Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17

[hwangjini_1]

New game! 

[liam]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

Well, we have had those players you listed as average to great injured for substantial periods of the year.

Second: Jaylen, IT, and Gerald are all well below average defenders, and all of them are getting heavy minutes (throw Young in for fun) - I think our defensive struggles are reasonable..

Jaylen is at least average as a defender. Needs to get better and will.

[hwangjini_1]

And the lead. 

[alewilliam789]

Yup here we go!!Pulling a reverse Trailblazers based off what they did to us last game

[liam]

This is a quick group by the Celtics!

[jpotter33]

No coinicidence that we retake the lead when our defense picks back up. I hate this selective defense that we play where we can only play it for minutes/quarters at a time.

[saltlover]

Everyone who gave up and went to bed is missing a good game.

[liam]

Everyone who gave up and went to bed is missing a good game.

Yup, it's a good one!

[Ilikesports17]

Everyone who gave up and went to bed is missing a good game.

A good game they don't deserve!

Also, when AB and Jae come back I'm excited to see how our second unit looks with Smart and Brown.

[jpotter33]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

I really do think adding someone like this guy (or Milsap) would help a lot. That'd be an actual TRUE PF to play with Horford, pushing Horford back to his TRUE position at the C spot, and it'd push Amir to the bench to help with their defense. Having AB out a ton also hurts, too, because it forces more play from Rozier and Brown, who aren't anywhere near the defender that AB is, even in this off year of his.

[hwangjini_1]

No coinicidence that we retake the lead when our defense picks back up. I hate this selective defense that we play where we can only play it for minutes/quarters at a time.

Geez Louise potter. The Celtics just came back from 15 down to take the lead...and you,offer up little that is not negative.

At least have fun once in a while.

[jpotter33]

No coinicidence that we retake the lead when our defense picks back up. I hate this selective defense that we play where we can only play it for minutes/quarters at a time.

Geez Louise potter. The Celtics just came back from 15 down to take the lead...and you,offer up little that is not negative.

At least have fun once in a while.

That is positive - praising their D! #alternativefacts 

[liam]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

I really do think adding someone like this guy (or Milsap) would help a lot. That'd be an actual TRUE PF to play with Horford, pushing Horford back to his TRUE position at the C spot, and it'd push Amir to the bench to help with their defense. Having AB out a ton also hurts, too, because it forces more play from Rozier and Brown, who aren't anywhere near the defender that AB is, even in this off year of his.

Brown looks DPY compared to Rozier!

[jpotter33]

KO *literally* just watched as Vonleh chased that rebound down.

[CelticsFan166]

Ugh rozier. Had Gerald wide open on that break and didn't see him. Woulda been a dunk