
In basketball, there are a plethora of statistics used to determine the quality of a player or team. One such statistic is Defensive Rating, or Def Rtg, which is a measure of a player or team's defensive efficiency. Developed by Dean Oliver, author of Basketball on Paper, Def Rtg is calculated as an estimate of the points allowed by a player or team per 100 possessions. This statistic does not provide an absolute value, and must be compared to the average value of the league. This is because a team with a Def Rtg of 115 will be phenomenal if the league average is 100, but will be normal if the average is 110.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Defensive Rating measures the performance of a team's defense. |
| Calculation | The number of points scored by the opponent divided by the opponent's total possessions. |
| Purpose | To compare and understand offensive performance and predict future performance. |
| Limitations | Does not account for how the opponent scored points, which can provide more context on defensive performance. |
| Examples | The Duke Blue Devils had a 97.1 Defensive Rating in the 2018/2019 NCAA season. |
| Advanced Stats | Basketball Reference's DRtg is based on box scores and includes steals, blocks, and defensive field goal percentage. |
| Player Impact | A lower defensive rating indicates a better defensive player, with a rating of 111.47 being approximately the league average. |
| Ball Control | The AST/TOV ratio measures ball distribution versus turnovers, indicating good or poor ball control. |
| Steals | Steals Per Game is a significant defensive statistic, often indicating a player's defensive contribution and impact. |
| Possessions | Possession is defined as the period when a team has the ball in attack until they score or lose it; estimated at 100 possessions per game. |
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What You'll Learn

Def Rtg is points allowed per 100 possessions
Defensive Rating (Def Rtg) is a statistic that measures the number of points a team or player concedes per 100 possessions. It is calculated by dividing the points scored by the opponent by the number of possessions. This provides a repeatable method for comparing and understanding how an offense performed.
DEFRTG is a raw number that provides context for how a defense performed. It is listed on the NBA's official stats website and is calculated by dividing the points conceded by the opponent by their total possessions. This is a simple calculation that does not account for other factors that contribute to defensive performance.
Basketball Reference's DRtg is a different calculation that is based on numbers available in the box score. It takes into account steals, blocks, and team defensive field goal percentage. This formula values players who get a lot of "stocks" and may favour certain positions over others.
Defensive Rating can be used to evaluate a player's defensive contributions by comparing their rating to the typical number of points conceded by the opposing team. A player with a rating significantly below the league average can be considered a good defensive player, while a player with a higher rating can be considered a bad defensive player.
Defensive Rating can also be calculated for specific lineups, players, or situations within a team. For example, one could calculate the Def Rtg of a team when a certain player is on the floor in the fourth quarter. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of a team's defensive performance and can provide insights into the impact of individual players on the team's overall performance.
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It was developed by Dean Oliver
Defensive Rating, or defensive efficiency, is a statistic used in basketball to evaluate a player's efficiency at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. The formula for calculating an individual player's defensive rating is:
> DRtg = Team_Defensive_Rating + 0.2 * (100 * D_Pts_per_ScPoss * (1 - Stop%) - Team_Defensive_Rating)
The statistic was developed by Dean Oliver, author of the 2004 book 'Basketball on Paper'. In the book, Oliver introduced the concept of "Skill Curves", acknowledging that a player's Offensive Rating (ORtg) should be judged in conjunction with their Usage Rate, or the size of their role in the team's offense. A higher usage rate makes it more difficult to maintain a high ORtg.
Oliver also created the measure of Stops, which calculates the instances of a player ending an opposing possession that are tracked in the box score (blocks, steals, and defensive rebounds), as well as an estimate of forced turnovers and forced misses by the player. Defensive Rating is influenced by the team's defensive efficiency and assumes that all teammates are equally effective at forcing turnovers and contested shots.
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It's an efficiency metric
DEFRTG, or Defensive Rating, is a statistic that measures the performance of a team's defense. It is calculated by dividing the points scored by the opponent by the opponent's total possessions. This provides a repeatable method for comparing and understanding how an offense performed or will perform in certain situations. A player's defensive rating is very close to the number of points an opposing team would have scored if that player had been playing for the entire game.
DEFRTG is a raw number that doesn't mean much on its own but can provide some additional context. It is a surface-level metric of defensive performance, as it does not account for how the opponent scored those points, which can vary significantly. Shot types, avoiding fouls, forcing turnovers, and grabbing defensive rebounds all play significant factors in how a team allows points.
Defensive Rating can be calculated for a whole team, or for each lineup, player, or situation within a team. For example, the Duke Blue Devils had a 97.1 Defensive Rating in the 2018/2019 NCAA season. A player's defensive rating can be compared to the typical number of points the opposing team scores to determine if they are a "good" or "bad" defensive player. According to basketballreference.com, the league-wide average number of points scored per game in 2019-2020 was 111.8 points per 100.3 possessions. Thus, a player with a defensive rating of approximately 111.47 can be considered around the league average.
Basketball Reference's DRtg is different from the NBA's DEFRTG. DRtg is based on numbers available in the box score, while DEFRTG is a raw number. DRtg values bigs more than perimeter defenders. It also relies on something called stop%, which is based on how often a player gets steals and blocks.
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It's calculated using individual defensive stops
Defensive Rating (Def Rtg) is a statistic that measures the defensive performance of a team or player. It is calculated by dividing the points scored by the opposing team by the opponent's total possessions, typically per 100 possessions. This provides a repeatable method for comparing and evaluating the performance of a team or player in a given situation.
While Def Rtg offers valuable context, it is a raw number that may not fully capture a defender's ability. Basketball Reference's DRtg, on the other hand, is an advanced statistic based on the box score. It considers factors such as steals, blocks, and defensive rebounds, which contribute to individual defensive stops.
The DRtg formula incorporates the team's defensive rating, the percentage of points allowed per scoring opportunity, and the stop percentage. The stop percentage, denoted as "Stop" by Dean Oliver, is a critical component of DRtg. It represents the number of an opponent's interrupted actions, including forced turnovers, missed contested shots, and free throws granted through fouls.
Steals are a significant factor in DRtg and are given the most weight among steals, rebounds, and blocks. They are added together without any coefficients, making them the most influential factor in the calculation. Blocks and defensive rebounds, on the other hand, are multiplied by coefficients that account for rebounding fights and the likelihood of a block resulting in a defensive rebound.
By considering these individual defensive stops, DRtg provides a more nuanced evaluation of a player's defensive contributions. It captures not only the points allowed but also the defensive actions that prevent scoring opportunities. This helps to paint a more comprehensive picture of a player's defensive impact beyond just the raw points conceded.
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It's different from offensive rating
Defensive Rating (DRtg) and Offensive Rating (ORtg) are efficiency metrics developed by Dean Oliver in his 2004 book, *Basketball on Paper*. Both ratings are similar in their creation and usefulness, but there are some key differences.
Offensive Rating measures the efficiency of a team's offense, or how many points a team scores per 100 possessions. This can be measured at the team level or for a specific lineup, player, or situation within a team. For example, the Duke Blue Devils had an Offensive Rating of 118.4 in the 2018/2019 NCAA season. This rating can be calculated by choosing a criterion, such as a specific player or quarter, and dividing the number of points scored by the total possessions of the offensive team.
Defensive Rating, on the other hand, measures the efficiency of a team's defense, or how many points a team's opponent scores per 100 possessions. Like Offensive Rating, it can be measured at the team level or for a specific lineup, player, or situation. For example, the Duke Blue Devils had a Defensive Rating of 97.1 in the 2018/2019 NCAA season. This rating is calculated by choosing a criterion and dividing the points scored by the opponent by the opponent's total possessions.
While Offensive Rating focuses on points scored, Defensive Rating focuses on points allowed. These ratings are used to compare the offenses and defenses of teams that play at different paces and, therefore, have a different number of possessions per game. Teams that play at a faster pace will generally score more points, while slower-paced teams will score fewer points. Thus, Offensive and Defensive Ratings provide a way to understand the efficiency of a team's offense or defense relative to other teams, regardless of their playing style.
It is important to note that both Offensive and Defensive Ratings are surface-level performance metrics. The methods by which teams or players score or allow points can vary significantly and may provide more insight into their performance. For instance, factors such as shot types, ability to draw or avoid fouls, turnovers, and rebounds can play a significant role in a team's offensive or defensive performance.
Additionally, while Offensive and Defensive Ratings can be calculated for individual players, they may not provide a complete picture of a player's performance. The ratings for individual players are influenced by the team's overall performance and assume that all teammates are equally skilled at certain defensive tasks. Therefore, it is often more useful to consider a player's rating in conjunction with their usage rate, which indicates the size of their role in the team's offense.
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Frequently asked questions
Def Rtg, or Defensive Rating, is a metric that estimates the number of points allowed by a team or a player per 100 possessions.
The formula for calculating Def Rtg is: DRtg = Team_Defensive_Rating + 0.2 * (100 * D_Pts_per_ScPoss * (1 - Stop%) - Team_Defensive_Rating).
A good Def Rtg depends on the league average. For example, if the league average is 100, a team with a Def Rtg of 85 would be considered good. However, if the league average is 90, then a Def Rtg of 85 would be considered average.











































