Just, the pairing of Garland and Sexton with the big pairing of Love and Sexton is the worst case scenario from a team defense perspective. Problem is we don’t really have anyone more suited for that either. We just don’t have defensive parts yet, but we’re also very early in our rebuild and those niche and specialist players have no use on a rebuilding team.
This is what I've been thinking, although I think you meant "the pairing of Garland and Sexton with the big pairing of Love and
Thompson is the worst case scenario...".
If TT is traded and we see a pairing of Nance and Henson for more minutes then we should see the overall defensive numbers improve.
Looking at that defended FG% stat, they list 300 players who have appeared in 30 or more games. Love ranks 300th, last in the NBA as you pointed out. Garland ranks 292, Porter 290, McKinnie 285, Sexton 260, Cedi 250 and Nance 235. Nobody is even in the top half.
Neither the individual nor the team defense is worth a damn right now. Part of that is due to the youth and part is due to players who are limited physically like Love, who lacks quickness and jumping ability. Nance and McKinnie should rank higher, though. Beilein said recently that Porter is becoming a positive defender so I expect him to move up.
They held the Thunder to 109 last night so that's a start. They didn't have anybody who could control Schroder, unfortunately. He went off for 30 points and 6 assists.