Boston Celtics: 5 keys to winning the East in 2019

5. Defense

Every championship contending squad understands that defense should be the backbone of the team. The offense is important, but defense is what wins championships.

On paper, the Celtics should have a strong defensive lineup. Most players in the rotation have the perfect body type to be able to switch everything without much trouble. There are very few players on the roster that don’t have height, speed or toughness. This makes them a deep defensive team.

Marcus Smart is the best defender on the squad. He is constantly disrupting the opponent’s offense, averaging 2.7 deflections per game. Furthermore, Smart is exceptional at defending the 3-point line, contesting the fourth-most 3-point shots in the entire league.

Anchoring the defense is Al Horford. With his stocky 6’10” frame, Horford is great at holding down the paint. He only averages 1.4 blocks per game, but he contests 12.3 shots per game. This is the 13th-highest mark in the league.

One thing that makes Horford such an excellent defender is his discipline. He has a high defensive IQ and rarely commits fouls. This often throws off opposing players who are expecting to be bailed out by the referees.

However, as a team, the Celtics land in the middle of the pack in terms of deflections, loose balls recovered and total shots contested. This means that the effort and consistency lands within only a few players on the roster and will have to be improved on before the playoffs begin.

Boston has the tools needed to be an elite defensive team, and they already rank fourth in defensive rating. Now, it’s time to put it all together. The effort level might be the only thing needed to transform them into a powerhouse on defense.