The Boston Celtics own the NBA's top-ranked defense, force TO's at historic rate

[mgent]

and, something i never, ever, ever, ever thought would happen is that advanced stats olly show that he is very good on defense.

olly has the highest defensive rating and highest net defensive rating in the NBA right now. 

http://chowderandchampions.com/2015/11/12/boston-celtics-kelly-olynyk-defensive-clinic/

He's held that honor since last year's All-Star break.

[Big333223]

Today's NBA is a lot less about man-on-man defense and more than ever about a team working in concert. So far this season, everyone is moving together and knows where they should be at all times. It's going to take a lot to keep up this level of intensity but the more wins the team gets the more motivated they'll be to keep it going.

[kozlodoev]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

[mgent]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

[TheFlex]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

Yeah, if someone on CelticsBlog can figure out what we're doing, I'm guessing paid experts can too. Just more irrationally pessimistic rhetoric.

[kozlodoev]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

Because you have 29 teams and 82 games to prepare for, because you see some teams once or twice a year, and because no amount of scouting can replace seeing a team in action. There is a reason why the playoffs, where you have all the time in the world to game plan for one and only one opponent, are a completely different animal.

[ssspence]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

There's only one place on god's green earth where Amir Johnson is a Rim Protector (at least of the basketball variety): forums.celticsblog.com

[chilidawg]

and, something i never, ever, ever, ever thought would happen is that advanced stats olly show that he is very good on defense.

olly has the highest defensive rating and highest net defensive rating in the NBA right now. 

http://chowderandchampions.com/2015/11/12/boston-celtics-kelly-olynyk-defensive-clinic/

BRef has him at a 93 Defensive Rating, 5th just behind Sully ( if you throw out all the guys with less than 50 minutes played).  I wonder what the difference in the stats are?  Pretty good either way.

[fairweatherfan]

and, something i never, ever, ever, ever thought would happen is that advanced stats olly show that he is very good on defense.

olly has the highest defensive rating and highest net defensive rating in the NBA right now. 

http://chowderandchampions.com/2015/11/12/boston-celtics-kelly-olynyk-defensive-clinic/

BRef has him at a 93 Defensive Rating, 5th just behind Sully ( if you throw out all the guys with less than 50 minutes played).  I wonder what the difference in the stats are?  Pretty good either way.

Standard DRating is just # of points opponents score per 100 possessions with you on the floor.  BRef starts with that and tries to add in measures of individual defensive stops, like FG misses by the guy you're guarding and steals/blocks. 

[GreenWarrior]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

Because you have 29 teams and 82 games to prepare for, because you see some teams once or twice a year, and because no amount of scouting can replace seeing a team in action. There is a reason why the playoffs, where you have all the time in the world to game plan for one and only one opponent, are a completely different animal.

well said. this is why in all sports you get teams that can win a lot of games and get bounced in the 1st rnd. right now we fit that description.

[Celtics18]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

Because you have 29 teams and 82 games to prepare for, because you see some teams once or twice a year, and because no amount of scouting can replace seeing a team in action. There is a reason why the playoffs, where you have all the time in the world to game plan for one and only one opponent, are a completely different animal.

well said. this is why in all sports you get teams that can win a lot of games and get bounced in the 1st rnd. right now we fit that description.

Sure.  If we end up facing the Cavs in the first round again, our chances of getting bounced early are high.  If we can finish in the middle to top of the Eastern Conference playoff standings, I like our chance to advance with our defensive minded team. 

[Rondo9]

we have a rim protector now, Amir Johnson

Our rim protector is on the floor 23 minutes a night, and blocks a shot per game. Not exactly earth-shattering contribution.

A lot of the defensive success was from playing a tough, active zone, hiding our vertically challenged bigs by playing them center field around the FT line. It's been working great, but people will figure it out second half of the season.

Pretty sure every team we've played has figured out our defense (and prepared for it) before we've played them.

This is the NBA....

Teams have got this little thing called film, and they pay dozens of people to analyze it.  Not sure why it would take said professionals ~4 months to catch on.

Because you have 29 teams and 82 games to prepare for, because you see some teams once or twice a year, and because no amount of scouting can replace seeing a team in action. There is a reason why the playoffs, where you have all the time in the world to game plan for one and only one opponent, are a completely different animal.

well said. this is why in all sports you get teams that can win a lot of games and get bounced in the 1st rnd. right now we fit that description.

Sure.  If we end up facing the Cavs in the first round again, our chances of getting bounced early are high.  If we can finish in the middle to top of the Eastern Conference playoff standings, I like our chance to advance with our defensive minded team.

Agreed and even if people figure out the celtics defense what do people expect to slip to 15 best defense?

[GreenWarrior]

I think we'd lose to the heat and bulls. even the pacers and raptors would likely beat us. so really the likelihood we get bounced in the 1st is pretty good.

scheme can win a lot of games but talent is what wins the games that matter.

[Celtics18]

I think we'd lose to the heat and bulls. even the pacers and raptors would likely beat us. so really the likelihood we get bounced in the 1st is pretty good.

scheme can win a lot of games but talent is what wins the games that matter.

If you think our schemes are the main reason we've been playing elite defense so far this season, I'd argue that you probably haven't been watching all that closely. 

There's a heck of a lot of defensive talent on the 2015-2016 Celtics. 

[guava_wrench]

I can't speak to the stats, but our rotations on defense are sooo quick. This is a well coached team of guys who committed to the system. We also have multiple impressive individual talents on defense. Perhaps we don't have a dominant shot blocker, but a lot of those dominant shot blockers are one-trick ponies. We have smart defenders who go full steam and who have really fast hands.

When 4 of your main guys, Smart, AB, Crowder and AJ all hang their hats on their defensive identity, you know you will get commitment. Our steals have also allowed our offense to seem far more efficient due to easy points off of turnovers.

I am concerned about our ability to play talented and disciplined teams though.