The Boston Celtics have the NBA's top-ranked defense after 12 games

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/11/the_boston_celtics_have_the_nb.html#incart_story_package



The Boston Celtics have the NBA's top-ranked defense after 12 games





Brooklyn Nets guard Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) reaches up as he loses control of the ball next to Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)


Jay King | mjking@masslive.com By Jay King | mjking@masslive.com

on November 21, 2015 at 2:20 PM




BOSTON -- After walloping the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night, the Boston Celtics woke up Saturday morning with the NBA's top-ranked defense.

The Celtics weren't expected to feature an elite defense after last season's No. 14 finish, but started showing improvements after the All-Star break. They have emerged as menaces this season, forcing turnovers on a higher percentage of possessions than any team in the league -- and, actually, any team in almost 20 years.  http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tsl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&type=team_totals&lg_id=NBA&year_min=&year_max=&franch_id=&c1stat=opp_tov_pct&c1comp=gt&c1val=17.4&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=wins

"They started building this team a couple years ago," Nets coach Lionel Hollins said before Boston smacked his team by 25 points. "They're really quick. They defend. They force turnovers. I think they're No. 1 in steals. No. 1 in forcing turnovers. No. 1 in points off those turnovers. They thrive with their quickness and getting their hands on balls, and running down (the court)."



bob
MY NOTE:  It has only been 12 games but apparently you don't need all the traditional pieces to have a top defense.  We are tied, at #1, with San Antonio for fewest points given up/game.  We are 4th in Net Rating, meaning the difference between the number of points we score in a game minus the number of points we give up.  Net Rating is a key indicator of how far a team may be expected to go in the playoffs because it tells you how dominating you are (or are not).  #1, folks, we have the #1 defense and that's with who we've got now.  Scratch your heads, wonder how we could have gotten there but Brad has figured something out and it isn't traditional.


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and our most improved defender is Kelly O.....happy bob?

cowens/oldschool wrote:and our most improved defender is Kelly O.....happy bob?

cow,

Actually, Kelly is one of our most improved defenders.  Of course, that's not saying much given just how far back in the pack he has come from.

I'm just trying to give everybody the credit they deserve.  I loved Sully when he was a bull, got down on him when he fell in love with the 3 and got fat and slow on defense, and am in love with him again now that he's gone back to his roots.  If Kelly's defense has gone from a 4 on a scale 1-10 to a 7, which is good but not great, that's a significant improvement and he deserves to be recognized for it. If his defense falls off next year, then he should be put back into the woodshed until he rededicates himself to it.


bob



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