If you start Smart then you put a lot of pressure on Rozier to lead the 2nd unit. I'd start Brown, he'd be a spot up shooter surrounded by shot creators and I think he'd love it. A bit like Harrison Barnes in GS a few years back.

I think defense will certainly need to be worked on but its about buying into the system. If guys do that then they will challenge each other to raise their level and that should see someone like Kyrie become better than what we historically have seen.

Keep in mind that going into last year people felt this might be one of the best defensive teams in the league. Instead it took a major step back. Point is: you can't just conclude based on personnel how a team will be defensively before the season.

Here are the things you could list if you're arguing the team will be better defensively than people think:

- Kyrie Irving is poor defensively, but most would agree he's still an upgrade from IT.
- Kyrie Irving's poor defense was largely a symptom of poor defensive scheme and culture in Cleveland, which should improve in Boston.
- We are no longer horribly undersized in our backcourt, with a 5'9" point guard and a 6'2" shooting guard, plus Smart playing a lot of small forward. We're adding a collective 10-12 inches in height to our starting backcourt.
- Avery was overrated as a defender. There is already lots of discussion on this forum about this, so I won't belabor the point. Great one-on-one defender on quick guards, not that good on bigger players and not a great team defender.
-Crowder's defense took a step back last year and wasn't the defender he was earlier in his career. Looked like his lateral quickness had diminished, maybe related to his ankle injuries.
- Baynes solves some of our defensive rebounding problem. Amir had his moments last year, but overall his ankles looked cooked. Baynes should help here.
- The Celtics are much more "switchable" on D now. This is a major component of playing D in today's NBA. Very much on purpose, Danny has built a team full of guys who can guard multiple positions -- think Smart, Hayward, Morris, J. Brown, Tatum, and Ojeleye.

What else am I missing?

Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

Seconded.

Keep in mind that going into last year people felt this might be one of the best defensive teams in the league. Instead it took a major step back. Point is: you can't just conclude based on personnel how a team will be defensively before the season.

Here are the things you could list if you're arguing the team will be better defensively than people think:

- Kyrie Irving is poor defensively, but most would agree he's still an upgrade from IT.
- Kyrie Irving's poor defense was largely a symptom of poor defensive scheme and culture in Cleveland, which should improve in Boston.
- We are no longer horribly undersized in our backcourt, with a 5'9" point guard and a 6'2" shooting guard, plus Smart playing a lot of small forward. We're adding a collective 10-12 inches in height to our starting backcourt.
- Avery was overrated as a defender. There is already lots of discussion on this forum about this, so I won't belabor the point. Great one-on-one defender on quick guards, not that good on bigger players and not a great team defender.
-Crowder's defense took a step back last year and wasn't the defender he was earlier in his career. Looked like his lateral quickness had diminished, maybe related to his ankle injuries.
- Baynes solves some of our defensive rebounding problem. Amir had his moments last year, but overall his ankles looked cooked. Baynes should help here.
- The Celtics are much more "switchable" on D now. This is a major component of playing D in today's NBA. Very much on purpose, Danny has built a team full of guys who can guard multiple positions -- think Smart, Hayward, Morris, J. Brown, Tatum, and Ojeleye.

What else am I missing?

TP.

One just needs to look at the success of GS defensively last year to see how much "switchability" is a big predictor of defensive success in today's NBA.

Due to the loss of Crowder, and Bradley, I'm also worried about defense.

I don't feel Horford got any worse of a defender from last year to this year.

Hayward is taller and longer than Crowder, but not as physical or able to guard multiple positions. 

The loss of Bradley hurts, Smart can take his place but he has to start to do it.

Brown will do nothing but improve as a defender, he certainly has the tools. Nice size, very athletic, bright, aggressive. He's already pretty good, I'm hoping he will get even better.

Amir was steady, and took on the assignments Horford didn't want. Fingers crossed that Morris steps up. I don't know much about him defensively, but he did defend small forwards while playing in Detroit, so he may be versatile.

Say what you want about Irving, but he shouldn't need help every defensive play, allowing the team to not have to switch continually, and play more of a a straight up D when needed.

Yeah, I'm worried too, but time playing together will help.

...Marcus Smart has to start.

This isn't even debatable.

Horford is old he can't defend like he once could.

Kyrie can't guard a brick wall.

If Smart doesn't start then both Kyrie and Hayward will get into foul trouble every single [dang] game.

Oh it definitely is debatable. I too am somewhat worried about our defense, but to say we'll be the worst in the league is a stretch. The starting lineup should be fine. Irving is an upgrade over Thomas. Brown will only improve. Hayward, Morris and Horford are all solid to pretty good defenders. We are also far more able to switch a lot than we were last year with decent size across our back court. Were we might slip is when we start getting deeper into the bench. Rookies, however much we like them, rarely help on defense. Yabu, Tatum even Semi and Rozier at times will struggle. But our main rotation will be fine, maybe not top 10, but fine.

Quote from: TheReaLPuba on September 07, 2017, 10:39:53 AM

This isn't even debatable.

If it's not even debatable why does it require opening up a new thread?

Game, set, match and Tommy Point.