NBA 2017-18: The 5 Best Defenses of the Regular Season

#4 San Antonio Spurs - 102.4 points allowed per 100 possessions

San Antonio Spurs v Cleveland Cavaliers

Under coach Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs have always been an elite defensive team. Even without the league's best lockdown defender in Kawhi Leonard for essentially the entire season, they were able to maintain that status. A number of factors contributed to their consistently display on defense.

For one, Pop-coached teams are loath to foul opposition players. The Spurs rank 3rd among all teams in opponent free throws attempted and first in opponent free throws made.

They also had sophomore Dejounte Murray step up big-time, moving into the starting lineup and earning an All-Defensive second team selection. Danny Green, LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol maintained excellent levels of play on defense, as expected of veterans like them.

Kyle Anderson was also a huge presence as a perimeter defender, while the Spurs' defense-first culture helped to embed Bryn Forbes and other fringe players seamlessly into their lineup.