
Defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure how well a team or player prevents their opponents from scoring points. It is calculated by dividing the number of points conceded by the number of possessions, usually per 100 possessions. For example, in a 70-possession game resulting in a 70-60 win, the defensive efficiency rating would be approximately 0.86. This statistic was created by author and statistician Dean Oliver and introduced in his 2004 book, Basketball on Paper.
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What You'll Learn

Calculating defensive efficiency
Defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure how well a team or player prevents the opposing team from scoring points. It is calculated by dividing the number of points given up by the defence by the number of possessions. The formula for this is:
Defensive Efficiency = (Points Allowed / Possessions) x 100
For example, in a 70-possession game won by a score of 70-60, the defensive efficiency would be roughly 0.86 (or 86%). This calculation can also be used to evaluate individual players by substituting 'points allowed' for 'player's steals and blocks' and adding in other variables such as 'deflections' and 'official adjusted players' defensive withstand'.
Defensive efficiency is a tempo-free stat, meaning it doesn't matter if a team plays at a faster pace with more possessions per game or a slower pace with fewer possessions. A team that scores 80 points in 80 possessions and a team that scores 60 points in 60 possessions both have a defensive efficiency of 1.00. This makes it a useful metric for coaches to evaluate their team's performance and make strategic adjustments.
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Defensive rating formula
Defensive rating, also known as defensive efficiency, is a statistic used in basketball to measure an individual player's efficiency at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. It was created by author and statistician Dean Oliver and introduced in his 2004 book, Basketball on Paper.
Defensive efficiency is calculated by dividing the number of points allowed by the number of possessions. This can be done for both teams and individual players. For a team, the formula is:
> Defensive Efficiency = 100 * (Points Allowed / Possessions)
For an individual player, the formula is more complex and takes into account various factors such as steals, blocks, deflections, and the defensive performance of their teammates. The basic formula for an individual player's defensive rating is:
> Defensive Player Rating = (Player's Steals * Blocks) + Opponents Differential = 1/5 of possessions - Times blown by + Deflections * OAPDW (Official Adjusted Players Defensive Withstand)
This formula can be influenced by the defensive performance of a player's teammates, as it assumes that all teammates are equally effective at forcing turnovers and misses that are not blocked or stolen. It also assumes that all teammates face the same number of total possessions per minute.
Defensive efficiency is a valuable metric for coaches and analysts to evaluate the defensive performance of teams and individual players. It provides tempo-free statistic that allows for comparisons between players and teams with different playing styles and paces.
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DER and tempo-free stats
Defensive Efficiency Rating (DER) is a statistic used in basketball to measure how effective a team or individual player is at preventing the opposing team from scoring points. DER is calculated by dividing the number of points given up by the defence by the number of possessions. For example, in a 70-possession game won by a score of 70-60, the winning team's DER would be approximately 0.86.
DER is what is known as a tempo-free statistic. Tempo-free stats are used to compare players or teams that play in different systems or are used in different ways. They are particularly useful in basketball because different teams play at different tempos, and so will have varying numbers of possessions in which they have the opportunity to score points. By using tempo-free stats, analysts can compare the offensive and defensive production of teams that play at different speeds.
For example, a team that plays at an 80-possession rate and scores 80 points, and a team that plays at a 60-possession rate and scores 60 points, are both operating at 1.00 efficiency. However, the team with 80 possessions has had more opportunities to score. Therefore, the team with 60 possessions has made better use of their chances.
Tempo-free stats are also useful for comparing players across teams. For instance, if Player A averages 20 points per game, while Player B averages 21 points per game, it might appear that Player B is the better scorer. However, if Player A's team plays at a slower tempo and averages 10% fewer possessions than Player B's team, then Player A is actually averaging significantly more points per possession.
Tempo-free stats are particularly useful for coaching staff, who use them to prepare for opponents and evaluate their own teams. They are also used by analysts to gain a fuller understanding of the game.
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OER and DER in practice
OER (Offensive Efficiency Rating) and DER (Defensive Efficiency Rating) are tempo-free statistics used in basketball to measure a team's efficiency on both ends of the court. OER and DER are calculated by dividing the number of points scored (OER) or given up (DER) by the number of possessions. For instance, in a 70-possession game won by a score of 70-60, the winning team's OER would be 1.00, and their DER would be approximately 0.86.
Coaches have been using OER and DER to gain a competitive edge since at least the early 1970s. They are valuable tools for understanding the value of each possession and identifying specific areas of weakness. For example, a team's overall OER might be 1.00, but only 0.89 against zones and 0.96 against full-court pressure. This information can help coaches make more informed decisions and address weaknesses early on.
To get players to understand and care about OER and DER, coaches can incorporate it into practice drills. During 5-on-5 play, coaches can have their team play 5-possession mini-games with the primary goal of winning. The score and its meaning in relation to the number of possessions are then discussed. For example, if Team A wins 6-4, their OER is 1.2, and their DER is 0.8, which are both excellent stats when extrapolated over a full game.
OER and DER calculations can also be applied to individual players. Defensive rating or defensive efficiency, introduced by Dean Oliver in his book "Basketball on Paper," measures a player's efficiency at preventing the opposing team from scoring. This statistic takes into account factors such as steals, blocks, opponents' scoring differential, and deflections.
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Interpreting defensive efficiency
Defensive efficiency is a statistic used in basketball to measure how well a team or player prevents the opposing team from scoring points. It is calculated by dividing the number of points conceded by the number of possessions. This results in a ratio, with a lower number indicating better defensive efficiency. For example, in a 70-possession game resulting in a 70-60 win, the defensive efficiency would be approximately 0.86.
A defensive efficiency rating of less than 1.00 is generally considered good, indicating that the team is conceding fewer points per possession than they are scoring. However, with the advent of the 3-point shot, coaches may now be looking for higher defensive efficiency numbers as the potential for higher scores increases.
Defensive efficiency can be influenced by various factors, such as the performance of a player's teammates, as well as the pace of the game and the number of possessions. It is a tempo-free stat, meaning it is not affected by the speed or style of play. This allows for comparisons between teams with different playing styles.
When interpreting defensive efficiency, it is important to consider the context of the game and the specific situations in which points were conceded. For example, a team may have a high defensive efficiency rating but may have struggled against specific opponents or in certain game scenarios.
Defensive efficiency can also be used to evaluate individual players. The defensive rating formula, created by Dean Oliver, takes into account a player's steals, blocks, and other defensive actions, as well as the performance of their teammates. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of a player's defensive impact.
By understanding defensive efficiency, coaches can make informed decisions about strategies, player focus, and areas for improvement. It provides a quantitative measure to evaluate defensive performance and can be a valuable tool for analysing and improving a team's overall defensive strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
Defensive efficiency in basketball is a statistic used to measure how well a team or individual player defends against their opponent scoring points.
Defensive efficiency is calculated by dividing the number of points given up by the number of possessions. For example, in a 70 possession game where the final score was 70-60, the defensive efficiency would be approximately 0.86 (70 / 81).
A good defensive efficiency rating (DER) is considered to be anything under 1.00. However, with the advent of the 3-point shot, experts now consider higher DERs to be good as well.











































