Boston Sports Then and Now

KG and Sheed are already making their defensive presence felt.

Yes, it’s early. Only two games have been played in this infant 2009-10 season but the Celtics have made a statement thus far. This team will not be scored upon or give up easy baskets.

Through two games, the C’s have kept their opponents to 36 percent shooting, 22 percent three point shooting and forced 17 turnovers per game. Talking on defense has dominated the front line of Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and new comer Rasheed Wallace.

Boston’s ‘SOS’ style of defense is not a concept endorsed by most teams in the league as a priority. Though “help defense” is a fundamental of basketball, the mentality taught by most coaches is, responsibility to your man first, if all else fails– help.

Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau have ingrained the idea that “all defenders are responsible to each other FIRST”.  An impression that has been effective and lasting for the Celtics. This mind frame has spilled over into every aspect of the player’s culture and is exemplified through the team motto of “ubuntu”.

After the Celtics routing of the Bobcats on Wednesday night, Doc Rivers discussed the team’s defense, telling reporters,

“I thought it was terrific. What did you think? I thought it was great. I thought, obviously, very active early. Tons of deflections. We keep that number and it was extremely — as high as you can possibly probably get it at halftime. And I thought we carried it over, contested starts. Last two nights, I thought it has been absolutely wonderful.”

After the same game, team captain, Paul Pierce added,

“We always stress hot hands, and when we’re able to get in the passing lanes, force turnovers, get out on a break– it makes things easier when your doing those things.”

Though the Celtics were able to display this defensive domination in spurts last season, the loss of KG in February was nocuousto the cause. The team became less of a champion, trying to repeat and more of a champion fighting to stay alive. Everything seemed so difficult as last season came to a close. Though we heard coaches and players stating that defense was the engine that fueled their ship, it was rarely translated onto the court. Never lacking for effort, last season’s team looked to be riding a treadmill for several months, as one challenge was met, another was presented.

With the return of KG this season, the Celtics are slamming their defensive grasp down on opponents. The

Perkins has been defensively sound in the trenches.

addition of Rasheed Wallace, an underrated defender, has added intensity and furthered Garnett, Rivers and Thibodeau’s cause for defending the ball, helping and talking. Wallace, often criticized for his volatile relationship with refs and league officials, has been able to channel his emotional outburst into communicating opposing player movements with teammates.

Bobcats coach, Larry Brown, said of Wallace,

“He’s as good a teammate as you’ll have. He’s as good a teammate as I’ve ever coached. Plus he’s a great player. He’s a great defender. He can make shots. He’s a great competitor. I’ve really never met a player that played with him that didn’t love him. I really have never met a coach that coached him that didn’t love him.”

This seems to be a common consensus among former teammates and coaches of Sheed. So far, he is a perfect fit and, arguably, the best off-season acquisition by any team this year.

So, with all this great defensive play– why has it not consistently translated to the other end of the court?

Though the C’s are holding opponents to a very low shooting percentage, they are also not shooting well (43 percent). In an area that has never been a Celtics strong point, they are committing 15 turnovers per game (13th in the league), middle of the pack in league rankings but, none the less, the play has been sloppy.

Early on, Boston’s offensive play has translated into over passing. The Celtics have so many options that it’s hard not to spot a player with a higher percentage shot. However, players of guilty of throwing risky passes through traffic and causing turnovers. Though this has been an issue for Rondo and company for two seasons, I do feel this issue will ultimately correct itself as the season progresses and the players get more accustomed to the new team additions.

The fact is, this team is driven by defense and, in a phrase that has almost become cliche, good defense leads to solid offense. It’s only a matter of time before the Celts find their scoring wings. When this team is running on full cylinders, the rest of the league better brace themselves.

Nick Gelso covers the Boston Celtics and NBA for Boston Sports Then and Now. You can check out more of his great work on his blog: North Station Sports.