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Why do the Boston Celtics Keep Winning?

By Ian Riaf

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Marcus Morris #13 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 10: Marcus Morris #13 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Celtics have found a winning formula throughout the first 13 games

Had you asked NBA fans a minute after the painful Gordon Hayward injury, whether the Boston Celtics would ever have the best record in the league, around all of them would probably say no.

So what is the Celtics secret to winning games in the face of adversity? It’s their defense and role players.

When the Celtics lost Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley and Amir Johnson over the off-season, many believed their defense would take a sharp decline. Even though they signed defensive stoppers such as Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis, many questioned the defensive mentality of Kyrie Irving, Marcus Morris and even Jayson Tatum’s mentality heading into this season.

The Celtics right now are the best defensive team in the NBA. They hold their opponents to 31.4% from behind the three-point line (2nd in the league). They are only averaging 102.8 points per game (23rd in the league) yet still manage to outscore their opponents by an average of 8.8 points per game (second in the league behind the Warriors). The Celtics also hold their opponents to only 94 points per game, the lowest in the league.

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Of players who have played over 10 games and over 15 minutes per game this season, the Celtics have four of the top ten players in defensive win shares. They have arguably one of the best defensive backcourts in the league when Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart, and Jaylen Brown are playing together. It helps that Smart and Rozier are comfortable guarding much taller players. Even Irving has improved his defense as he currently ranks third in steals out of players who have played over ten games this season.

The Celtics are able to rely on their role players deep into the rotation. Many saw their bench as a weak spot as they have six players who did not play a single game in the NBA last year. An example was against the Hornets on Friday when Celtics were without Irving and Al Horford, yet still managed to edge out a win. It is an interesting little fact that the average salary for all Celtics on the floor that night was just over $3 million compared to the Hornets lineup which was over $9 million.

Players such as Theis, Semi Ojeleye, and Larkin have all stepped up their production. All three players are logging more minutes than many expected yet they are holding their own on both sides of the floor. Brad Stevens has never shied away from going deep into the bench. He is known for playing 11-12 guys on a nightly basis so that many role players should see ample amount of playing time throughout the season.

Next: Shane Larkin and the youth movement

The Celtics are still the NBA’s shortest team and struggle to defend against tall versatile players. Moving forward, the Celtics need to focus more of their effort on the offensive side of the floor in order for them to compete against high scoring offenses. So far the Celtics have surprised the NBA. It’s still early in the season and they have had a relatively easy schedule. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain their level of defensive dominance.

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