I would argue Bucks defense is 7th best

In absolute efficiency terms, the Bucks defense is 9th best in the National Basketball Association... that's astonishing enough considering the team ranked 30th in defense six months ago.

But, if you are one of the 25 people who have visited my new "NBA Advanced Power Ranking" blog since I started it a week ago, you will no doubt know the Bucks defense could arguably be even better than that.

If you adjust the efficiency numbers to account for strength of schedule and venue, as I do using my "Point Value over Average" system, the Bucks are the 7th best defense in the Association. They are allowing -1.8 points under their opponents adjusted offensive efficiency averages, meaning 1.8 points per game less than the rest of the NBA would be expected to allow given the same opponent and circumstance.

Only the Lakers, Celtics, Pacers, Nuggets, Rockets, and Sixers have better Defensive PVOAs.

Whether you accept the logic behind PVOA or not, you have to admit this much... the Bucks defensive accomplishments so far are legitimate -- built on brick and mortar, not smoke and mirrors.