1.  He has turned out to be the nerve center of the vastly improved defense.

2.  A fresh mentality, however, would have meant nothing without improved defense on Iverson.

3.  A slightly improved defense, they reason, will make them winners.

4.  After a decade of declining scores and field-goal percentages, and dramatically improved defense, something had to change.

5.  Buffalo has Doug Flutie, and Indianapolis has a mature Peyton Manning and a vastly improved defense.

6.  But the decline in scoring cannot be explained simply by improved defense.

7.  But teams in the division are drifting away from their pass-happy days, balancing their attacks with steady running games and decidedly improved defenses.

8.  Coaches, players and league officials agree that improved defense has helped kill the free-flowing offenses that once proliferated the NBA.

9.  Cora has brought improved defense the last month.

10.  Duce Staley, an improved defense and that magic potion.