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Boston Celtics: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20

By Adam Taylor

BOSTON, MA - JULY 17: Kemba Walker #8, General Manager Danny Ainge, and Enes Kanter #11 of the Boston Celtics speak to the media during the introductory press conference on July 17, 2019 at the Auerbach Center in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 17: Kemba Walker #8, General Manager Danny Ainge, and Enes Kanter #11 of the Boston Celtics speak to the media during the introductory press conference on July 17, 2019 at the Auerbach Center in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

2. Defending their identity

Since becoming the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2013 Brad Stevens has instilled a defensive mentality in his Celtics teams. He has been able to turn players such as Evan Turner into reliable options on the defensive end of the court while being adept at hiding players such as Isaiah Thomas, minimizing how often opposing teams could target him on that end of the floor.

Since the 2015-16 NBA season, the Boston Celtics have been in the top ten defensive ratings every year, with their best two seasons of the Stevens era coinciding with their best defensive years. The 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons had the Celtics finished 4th in defensive rating, making the conference finals both times.

Uncertainty surrounds their ability on defense this upcoming year. Having lost one of their best defensive players in Al Horford it’s easy to see why. Enes Kanter has a reputation for being poor on defense, however, he performed very well during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. NBA.com had Kanter with a defensive rating of 108.3 and a total of 112.6 for the season, while this looks nice on paper it is worth noting that Kanter was only 64th among centers for defensive win share.

Stevens track record of putting players in positions to succeed is exemplary, having done it time and again with journeymen type players. There is no reason to think Kanter will not benefit from playing within Boston’s system on both ends of the floor, and if he can reproduce the form which saw him contribute to Portland’s run to the Western Conference Finals, then Boston has a good player on their hands.

Boston’s defensive identity does not rest solely on Kanter’s shoulders though. Stevens is known for cultivating a team mentality on both ends of the floor. Marcus Smart will lead by example as usual, while players such as Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown are not poor defenders by any stretch.

Another facet of the teams defensive moving forward is the addition of multiple rebounders. Kanter and Vincent Poirier join Robert Williams and Daniel Theis in the frontcourt. Already the best rebounding Celtics team in at least a decade, it will be interesting to see how Stevens adapts on both ends of the floor to utilize this new dimension available to him.

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