The Miami Heat's defense has been very good so far this season. How good, you ask? The team's defensive rating, entering their Saturday game against the Memphis Grizzlies, was 94.0, which is a mark that hasn't been done over a full season in the three-point era, stretching back over 40 years.
The Heat have a 94.0 defensive rating this season.
That would be the best defense by any team since the three-point era (1980). pic.twitter.com/3imU9GlIOp
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 30, 2021
Keeping up the insane mark would narrowly beat the previous record by the 2003-04 San Antonio Spurs, who posted a 94.1 defensive rating. It would be a very difficult mark to beat in the modern NBA, where offenses are more advanced than ever. Even if the Heat don't come close to keeping this pace, it's a testament to how great their early-season defense has been and how good they can be moving forward.
Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are among the best defenders at their positions, with Adebayo placing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker aren't what they used to be, but they have histories of being strong defenders. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has orchestrated top-10 defenses (going off of defensive rating) 10 times in his time as Miami's head coach.
Miami beat Memphis 129-103 to improve to 5-1 on the season. This is only the second time Miami has allowed 100 points so far this season. The Heat's next game is on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks.
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