Boston Celtics resurrected their defensive identity from last season in Game 2

The Boston Celtics turned the page on the defensive end in Game 2, holding the Philadelphia 76ers under 88 points in the playoffs for just the second time since 2013.

Maybe it was the switch from the black to the more traditional green jerseys, but the Boston Celtics defense looked completely re-energized from what it has been so far this postseason. What made the Cs so special last season was their ability to get a stop whenever they needed to no matter the opposition. The offense has gotten Joe Mazzulla’s side this far, but in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers, they learned defense has to be given much more attention. Boston ranked 10th in defensive rating in the first round and only got by due to the Atlanta Hawks’ ability to play an organized NBA defense consistently.

Doc Rivers’ team lost their first contest of the playoffs this season even with Joel Embiid on the floor because of how uncomfortable the Celtics made them in the halfcourt. It started with Jaylen Brown in the first possession of the game against James Harden and tricked down to the entire team. It was almost as if when this team saw the NBA MVP return to the lineup they realized just how quickly their season could come to a close.

Every player had each other’s back as each Celtic battled through screens to force 13 Philadelphia turnovers on the night. The defense was the first step for Boston in initiating its offense. While the 76ers begged for a foul call, Mazzulla’s team ran the other way in transition. It was difficult for Harden and any of the 76ers’ perimeter threats to find any sort of airspace. Harden struggled from the floor, shooting 2-14 after netting 45 in Game 1. Whenever he did get by Brown, Derrick White, or even Marcus Smart, the former Rockets’ star was constantly met with a green shirt in the painted area.

Robert Williams III and Al Horford combined for five blocks on Wednesday night at the TD Garden, more than the entire Boston Celtics team managed in the Game 1 defeat. The difference between last year’s team and the one this season is their attention to detail on the defensive end. During that 2022 NBA Finals run, the Cs held teams under 42% from the field eight times. Including Game 2 on Tuesday, Boston has only done that twice so far.

If Mazzulla’s side can combine their high-octane offensive attack with the defense from Game 2 consistently, there are not very many teams out there that can beat this ball club in a seven-game series. It was just the 13th since 2015 that Boston has managed to hold an opponent under 88 points in a playoff game. All of those contests, except for one against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018 resulted in a Cs triumph.

Buying in on the defensive end night in and night out is going to make all the difference for the Boston Celtics in this series

One of the best parts about the performance was the energy and effort did not diminish even with the Game well in hand. The offense will be the talk of the town if this team does reach the pinnacle in June, but it is nights like these when Jayson Tatum makes one shot that shows just how dangerous this team can be when defense becomes a priority.

Philadelphia shot under 40% from the field in the postseason for just the 16th time since 2010. During the 2022/23 regular season, Rivers’ 76ers shot under 40% just three times. Boston frustrated Rivers’ side from start to finish, playing a well-run team defense that the NBA world got used to seeing from the green and white during the playoff run last year.

Superstars do not like it when their opponents are draped all over them. Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics should not allow the opposition to control their half-court offense as much as Harden did in Game 1. There was much more emphasis on going over screens, rather than fading under to allow the opponent an open shot. That changed the game for Boston, letting the 76ers know just how physical the Cs were going to be compared to the first 48 minutes of the series. It is all about using this Game 2 performance to kickstart displays like this going forward. The second 48 minutes in Boston mean absolutely nothing if this ball club cannot build from it.