Boston Celtics’ versatility will face biggest test against 76ers

Versatility was the key to bostons’s defensive success against the Bucks, but they will be challenged even more with the 76ers

The Boston Celtics just had the length and shooting of the Milwaukee Bucks push their versatility to their limit, but it is not going to be any easier against the Philadelphia 76ers. They may not have a Giannis Antetokounmpo but Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons along with elite shooters around them will push this defense even further.

The difference against the 76ers is that the versatility is not just in the front court. Embiid is as difficult to account for as any big in the NBA, and then Simmons is the most unique back court presence in the NBA. The Celtics have a lot more to figure out with those two, and that is before they even consider all the outside shooting that Dario Saric, J.J Redick and others are able to add.

It will be interesting to see how the minute distribution works. Semi Ojeleye took on a massive defensive role and took almost all of Aron Baynes‘ minutes away. Brad Stevens may not want to mess with what has been working in theses playoffs, but Baynes had some good success on Embiid with Horford in the regular season. What we know for sure, however, is that if Baynes is not able to stay on the court with so many shooters, it will not take long for Ojeleye to dominate those minutes once again.

The Celtics need defenders that can handle Embiid in the post, because he can dominate there. They also need someone else that can stick with Saric on the outside, and the Celtics might have to throw different looks at the 76ers to make sure they are not able to shoot the way they did against Miami.

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Ojeleye and Al Horford established themselves as a great versatile duo in that fist series, but the Bucks did not have a shooter like Saric next to Embiid. The Celtics know they have to win this one with defense, and containing that front court is going to be the biggest challenge.

The back court then presents another world of issues for the Celtics defense. Simmons alone is enough to drive you crazy. There are not many guards in the NBA who have the physical stature to match him in any way. Somehow, the Celtics actually have two options for him, as long as they are healthy.

Marcus Smart sacifrices a lot with his height on Simmons, but he is the one guard in the NBA who will not be fazed by that. He is comfortable guarding power forwards and centers, so he will be comfortable against Simmons. He does not have to worry about the outside shot, so he can look to his strength to make sure Simmons cannot get things going inside. If Jaylen Brown is also to return and defend him, he has plenty of size to try and stay with the standout rookie, and should be able to use his length to disrupt some of his passing.

What makes their back court even more deadly is needing the physicality to stop Simmons, while also thinking about the smaller shooters in redick and Belinelli running wild. They present much different issues for the Celtics, and demands something different from their versatility. The Celtics have guards that are often more comfortable being undersized, as opposing to trying to stick with the smaller guys getting space with off ball movement.

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Boston’s defense really hit another level when Smart returned to the lineup, and they pushed their versatility quite far against the Bucks. The 76ers are still a much more talented team with a lot more weapons on offense. The Celtics will have a lot of things to figure out and they do not have much time to do it with game one on Monday.