This is a different version of the Boston Celtics than we're accustomed to. Yes, the sample size is small after only five games. However, changes in personnel are fueling a more aggressive approach.
Joe Mazzulla's club wanted to operate this way last season. Unfortunately, they realized that they couldn't hunt turnovers and keep teams off the offensive glass. Wisely, they prioritized the latter. The most important game within the game is the possession battle. Limiting second-chance opportunities is paramount.
This year, they can balance both. Jayson Tatum has been Boston's best defensive rebounder for much of his career. Mitchell Robinson is the best on the boards since he entered the Association. And Paul George makes his presence felt there as well.
Deflections are an underrated trait of Robinson's. He doesn't just disrupt opposing offenses with his rim protection. He contains pick-and-rolls and plays passing lanes. It's a package that produces transition opportunities. However, through five games, George's defensive playmaking places him at the heart of the Celtics' ability to wreak havoc.
Paul George is leading a more disruptive Celtics defense
Boston is generating 18.4 turnovers per contest. That's the fourth-most in the league. Last season's group ranked 29th out of 30 teams. They were 27th in the 2024-25 campaign. The C's are also averaging 20.2 deflections. That's the third-most in the NBA. That's quite a leap from ranking 25th the year before.
George is the straw that stirs the drink. He's a long, athletic defensive playmaker. He's a cerebral player who has tremendous instincts. He had a team-high three steals in the Celtics' 125-111 win over the Chicago Bulls in their first NBA Cup contest. His five deflections tied Caleb Wilson [who looks like a rising star] and Tre Jones for the most in the matchup.
"His defense is phenomenal," said Payton Pritchard after Boston's victory on the parquet on Friday night. "I didn't know how good it was until I've seen it close."
Pritchard, who answered Joe Mazzulla's challenge to him at that end of the court, aims to get back to being a defensive pest. It will make Boston's defense even more disruptive.
Inside the numbers on Paul George's defensive impact
The four-time All-Defensive team selection is getting his hands on more passes than anyone in the league. He's coming up with 5.8 deflections per tilt, per NBA.com. He's also averaging 2.4 steals. That's tied for the fifth-most.
George is contesting 3.8 three-point attempts per game. That places him in the top 10 in that category as well. Stop percentage is based on steals, offensive fouls drawn, and blocks recovered by the defense out of 100 possessions. The six-foot-eight forward has a 4.2 stop percentage. That ranks in the 94th percentile, per databallr.com.
He's abruptly halting opponents' possessions. Beyond that, the veteran wing is playing a crucial role in preventing second-chance opportunities. His 17.3 defensive rebounding percentage ranks in the 92nd percentile.
Maintaining that impact at 36, in year 17, speaks to his work to take care of his body. It also reflects his time spent in the film room. These are examples of leadership that are rubbing off on his new teammates. That includes new pupil Jordan Walsh. When the 22-year-old is guarding the opposition's best player, it frees George to act as a defensive playmaker off the ball.
More turnovers mean more transition opportunities. They also help produce trips to the free-throw line. Generating easier scoring chances is a new wrinkle that should help the Celtics when the playoffs arrive.
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