Will the Celtics Be a Top Ten Defensive Team in 2015-2016?

[LooseCannon]

As measured by Defensive Rating, or points allowed per 100 possessions.

According to basketball-reference.com, the Celtics were 12th in Defensive Rating last season.  They were at 104.5.  Portland was 10th at 103.7.  League average was 105.6,  The Warriors led the league at 101.4, followed by the Spurs at 102.0.  Minnesota was easily the worst at 112.2.

Their defensive rating in the Isaiah Thomas era was 103.1.  Their defensive rating with Rondo was 106.3.  Their defensive rating in-between those two periods was 106.2.

The Celtics added defensive sieve David Lee, but they've also added potential defensive anchor Amir Johnson.  Was the late-season improvement on defense a fluke or is it sustainable with increased continuity?  If the Celtics can be a top-ten defensive team, should they be considered likely to make the playoffs?

[Who]

Yes, I think so although I am little shakier on that after the David Lee acquisition.

Not because of Lee himself (the individual) but because of concerns there will now be more lineups with big man combinations that feature Lee-Sully + Lee-Olynyk + Sully-Olynyk ... that feature two weaker defensive bigs. That there will be less playing time for Amir and Zeller and more lineups where neither of them are on the floor. Where Boston fields big man combinations that are more defensive vulnerable.

The talent is certainly there to be a top 10 defensive team after getting Amir Johnson to join up with an already strong cast of perimeter defenders.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Should be, easily, but as Who mentioned it'll really depend on what pairings Stevens plans to use. Sadly, Olynyk is a big binky of his, so I think he'll get a lot of playing time even when not deserved.

I think the Playoffs soured Stevens a bit on Olynyk considering how he was practically benched after his play in the 2nd half of the first game.

We'll see.

[jbpats]

I think that is all dependent on who is on our roster at the start of the season. A backcourt of Smart and Bradley is obviously a great defensive duo.. if one gets traded everything changes.
As it stands I think we easily crack top 10.

[Endless Paradise]

Nah.

[Evantime34]

They were 8th in defense during their last 36 games. I expect this to improve because Johnson is a defensive upgrade from Bass, Smart should be better in his second year on d, Crowder will get more minutes which is a defensive upgrade from Turner.

Lee isn't a good defender so he isn't helping but I expect him to spend a lot of time with the second unit who will attempt to outscore rather than stop their opponents.

[dark_lord]

our backcourt, has potential to (if not this year, in a year or two).....front court, no

[Evantime34]

Nah.

We were 12th last year and 8th during the last 36 games. Why not?

[PhoSita]

Not a snowball's chance.

Lee is very bad, and I'm not quite so high on Amir Johnson, defensive anchor as some others seem to be.

[Endless Paradise]

Nah.

We were 12th last year and 8th during the last 36 games. Why not?

I'm not sold on the personnel.

[PhoSita]

Nah.

We were 12th last year and 8th during the last 36 games. Why not?

I'm not sold on the personnel.

+1

[littleteapot]

[ahonui06]

Hard to be a Top 10 defensive team without a true rim protector/defensive center.

[LGC88]

[D.o.s.]

I think it depends on whether or not we spend our time playing against teams that can punish our fairly limited interior defense.