A tribute to the best defense in basketball

[zoyathedestroya]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

The Warriors defense is so underrated. They were #1 or #2 (next to the Spurs) every season during their early dynastic run. Then they got KD and coasted more on that end during the regular season but were just as good as ever in the playoffs. This year they ended up #2 right back to where they usually are during their contending years. Draymond Green is a generational defender and Curry has worked his butt off to turn himself into a good defender. Looney doesn't get the credit he deserves either and they always find a few cheap switchable wings to round out the roster (like Porter or Payton).

[Hal14]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

The Warriors defense is so underrated. They were #1 or #2 (next to the Spurs) every season during their early dynastic run. Then they got KD and coasted more on that end during the regular season but were just as good as ever in the playoffs. This year they ended up #2 right back to where they usually are during their contending years. Draymond Green is a generational defender and Curry has worked his butt off to turn himself into a good defender. Looney doesn't get the credit he deserves either and they always find a few cheap switchable wings to round out the roster (like Porter or Payton).

And Kerr is a really good coach. He learned from 2 of the best, Phil Jackson and Popovich.

[165bows]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

Hey good news, an area with room for big improvement.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

Hey good news, an area with room for big improvement.

Not saying that live ball turnover defense was perfect but I'm guessing playing Giannis for 7 games had a large impact on that. Antetokounmpo on the fast break must be the closest thing to an automatic bucket as you can get in the modern NBA. While it flies a bit under the radar because it's hardly the most impressive part of his scoring repertoire, Durant is also elite in transition. How many times over the years have we seen the Warriors turn a couple of turnovers into open threes for Klay or Steph and a quick 10-2 run ? If the Celtics had played Chicago, Philly and Dallas, that number would look a lot better I wager (they'd also have a ring but that's a different subject).

But really the best defense against live ball turnovers is to not commit them in the first place. Hopefully with another year and the experience of a full playoffs run in Udoka's system, plus continued growth from the Jays, the Celtics will be better at taking care of the ball. Realistically, despite the late regular season success on offense, everybody from Smart as a third option on down was probably a spot higher in the pecking order on offense than you would like for a contender. Enter Brogdon to push everybody into their natural spot. There's now too many guys that can bend the defense and too many good passers on the Celtics for them to continue throwing the ball all over the court.

[165bows]

Per inpredictable.com, Celtics allowed the least points per possession (1.02) after they made a shot and 4th least points after the other team gets a defensive rebound (1.04) during the playoffs. But Cs also had the 5th worst defensive efficiency (1.38) after a live turnover. The only teams worse were CHA, SAS, BKN, and NOP.

In the Finals, the Warriors were just the better defensive team (or we had an offense that was turnover-prone and easier to defend).

Hey good news, an area with room for big improvement.

Not saying that live ball turnover defense was perfect but I'm guessing playing Giannis for 7 games had a large impact on that. Antetokounmpo on the fast break must be the closest thing to an automatic bucket as you can get in the modern NBA. While it flies a bit under the radar because it's hardly the most impressive part of his scoring repertoire, Durant is also elite in transition. How many times over the years have we seen the Warriors turn a couple of turnovers into open threes for Klay or Steph and a quick 10-2 run ? If the Celtics had played Chicago, Philly and Dallas, that number would look a lot better I wager (they'd also have a ring but that's a different subject).

But really the best defense against live ball turnovers is to not commit them in the first place. Hopefully with another year and the experience of a full playoffs run in Udoka's system, plus continued growth from the Jays, the Celtics will be better at taking care of the ball. Realistically, despite the late regular season success on offense, everybody from Smart as a third option on down was probably a spot higher in the pecking order on offense than you would like for a contender. Enter Brogdon to push everybody into their natural spot. There's now too many guys that can bend the defense and too many good passers on the Celtics for them to continue throwing the ball all over the court.

100%. Hopefully Tatum is less predictable/trappable if his hand is better. Have to wonder how much that was a part of it as well. We all had plenty of those WTF-was-that moments, perhaps there was more reason for that than we thought.

[ConstableGeneva]

Thread just to remind us how awesome our defense was last season...

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[zoyathedestroya]

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[ConstableGeneva]

Bumping this so it manifests in the universe.

I know it's just the Rockets but if you like defense, you'll like this thread. So much activity!!

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EDIT: Celtics have the #1 defensive rating since Rob came back, per nba.com. #2 in cleaningtheglass.

[shackles10]

Bumping this so it manifests in the universe.

I know it's just the Rockets but if you like defense, you'll like this thread. So much activity!!

Read on Twitter

EDIT: Celtics have the #1 defensive rating since Rob came back, per nba.com. #2 in cleaningtheglass.

Hopefully it doesn’t have the same effect on our defense the thread started by that fool Zoya had on our offense…

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Bumping this so it manifests in the universe.

I know it's just the Rockets but if you like defense, you'll like this thread. So much activity!!

Read on Twitter

EDIT: Celtics have the #1 defensive rating since Rob came back, per nba.com. #2 in cleaningtheglass.

Hopefully it doesn’t have the same effect on our defense the thread started by that fool Zoya had on our offense…

Well I guess we know who is responsible for the OKC disaster.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[zoyathedestroya]

Until January 3, the NBA had played 1,126 games so far. The Celtics had the 6th worst defensive performance of all the teams when they played an SGA-less OKC giving up 140.2 pts per 100 possessions.

In the last 5 games since, they had a defensive rating of 106.1, best in the NBA.

Cs now with 6th best defensive rating for the season (2nd behind Grizz since Rob’s return).

[yeahM8]

i love this.

was wondering wtf happened to us

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Since the OKC debacle, the Celtics have a 108.3 defensive rating good for 1st in the NBA and a 77.6 DREB% which is also 1st in the NBA. On a completely unrelated note they are tied for the best record in the NBA in that timeframe.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

As of today, the Celtics are first in defensive rating according to both NBA.com and cleaning the glass. Time to bring back this safe space to talk about the best defense in basketball.

They don't foul (3rd lowest opponent FTA rate), they force tough shots (3rd lowest opponent eFG% allowed) and they clean up the glass (3rd highest DREB%). They are top 5 in opponents points off turnovers, opponent fast break points, opponent second chance points and opponent points in the paint. The only thing they don't do well is force turnovers.

[strokerace]

White and Holiday as your backcourt with the 7'3" Kristaps patrolling the paint. Even if it doesn't stay ranked #1, it is the real deal. Even Hauser can play defense really well. Thanks Bucks for Jrue.