Top 10 Best Defensive Teams Coming Into the 2019-20 NBA Season

Defense wins championships. Even as the NBA moves closer to offensive dominance, defense will always be the number one priority. A strong defensive scheme can make the difference between a win and a loss.

The teams on this list are ranked based on the coaches' systems and the defensive capabilities of the players themselves.

The Top Ten

  1. Los Angeles Clippers

    The Clippers have a stacked team defensively. They are led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George (who should have won DPOY last year). They also have Patrick Beverley, who truly made a statement last year when he defended KD and Steph.

    Doc Rivers is a great coach, so this team should be the top team defensively. This team is going to be impossible to score on, and they are ahead by a large margin in terms of defense compared to every team.

  2. Los Angeles Lakers

    This lineup is very underrated defensively. LeBron can be a great defender when he wants to. AD is a DPOY candidate, and Danny Green is one of the best defenders ever. Rondo is a great defender as well.

    The only weakness on this squad is DeMarcus Cousins. Frank Vogel is a great defensive coach, and Jason Kidd creates very unique schemes.

  3. Philadelphia 76ers

    The Sixers have a great team defensively, led by Joel Embiid. They have Ben Simmons, who can play defense, and Tobias Harris, who is decent.

    They also have two high-level defenders in Josh Richardson and Al Horford. Brett Brown is also a great coach.

  4. Utah Jazz

    They are led by reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert, who really shouldn't have won DPOY. They have a great defensive unit around him, like Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanović. Plus, they have one of the best defensive coaches ever.

  5. Milwaukee Bucks

    The best defensive team last year, and they could be a top team next year. They have DPOY and reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Brook Lopez also played great defense last year.

    This team has always been good defensively, so I don't know how much he adds.

  6. Sacramento Kings

    I think this Kings team is the most underrated team in the league. They have energy and high-level defenders in De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley.

    This team will be really good next year, and Luke Walton is a very good defensive coach.

  7. Miami Heat

    Two All-Defensive players in Jimmy Butler and Justice Winslow. They have Bam, who is steadily improving into a great defender. Eric Spoelstra is a great coach as well.

  8. Orlando Magic

    The Magic are just long and lengthy with Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba. They also have Fultz, who is a decent defender. Plus, they added Aminu.

  9. Indiana Pacers

    The Pacers would be a lot higher if they had Victor Oladipo for a full year. They don't, so Myles Turner will have to carry the load.

    Nate McMillan is a great defensive coach, so we could see some good defense.

  10. Denver Nuggets

    The Nuggets have improved, credit to Mike Malone. Jerami Grant is now on the squad, so this team should be good defensively again.

    11. The Contenders

  11. Boston Celtics

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