If the Boston Celtics want to turn this series around they will have to do it with defense
No one expected it coming into this round, but the Boston Celtics are staring in the face of a four game sweep to the eight seeded Chicago Bulls. Amidst the tragedy that really puts all of this into perspective, the Celtics have have not looked like themselves on the court, allowing the Bulls to control every phase of this matchup.
The rebounding issue has spilled over into other phases of the game. It feels as though everything is being forced, with every player trying to be the one that makes the extra play. The problem is that they do not need any individual player to make that extra play, they need to rediscover their identity as a team, because that is the only way enough players will make the necessary improvements.
The Celtics are not going to turn this around by trying to hit a bunch more three pointers, its not going to happen if they try to force everything into the paint, its not even going to happen if they just send everyone to crash the boards at all times.
Last game was a let down on every level for the Celtics and the best way to get the improvement they need will be a collective effort on defense. The Celtics need to get settled into these games, and makes things easier on themselves and more difficult on the Bulls.
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The Celtics need to start generating the turnovers that will allow them to get running in transition. The Celtics have been missing a lot of open shots, but they have also be forcing far too many. Playing in transition will lead to a lot more defensive breakdowns by the Bulls, and that can tire them out while giving the Celtics the extra offense they need.
The Celtics need to find a way to prevent the Bulls from generating more opportunities than them, and they have a much better chance at doing that with steals than rebounding. It is easier said than done, and Rajon Rondo has been doing a phenomenal job of running the offense. The Bulls have players that have been hitting one on one shots, but that has not been the major problem. Leaving Robin Lopez wide open while hitting every 18 footer he took was a problem. Chasing Rondo, one of the worst three point shooters in the league, off the three point line is a problem.
The Celtics need to be more disciplined on defense, and they need to work as a unit to prevent Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade from getting to their sweet spots, and they need to make them a lot less comfortable and force a lot more mistakes.
The Celtics have not been disruptive to the Bulls in this series, and they need to work as a unit in order to overcome that. One on one defense on Butler will only take them so far, they need to be taking advantages of mistakes in areas where the Bulls struggle.
The Celtics need to completely change the way they are playing on both ends, but it is something they know they are capable of. The players know all too well how much they are under performing right now, and hopefully game two was a nice lesson on how not to try and improve.
There is a good chance that Stevens could change the rotation a bit. Using the size of Tyler Zeller and Jonas Jerebko could help on the boards, but it still comes down to executing at the level that they know they are capable of.
The Celtics are at their best this season and they go on their biggest runs when they are generating steals and scoring quickly in transition. The Celtics have great and aware passers on the court at all times. They have proven that they can be a deadly team in transition, but it has not been enough of a factor in this series.
Boston’s defense has been inconsistent all season long, but getting back to their best on that end is the first place they have to start to have a chance in this series. The Celtics know they have the individual talent, but it is not about any one of them stepping up. It is about figuring out how to get all this talent to work together, to make things as difficult as possible on the Bulls team.
Next: Best and Worst Case Scenario if Celtics Blow It Up
It is impossible to gauge how the Celtics will respond to this deficit, putting them in a position they have never been in before as heavy favorites. It is impossible to know what Isaiah Thomas will be going through, and the impact going back to see his family will have on the series.