ESPN predicts Boston will have 28th ranked offense and 30th ranked defense

[bfrombleacher]

Sully, underrated defender. RR, AB, Wallace, Bogans, Lee, Bass, and Green are all good/great defenders! I'm sorry, there is no way we can be worse! We may not be one of the best but there IS NO way we can be 30th! I'm just shaking my head at anyone who actually believes we will be 30th! We have 2 unknowns in KO and Fav. 2 players known for being putrid defenders in Crawford and Brooks. Then we have Hump who isn't good but not as bad as people say. Who else on the team is a bad defender... I'll wait. I mean, you have 2 terrible defenders out of 15 (Crawford was actually doing okay last season, all he needs are coaches who put an emphasis on it, Doc did and Stevens is said to) and we will have the 30th ranked defense??? HOW?

I'm starting to think the argument that "our perimeter defense will be a reason why our defense won't be as atrocious as some think" might possibly become true after reading this:

...Without KG our D-rating was still a 104.6, still well above average (just under 106 last season) weirdly...

With KG, the defensive rating was 90.8 according to that article, an absurd number.

But think about it. The lineup of Rondo/AB/Pierce/Bass/KG posted some crazy differentials. Subbing in Ray makes the defensive rating shoot way up (that's worse) in 2011/12 (iirc).

And AB is just the head of the spear here. C-Lee, Jeff Green, and even Sully are significant additions. For those who don't know, Sullinger actually led the league in points per possession.





On a separate note, I also agree with the opinion that "ESPN are basically no longer sports analysts, they just post articles for reactions and net traffic now". Sadly people take their opinion as fact.

Lists are especially bad. There's so little substance required in [dang] lists.

[slamtheking]

we'll probably stink on both ends of the court but I don't think we'll stink that badly on either side of the court.  close, but not quite

[vjcsmoke]

For me, it's as simple as looking at the big men we have.  Humphries, Bass, Sullinger, and Olynyk does not constitute the backbone of a reliable defensive unit.

That's OK.  Vitor will save the day!!   
Hey I like being underestimated.
Besides this is a rebuilding year, I don't care if they win 20 or 40.  Just as long as the young'uns improve and a good 'system' is installed.

Right now we just got to be brutally honest and admit we don't have a lot of talent stocked in the freezer.  It takes time but the Celtics WILL eventually be back in contention!

They might not turn it around as fast as the Red Sox did but... I have faith DA + Stevens have a plan to improve the club over time.

[LarBrd33]

what was our defensive rank last year? With the departure of KG, could it really drop us ALL the way down to 30?

Yes.  Our defense was horrible when KG wasn't on the floor.

[chambers]

I've said this for the last 2 months.

It's a purpose built squad of developing players and overpaid bums who'll be trade-able assets when their contracts start expiring.

*we don't have shooters. We have one scorer named Jeff Green who'll be great but he'll get the toughest cover every night.

*we don't have any bigs and thus we don't have inside scoring or inside defense. Bigs rule the NBA.
We have the least talented big man line up in the NBA. I hope everyone realizes this?

Sully is our best big and he's coming off back surgery.

We have a rookie coach-he'll need 2 seasons to get around the mind *%^#  that is the NBA schedule and locker room.

It will still be fun and they'll fight their asses off because they're Celtics but they'll get destroyed. Maybe 30 wins if Rondo is healthy?
Who knows how bad our record will be if him, Green or Sully go down for a 20 game stretch. EEk.

I'm gonna enjoy the ride and pray for a top 3 pick.
If that doesn't work out then lets use those assets to try and get an All Star.
Fingers crossed.

[lightspeed5]

[LilRip]

pretty sure the C's won't have the 30th best defense in the league. Bottom 10 for sure but likely not the absolute worst.

[BballTim]

what was our defensive rank last year? With the departure of KG, could it really drop us ALL the way down to 30?

Yes.  Our defense was horrible when KG wasn't on the floor.

  That was only for the first couple of months of the season when people were learning their roles. After that the defense held up pretty well when KG wasn't playing.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

28th and 30th! That Charlotte from the lockout season territory.