The missing link

[DesertDweller]

I think this team the way it is,  might be shaping up to be one of the better teams but I'm sure everyone knows the missing link. NO, it's not that one  excellent player we're hoping for in the draft that's going to make us competitive and NO, it's not the one big guy everyone thinks we need.
I'm sure both of these things would help and definitely be an improvement but the one thing above everything else that the Celtics one time prided themselves with is missing...... DEFENSE, man do we suck!!! we have let opposing teams under our basket so often that we will have to call in Earl Shieb for a new paint job!!! to be kind, our defense is like a sieve.  this team, the way it sits plus a decent defense, we win at least 10 more games this year.  what do you think???  where's tom thibodeau when you need him!!!

[LooseCannon]

Statistically, the Celtics defense is around average, so the defense can already be described as "decent".

[BballTim]

I think this team the way it is,  might be shaping up to be one of the better teams but I'm sure everyone knows the missing link. NO, it's not that one  excellent player we're hoping for in the draft that's going to make us competitive and NO, it's not the one big guy everyone thinks we need.
I'm sure both of these things would help and definitely be an improvement but the one thing above everything else that the Celtics one time prided themselves with is missing...... DEFENSE, man do we suck!!! we have let opposing teams under our basket so often that we will have to call in Earl Shieb for a new paint job!!! to be kind, our defense is like a sieve.  this team, the way it sits plus a decent defense, we win at least 10 more games this year.  what do you think???  where's tom thibodeau when you need him!!!

  Thibs isn't a magician. Put our bigs on Chicago and they'll struggle on defense as well.

[pearljammer10]

Yeah but one excellent defensive player can really change the entire outcome of the team.

But even at the excellent player we still wouldn't be contenders... We just really flat out stink.

[furball]

They are playing without a center.  They are never going to be good on defense no matter who the coach is without a center.  Hell, Bass, and Sully are small for power forwards.  The team can;t handle big men and they get killed in the paint.  That won;t stop until they get a legit center. 

[DesertDweller]

I don't know how many games you actually watch and I'm not saying this to demean you in any way but I live in Los Angeles and because of this I have to purchase NBA League Pass from DirecTV to be able to watch my guys in green play at all.  I not only watch every Celtic game but also record and rewatch them to see when it started to go wrong.
I have never seen teams get into the paint with the ease they do against the Celtics. it's like a revolving door under our basket.  I just don't see Stevens applying any defense at all.
I remember the C's holding teams in the mid to high 80's but now teams are scoring well over 100. we have absolutely no idea how to defend a PICK AND ROLL!!!!!!

[BballTim]

I don't know how many games you actually watch and I'm not saying this to demean you in any way but I live in Los Angeles and because of this I have to purchase NBA League Pass from DirecTV to be able to watch my guys in green play at all.  I not only watch every Celtic game but also record and rewatch them to see when it started to go wrong.
I have never seen teams get into the paint with the ease they do against the Celtics. it's like a revolving door under our basket.  I just don't see Stevens applying any defense at all.
I remember the C's holding teams in the mid to high 80's but now teams are scoring well over 100. we have absolutely no idea how to defend a PICK AND ROLL!!!!!!

  As someone else stated our defense is close to league average. We probably allow a little more than average points in the paint but aren't terribly far from average in that regard either IIRC.

[bballdog384]

I think we've just been spoiled with amazing defense the past 5 years.

It makes sense that with no big athletic center, the Celtics give up more points to big athletic centers in the paint. I agree that getting a guy like Asik or Sanders could bring us back to an elite level on D.

Part of how Bradley and Rondo play D is by gambling, which allows players to get around them, but their driving lanes are forced to one side or the other. This allows a good defensive C to know where the offensive player is going ahead of time and react preemptively. But team defense only can be elite if you have players with a quick step and can guard the rim.

[Celtics4ever]

We need a rim protector badly, period.

[DesertDweller]

It would be great for Olynyk to eventually fill this roll but to get there he needs to be more aggressive and get stronger.  I don't mean bulk up,  just strengthen himself in the weight room.