
DR%: 59.5%
TO%: 25.4%
a/to: 0.65:1
%assisted: 52.0%
fast break pts: 4 fb pts for 5.8%
block%: 15.6%; 20.8% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 0.60 (adjusted 0.69)
eFG%: 33.3%
3pt%: 8.7%
2pt%: 46.2%
%threes: 37.1%
FT rate: 21.0%
DR%: 69.6%
TO%: 31.8%
a/to: 0.42:1
%assisted: 55.0%
fast break pts: 7 fb pts for 14.3%
block%: 8.1%; 10.3% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 0.74 (adjusted 0.76)
eFG%: 33.3%
3pt%: 29.6%
2pt%: 35.3%
%threes: 39.3%
FT rate: 14.8%
DR%: 69.8%
TO%: 28.9%
a/to: 0.62:1
%assisted: 65.0%
fast break pts: 3 fb pts for 5.6%
block%: 16.4%; 29.4% of 2-point shots
dRtg: 0.70 (adjusted 0.66)
eFG%: 37.7%
3pt%: 13.0%
2pt%: 47.6%
%threes: 35.4%
FT rate: 16.9%
DR%: 76.2%
TO%: 27.7%
a/to: 0.61:1
%assisted: 60.9%
fast break pts: 9 fb pts for 15.5%
block%: 7.7%; 14.3% of 2-point shots
After 10 games, here are our national ranks in various defensive stats (all unadjusted except "adjusted dRating"):
unadjusted dRating: #13 (.859)
adjusted dRating: #5 (.899)
opp eFG%: #10 (42.3%)
opp FT rate: #23 (tie) (24.7%)
DR%: #286 (tie) (69.2%)
opp TO%: #95 (tie) (n/a)
opp asst%: #267 (tie) (56.1%)
block%: #6 (tie) (17.6%)
steals%: #2 (tie) (14.5%)
opp 3pt%: #30 (28.2%)
opp %threes: #61 (tie) (34.8%)
Since Gonzaga the efficiency stats are astonishing and historically good - and consistent. I don’t know if something in the defensive strategy was changed or if that game was a wake up call to the team about defensive effort/commitment or if it’s just a matter of the team getting more comfortable playing team defense with each other, but it’s so exciting to see. Our ability to turn defense into offense reminds me of the late 80s teams and the fast break game with multiple wings reminds me of the 92 team. Very curious to see how well we can maintain this level of defense when the conference schedule starts.
Well, our adjusted efficiency rating is significantly better than all the pre-Gonzaga games, other than Eastern Michigan. So it would appear that something has changed/improved since then. Of course, not necessarily. We just have four straight games of amazing defensive efficiency - could just be a coincidence. Or not.
Singler is IRON
I STILL GOT IT! -- Ryan Kelly, March 2, 2013
Imagine how impressive our ratings would be if Coach K would see the light and play some zone. Sorry, couldn’t resist.