The Boston Celtics cannot forget that defense is how they are going to win in the playoffs
The Boston Celtics have been on one of the most improbable runs of the season, but everything has come back down to earth after back to back loses has put the number one seed fully out of reach. The Celtics could not have expected to keep up that play with the kind of injuries they suffered, and they cannot let that run change what they know they are best at.
The Celtics are all the way up at number two when it comes to three point shooting, and that combined with phenomenal ball movement makes them one of the most dangerous offenses in the NBA. They have threats everywhere, and are discovering more players that are able to manufacture points and facilitate.
That being said, even when Kyrie Irving was healthy, defense was always a clear priority for this team. The Celtics would never win consistently strictly because of offense, but they have won all kinds of games this season with their defense making up for poor offense.
The good news is that we have seen the great potential of their offense, even with Irving on the sidelines. What can never be forgotten, however, is that defense is the backbone of this team, and they will never be successful without it.
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Especially in the playoffs, the Celtics cannot expect their offense to be good enough to win four games against any potential opponents. That being said, we have seen time and time again that the defense is capable of doing enough to accommodate almost any kind of offense.
The Celtics need to get back to winning with defense because that is the only way they can make up for their issues. If the offense runs perfectly, then they will be best off. That being said, the Celtics are not concerned with how they do when things go as well as possible, because expecting that in the playoffs is the best way for a quick exit.
The Celtics need to be prepared for all kinds of adversity in the playoffs, and they need to be able to overcome even more than they have during the regular season. Defense is how they overcome issues, and they really have no way of overcoming bad defense.
Even if the Celtics are shooting their best across the board, Irving’s absence makes it possible for any opposing offense to keep up with them. What will stop them, however, has to be the defense. The Celtics cannot be thinking about how they can win games with their offense, they need to be thinking about how they can use their defense to overcome any problems that they may have.
The Celtics have a lot of youth and uncertainty, and expecting a polished offensive attack on a regular basis is a bit optimistic right now. We have seen them do it, but they cannot depend on that in the playoffs. Defense, on the other hand, is something they can depend on.
It hurts not having Marcus Smart there, but they are still capable of being one of the best defenses in the league without him, and that is going to be the key for the rest of the playoffs since Irving is not going to be returning.
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The Celtics have won with defense all year long, and have one of the scariest defenses in the league. If they have any chance at going on a long playoff run, they need to make sure they have the best defense in the league, both before and after Smart returns.