It’s no secret that the Miami Heat will be one of the best defensive teams in the league this year. They were a top defense last year and seemed to have improved on that end based on their offseason acquisitions.
The goal in South Beach is always to win a championship, and this season is no different. If the Heat are going to win it all, though, they will have to do it behind their defense.
There have been some great defenses who have taken home an NBA championship. Just last year the Milwaukee Bucks won it all, and they were an elite defensive team.
However, this begs the question, what are the best defensive teams that have won an NBA championship in the last 50 years? How can the Miami Heat replicate these teams’ success this season?
Defensive juggernauts the Miami heat should study: 3. 2005 San Antonio Spurs
Rel DRTG -7.3
For the purpose of this article, the way a “defensive juggernaut” will be defined is by the team’s relative defensive rating. This measures a team’s defensive prowess against the rest of the league, with the league average defense being set at 0.
The 2005 San Antonio Spurs had a relative defensive rating of -7.3, and let the league in regard to defensive rating. They only allowed 88.4 points per game when the league average was 97.2.
Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen led the way on the defensive end, as both were named to the All-Defensive First Team that season. San Antonio had elite defenders in the paint and on the perimeter.
While it may be a bit out there to ask Bam Adebayo to be Duncan, Jimmy Butler should definitely be able to replicate Bowen’s success. The Spurs were a dominant defensive team for years, so if the Miami Heat can replicate even a fraction of that success, they’ll be in a good place.