We are going to be one of the WORST defensive teams next year......

[TheReaLPuba]

...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.

[Ed Hollison]

This isn't even debatable.

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

[TheSundanceKid]

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.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. 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.

[Ed Hollison]

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?

[Big333223]

This isn't even debatable.

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

I guess we're done here.

[Ed Hollison]

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.

[Vermont Green]

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. 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.

I agree with this.  I haven't looked up advanced stats but we were not a top defensive team from what I saw.  We were fine defensively for the level of talent that we had.  We have some different players in the mix this year.  I actually think we will be better in the front court with Morris and Baynes added in place of Johnson and Olynyk and probably better at PG as well.

Replacing Crowder and Bradley are where the questions may be.  I think Hayward will be fine on defense but is not as tough as Crowder and he will be focused more on offense so simply will not be able to expend as much energy on defense.  We may be playing Smart in Bradley's role which is fine but we then lose something on the second unit.  Bradley was not as tough on defense last season as past seasons based on what I saw and that may have been because they were asking more of him on offense.

I am not that worried about this and certainly do not expect us to be the worst in the league or anything like that.

[jpotter33]

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.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

...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 how i wish i could take TP's away and downvote you.  Your silly reactionary sky is falling posts are old and stale.

[Rosco917]

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.

[Tr1boy]

...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.

Dont worryyy

These guys are all good team defenders

Morris also can guard lebron when dialed in

Cant expect kyrie to be dialed in all the time but when he is...he is solid. Ask steph curry

I agree smart should start

Overall this is why I would like to grab Bamba for next years draft. Or worst case Robert Williams. Give this team that athletic , explosive big to bail guys out ... One thing this team lacks

[keevsnick]

...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.

[azzenfrost]

They haven't even practiced (met?) yet. Come on man. Be serious.

[Darío SpanishFan]

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.