How to Judge a Good Defensive Team from a Bad One in the NBA Share this story Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports The Portland Trail Blazers are not known for their defense, at least not in the Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum era. Is there any hope that will change? First we have to define what good and bad defense are. One Blazer’s Edge reader wants to know how to do just that, the subject of today’s Blazer’s Edge Mailbag. Dave, Everybody says we’re pretty bad at defense but how do you know? Some nights my eyes tell me that but sometimes I think they’re better than people say. They always use different stats and I want to know which ones really tell you how good they are?