Are the Celtics still playing championship-caliber defense?

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics offense has obviously been struggling, but I don't really hate the defense.

Would the offense just need to be average to make you feel this team has real shot at a title or does the offense need to be significantly above average to compensate for the defense?

[CelticSooner]

When KG is on the floor the defense is still good enough. If only they could get a rebound so the opponent doesn't get two or three shots at the rim.

[Snakehead]

If you had just showed me the Knicks point totals for all the games in the series I would guess we were 3-4 or have swept the Knicks.

The offense has been the issue.

[BballTim]

The Celtics offense has obviously been struggling, but I don't really hate the defense.

Would the offense just need to be average to make you feel this team has real shot at a title or does the offense need to be significantly above average to compensate for the defense?

  Clearly we are. The Knicks were 3rd in the league in offense this year and we're holding them about 12 ppp below their regular season average. Put it another way, NY's regular season offense is better than the regular season offenses of the teams we faced in the playoffs last year, and we're holding NY to an offensive efficiency lower than ours last year (when all of our games were against top defenses). That's why it's easy to make the argument that if we had Rondo right now we'd be no worse than 2nd tier title contenders.

[SparzWizard]

We need more offense.

[D.o.s.]

When KG is on the floor the defense is still good enough.

Yup.

[LooseCannon]

Which leads to the next questions.  Are there available bigs who improves the defense enough when KG is off the floor to offset KG's decline for next season?  If so, can the Celtics acquire one?  If so, will that player plus the return of Rondo and Sullinger plus some roster tweaks fix the offense enough to make it at least average?

I'm actually predicting that having a large group of role players returning will lead to continuity that makes the defense better, especially when KG is off the floor.

[SHAQATTACK]

KG ...yes


Doc and rest of team

NO

[BballTim]

Which leads to the next questions.  Are there available bigs who improves the defense enough when KG is off the floor to offset KG's decline for next season?  If so, can the Celtics acquire one?  If so, will that player plus the return of Rondo and Sullinger plus some roster tweaks fix the offense enough to make it at least average?

I'm actually predicting that having a large group of role players returning will lead to continuity that makes the defense better, especially when KG is off the floor.

  The defense with KG on the bench, while not necessarily championship level, has been fairly solid since Jan or so. Bringing back a healthy Sully would help with that, they just need a decent defensive backup, not necessarily a top level defender (although I'd love to have one).