
Defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure how effective a team or player is at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. It was created by Dean Oliver, who introduced the concept in his 2004 book, 'Basketball on Paper'. The defensive rating is calculated by multiplying the defensive points per possession by 100. For example, if a player allows 1.01 points per possession, their defensive efficiency rating would be 101. This statistic is useful for coaches, who can use it to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to increase their team's efficiency on the court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | "Defensive rating or defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure an individual player's or team's efficiency at preventing the other team from scoring points." |
| Creator | Dean Oliver |
| Date Created | 2004 |
| Source | Basketball on Paper |
| Formula | Defensive Player Rating = (Players Steals*Blocks) + Opponents Differential= 1/5 of possessions - Times blown by + Deflections * OAPDW (Official Adjusted Players Defensive Withstand) |
| Influencing Factors | Defense of a player's teammates |
| Notes | "Defensive Rating estimates how many points the player allowed per 100 possessions he individually faced while on the court." |
Explore related products
$49.95
What You'll Learn

Calculating defensive rating
Defensive rating, also known as defensive efficiency, is a statistic used in basketball to measure how effective a player or team is at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. It was introduced by Dean Oliver in his 2004 book, "Basketball on Paper".
The defensive rating is calculated by multiplying the defensive points per possession by 100. For example, if a player allows 1.01 points per possession, their defensive rating is 101. This calculation can be performed for each game, with the average possessions per game calculated by dividing the total possessions by the number of games played.
The formula for defensive player rating, according to Dean Oliver, is:
Defensive Player Rating = (Players Steals * Blocks) + Opponents Differential = 1/5 of possessions - Times blown by + Deflections * OAPDW (Official Adjusted Players Defensive Withstand)
This statistic is influenced by the performance of a player's teammates, as well as the pace of play and minutes played per game. It is important to note that lower defensive ratings are more desirable, indicating better defensive performance.
Another concept introduced by Oliver is "Skill Curves", which highlights the importance of considering a player's offensive rating (ORtg) in conjunction with their Usage Rate. The Usage Rate represents the size of a player's role in the team's offense, and it affects how challenging it is to maintain a high ORtg. Therefore, it is more meaningful to compare the ORtg of players with similar roles in their respective teams.
The NAIA Basketball Tournament: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$65.59 $219

Converting defensive points to efficiency rating
Defensive rating, or defensive efficiency, is a statistic used in basketball to measure how effective a player or team is at preventing the opposing team from scoring. It was created by Dean Oliver, who introduced the concept in his 2004 book, *Basketball on Paper*.
Defensive rating estimates how many points a player or team concedes per 100 possessions. This differs from a simple plus/minus system, where all points scored while a player is on the court count against them. In contrast, defensive rating only counts points conceded as a result of a player's defensive mistakes. It also eliminates factors like the pace of play and minutes played per game. Importantly, lower numbers are preferable when it comes to defensive rating.
To calculate defensive efficiency, you must first determine the number of defensive points per possession. This can be calculated using the following formula:
Defensive Points per Possession = Opponent Points / (Opponent Field Goals Made + (1 - (1 - (Opponent Free Throws Made / Opponent Free Throws Attempted))^2) * Opponent Free Throws Attempted * 0.4)
Once you have calculated defensive points per possession, you can convert this to a defensive efficiency rating by multiplying by 100. For example, if a team concedes 1.01 points per possession, their defensive efficiency rating is 101.
These calculations can be performed on a game-by-game basis. To find the average number of possessions per game, divide the total number of possessions by the number of games played. In Division I college basketball, an average team will have 66.5 possessions per 40 minutes, while 75 is considered fast and 60 is considered slow.
Gripping Basics: Holding a Badminton Racket Correctly
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The influence of teammates' defence
Defensive efficiency in basketball is a statistic used to measure how well a player or team prevents the opposing team from scoring points. It was created by Dean Oliver and introduced in his 2004 book, Basketball on Paper. The defensive rating can be influenced by the defence of a player's teammates.
The defence of a player's teammates can influence their defensive rating. A player's individual defensive rating is calculated using the formula:
Defensive Player Rating = (Players Steals * Blocks) + Opponents Differential= 1/5 of possessions - Times blown by + Deflections * OAPDW (Official Adjusted Players Defensive Withstand)
The defensive strategies, alignments, and positioning that a team uses to prevent the opposing offence from scoring baskets are referred to as basketball defences. Good defence requires quickness, footwork, and a deep understanding of the fundamentals. An individual defender works with their teammates to stifle scoring opportunities such as an open jump shot or layup, box out to prevent an offensive rebound, and avoid fouling, which will lead to a free throw.
Trust and cooperation between teammates are vital in basketball, as players depend on each other for success. Tactile communication, or physical touch, can promote trust and cooperative behaviours, which contribute to a cohesive team environment. Quick touches between teammates can create a sense of warmth and trust, leading to increased cooperation and group functioning.
Different defensive systems, such as man-to-man defence and zone defence, emphasise different principles and strategies to limit scoring opportunities. In man-to-man defence, each defender is assigned a specific offensive player to guard, typically based on their respective positions. This defence allows defenders to force the dribbler towards the sidelines and baseline, making it easier to trap them and box out in the paint. Zone defence, on the other hand, focuses on each defender guarding a specific area of the court, aiming to limit dribble penetration and restrict low post-scoring chances.
By understanding and utilising various defensive strategies and fostering trust and cooperation among teammates, basketball players can improve their defensive efficiency and prevent the opposing team from scoring.
Iowa Girls' Basketball: TV Channel Tonight
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$35 $49.99

Steal percentage
The steal percentage is calculated using the following formula:
Steal% = (Player's Steals x Team's Total Minutes) / (Player's Minutes Played x Opponent's Possessions)
Or, as another source presents it:
The difference between the two formulas is that the latter calculates steal percentage as a percentage, by multiplying the result by 100.
Returning High Serves: Strategies for Badminton Players
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Limitations of defensive rating
Defensive rating, or defensive efficiency, is a statistic used in basketball to measure how efficient a player or team is at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. The defensive rating was created by Dean Oliver and introduced in his 2004 book, *Basketball on Paper*.
While defensive rating is a useful metric for assessing team defence and its impact on success, it does have some limitations. Firstly, it assumes that all teammates are equally effective at forcing non-steal turnovers and non-block misses, and that they face the same number of total possessions per minute. This can lead to an inaccurate representation of a player's defensive ability, as the rating is heavily influenced by the team's overall defensive efficiency.
Another limitation of defensive rating is that it does not account for pace or volume. This means that it may not accurately reflect the impact of a player who spends a significant amount of time on the court. While the defensive rating metric considers the number of points allowed per 100 possessions, it does not take into account the pace at which these possessions occur. As a result, a player who plays at a faster pace may appear less efficient defensively compared to a player who plays at a slower pace, even if their defensive skills are comparable.
Additionally, the defensive rating metric does not capture all aspects of defensive play. For example, it may not fully account for the impact of strong perimeter defenders who can limit three-point opportunities and disrupt the offensive flow of the opposing team. Other important defensive skills, such as defensive rebounding and forcing turnovers, may also not be fully reflected in the defensive rating.
It is also important to note that defensive rating is just one statistic and should not be relied upon in isolation to assess a player's or team's defensive capabilities. A comprehensive understanding of defensive performance requires considering various other factors and metrics, such as steal percentage and defensive win shares. As such, while defensive rating can provide valuable insights, it should be interpreted in conjunction with other relevant statistics and contextual information.
How to Clean the Bottom of Your Basketball Shoes?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure an individual player's or team's efficiency at preventing the opposing team from scoring points.
Defensive efficiency is calculated by multiplying defensive points per possession by 100. For example, 1.01 points allowed per possession becomes a defensive efficiency rating of 101.
In Division I college basketball, 66.5 possessions per 40 minutes is considered a good average, while 75 is considered very fast and 60 is very slow.











































