Is Mavs defense any better this season?

Argument = Mavs has 5th best defensive rating in NBA this season. Grizzlies are 7th in this stat.

Does anyone thinks Mavs are being better defense team than Grizzlies? Eye-test says Grizzlies are much better defensive team and Luka-offense is simply superior than what Grizzlies can do on offense. But if you look at stats it will say otherwise. The reason is PACE. Faster pace means more fastbreaks, open 3pt shots, perhaps more FTs.

* Mavs -> ORtg: 110.1 DRtg: 107.3 Pace: 96 * Grizz -> ORtg: 112.1 DRtg: 108.5 Pace: 99.4

Its not a good stat at all. Compared to last season Mavs simply play with lower pace which reduced its offense-defense almost same.

* Last season -> ORtg: 115.4 DRtg: 113.0 Pace: 97.3 * This season -> ORtg: 110.1 DRtg: 107.3 Pace: 96

According to eye-test, I think only improvement on defense was KP being more healthy, mobile to bring help defense and some rim protection lately. He is still far from his defensive prime with the Knicks though.