The Celtics defense has been inconsistent, at best, lately. Well, against the Toronto Raptors, we finally saw some real signs of life.
Here’s the one stat that tells the whole story: deflections. Against the Raptors, the Celtics racked up a whopping 23 deflections. That’s a huge jump from the measly 8 we managed against the Indiana Pacers.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “It’s just the Raptors, they’re not that good.” Fair point. But hear me out - this isn’t about who we played, it’s about how we played. Those 23 deflections show active hands, active bodies, and most importantly, active defense. That’s all we’ve been asking for, right?
Let’s break it down a bit. Every time we get a hand on the ball, even if we don’t steal it, that’s 3-4 seconds off the shot clock. It’s disrupting the offense. It’s making life harder for the other team. That’s what good defense is all about.
Joe Mazzulla’s Take on Defense
Joe Mazzulla had some interesting things to say about defense recently. He kind of threw shade at the idea that bad offense can be attributed to slumps while defense is about effort. But here’s the thing - what else is defense if not effort?
At its core, defense is about standing between the player and the basket for as long as you can. Sure, there’s skill involved, especially on offense. But on defense? It’s mostly about trying really, really hard.
Look at guys like Marcus Smart. He’s been putting in maximum effort on defense for so long that it’s become instinct for him. He reacts faster, moves quicker, because he’s been giving it his all on that end for years.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, we’ve got a tough stretch coming up. The schedule’s been weird thanks to that preseason trip to Abu Dhabi and the NBA Cup. December was super home-heavy, which might have made us a little too comfortable. Now we’re facing a lot of road games in January.
But you know what? I think this could be good for us. Sometimes you need to get out on the road, away from the distractions of home, to really bond as a team and lock in on basketball.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Celtics’ defensive resurgence and upcoming schedule challenges, tune into the Locked On Celtics podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Celtics Podcast:
• The impact of the Abu Dhabi trip and NBA Cup on the Celtics’ schedule
• Joe Mazzulla’s approach to defending the team in media interactions
• Predictions for the upcoming Western Conference road trip
