Who is not playing defense?

[RockinRyA]

It has to be with Horford and PNR

Also the tempo and speed, and the hoisting of 3 point shots

Back in the day we were great and getting back on D, part was Doc Ricers saying forget trying to get 2nd chances and set up defense the right way, but im suspecting that Horford is complete trash down low, and IT is complete trash up top

This has to be a recipe for disaster

i mean look how bad we have become, i mean its unreal, we are a terrible defensive team.

NOPE.

We were a great defensive team last year, and we also played at a fast pace and shoot a lot of threes. Try again.

[Androslav]

I think AB, Crowder, and Amir are playing defense below last year's level.

I think AB has declined in defense for a couple of years now TBH. I am not saying he can't repeat the ball pressure as he used to, but I feel since he was given more offensive workload, (he made big strides there, commendable) he took a step back. I know he was 1st team all-defense last year and I am glad he made it, but it seems to me like many guys on all-defensive teams need to wait for their reputation to catch up their defensive production to be selected. It is usually late for a year or two.
Sometimes even when they slip they still get selected cause of the general perception.

Crowder has lost some mobility, it is apparent.
Ankle injuries have taken some toll on both O and D.
He almost never drives anymore. Even with his improved shot, that would, in theory, provide more pump fake drive opportunities.
He still has that heart of a lion and doesn't back down, but foot speed has diminished a bit.

Amir just got old. He makes me think of those Roman legionaries. Dependable guys, war veterans that fought in many battles, all over the continent and now the body is breaking down. In Portland game, I saw him walking toward the bench during T.O. and he looked like it hurts him to walk. I noticed it cause I can't walk normally after 3 days of basketball and he reminded me of it. Like he is walking on eggs.

It is true that AB and JC have upped their offensive production, so not all is lost.

[rollie mass]

marcus ,jay, and avery-to get last years defense we need thes guys healthy
all the trade talk gets back to these guys
it easy to have the subconscious holding back that extra effort and being paid peanuts doesn't help
either
danny should not open his mouth to press in this day of social media-trade discussion should be left only to rumor blogs
why shouldn't players drop off a notch regular season to avoid injuries
we were spoiled last year to some of the best perimeter defense by three players that i have witnessed but the horrific injuries started to take its toll-

[Chris22]

We need to play more zone and switch on the pick and roll.
Mix it up.
Plus, without Bradley we have no rebounders.

[Androslav]

We need to play more zone and switch on the pick and roll.
Mix it up.
Plus, without Bradley, we have no rebounders.

We can't switch more often because then we will have no offense as IT4 will be out.

[coffee425]

People are going to tout Smart on defense but he doesn't waste much energy on offense so he has plenty to use on defense. I feel the same about It4 on offense, being short is a problem for sure, but he uses all his energy on offense which leaves him without much left for defense.

This is the point. If you are already built to be a defensive liability, you cannot give 0 energy on defense to compound this.

[Chris22]

We need to play more zone and switch on the pick and roll.
Mix it up.
Plus, without Bradley, we have no rebounders.

We can't switch more often because then we will have no offense as IT4 will be out.

I said mix it up, not all the time.
Our defense is too predictable.

[Evantime34]

Crowder is playing worse defense than last year. Brown and Rozier who are taking Turner's minutes from last year are worse than Turner.

Last year our defense was elite in large part because we forced a ton of turnovers, it isn't happening now.

We actually are playing at a slower pace than last year and the rebounding is about the same so although those are problems they aren't reasons the defense is worse than last year.

I think the C's need to add veteran defenders and they need to do it immediately.

[tankcity!]

We need better leadership. If players aren't playing hard, that goes to the leader. Which is IT. A leader like KG for example would never let his team play they way they did last night. Just being honest. Smart needs to become a better player. If he becomes a better player, then players will listen to him and he will be able to leverage his leadership skills. Smart is supposed to be a great leader, but he just isn't good enough yet for players to listen to him.

[Chris22]

We need to get Bradley healthy, then our defense and rebounding will improve.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

It would be a much shorter—and thus easier—list to compile if you asked, "Who IS playing defense?"

[oldtype]

Part of me wonders if players like Crowder and Bradley took some lessons from last year's playoffs and realized that it wasn't worth it to always play 100% on defense during the regular season only to have yourself break down during the playoffs. 

Even if you assume that people are playing at half-effort though, the defense is still absurdly bad.

[Rosco917]

Are we really depending on a 6-2 shooting guard to provide our rebounding?

Last year the C's we're a surprise team, nobody expected them to be very good. This year they're mentioned as top 2 or 3 team in the East. The deficiencies of the Celtics have been exposed. The NBA has learned how to play them, and are preparing for the C's by exposing these deficiencies.

1. Lack of size
2. Lack of rebounding
3. Attack IT on D, and be physical with him, simply play over his head.
4. Lack of a physical enforcer, meaning they're soft.

[coffee425]

Are we really depending on a 6-2 shooting guard to provide our rebounding?

Last year the C's we're a surprise team, nobody expected them to be very good. This year they're mentioned as top 2 or 3 team in the East. The deficiencies of the Celtics have been exposed. The NBA has learned how to play them, and are preparing for the C's by exposing these deficiencies.

1. Lack of size
2. Lack of rebounding
3. Attack IT on D, and be physical with him, simply play over his head.
4. Lack of a physical enforcer, meaning they're soft.

TP. except you need to move number 3 up.

[saltlover]

Part of me wonders if players like Crowder and Bradley took some lessons from last year's playoffs and realized that it wasn't worth it to always play 100% on defense during the regular season only to have yourself break down during the playoffs. 

Even if you assume that people are playing at half-effort though, the defense is still absurdly bad.

I think that's possible (and have wondered it aloud here myself).  Especially since Crowder reinjured himself early in the season.

It's our PnR defense that's atrocious.  Last year everyone fought through picks a lot, but this year, everyone but Smart goes under them.  Of course, going through a pick is a great way to sprain an ankle or jam a thumb (see: Chris Paul).  So maybe there is some merit to taking it easier.  But that means that bigs need to do a better job slowing down the ballhandler so that the guard can get back to his man, and everyone needs to do a better job of defensive rotations, especially when it comes to boxing out defensive rebounds.

I think the best cure would be to start the defense further away from the basket.  It's a lot easier to go under a screen 28 feet from the basket than 23 feet away.  Requiring teams to make multiple screens and passes leads to poorer shots, more turnovers, and better defensive rebound positioning.