Defensive struggles continue for shorthanded Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics had no answers when it came to stopping Nikola Jokic on Tuesday night as he went on to score 43 points in what was a losing effort for the Denver Nuggets. Regardless of the impressive victory, the saga of Boston’s center position still continues. Considering the way this roster is structured, what can the Celtics do to better defend the opposing team’s big men and to just play better defense all in all?

In an athletic and versatile center rotation that includes Daniel Theis, Tristan Thompson, Robert Williams, Tacko Fall, and occasionally Grant Williams, the Celtics are still struggling to consistently defend the opposing team’s big man position. Using Tuesday night’s game against the Nuggets as an example, there wasn’t one player on the team who could slow Jokic down; Thompson got bodied and ran over in the paint while Williams wasn’t much of a reinforcement either.

The Boston Celtics continue to struggle defensively after allowing 40-point scorers in back-to-back games

It was speculated that Thompson was acquired to be a slight upgrade to the position from what the Celtics had last season. Although Thompson averaged a double-double over the past two seasons in Cleveland, it’s fair to say that Theis is still the best center on the team. Even though both Theis and Thompson can produce similarly, Theis still adds more value to the overall team; he is the better shooter and has a stronger rapport with the core players on the Celtics.

As a result of bringing in Thompson, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens was able to utilize a double-big lineup at the beginning of the season that ultimately proved to look better on the physical depth chart than what actually transpired on the court. By doing so, Theis was forced to slide into the four position which became more of a challenge for him on the defensive side of the court, as well as needing to regain confidence in himself when it comes to shooting outside of the paint.

At first, the theory of the double-big lineup was astonishing. It’s been a growing trend in the NBA that has proved to work and one that I believe has always been an interest to the Celtics. But then it eventually started to look like coach Stevens was trying to form a lineup that would allow him to use all of his players, especially since the center position finally has the most depth and arguably the most talent ever in the Stevens coaching era in Boston.

Fortunately for the Celtics, the entire center position group of Theis, Thompson, and Robert Williams, is worthy of playing more minutes per game. But the center position as a whole isn’t the entire problem defensively for Boston. Yes, Jokic torched them for 43 points on Tuesday night, but he’s playing at an MVP level this season and it’s also not a consistent thing that’s been happening to the Celtics against opposing centers. The surrounding defense coming from the wing position has been suspect as of late.

The Boston Celtics struggling defensively has been a lingering issue for most of the season

On a recent episode of the Locked On Celtics Podcast, host John Karalis talked about this being an ongoing issue for the Celtics this season and how all of the defensive problems don’t necessarily stem from the center position.

"“When the penetration is coming so often [in the paint], when guys are getting beat so often on the perimeter, that those paint touches are coming fast and furious, it doesn’t matter who your big is. Because that big is going to have to step up and then you just dump it down to somebody who’s back-door-cutting. It’s not that Big’s responsibility to fix all of these problems.” – John Karalis, per Locked On Celtics"

Karalis also mentioned that the hopeful return of Romeo Langford can help improve and shape up some of the defensive issues coming from the wing.

"“The Celtics need more switchable-wing help. Part of how you prevent this dribble penetration is by switching and by being able to switch everything multiple times. So part of this, Romeo Langford, is going to help. Because he’s a big guy, he’s six and a half foot tall, he’s long, he showed last year that he can defend. When he gets back, I think he can help.” – John Karalis, per Locked On Celtics"

After hearing the way Karalis explained the logistics and dynamics of all the defensive issues down low and how they occur, you can’t really disagree with his take on the problem not being entirely on the backs of the center position. Also, being able to switch crisply will slow everything down and Langford’s return can only help with that and improve the defense as well. He understands how the defense works and for the most part played well when it mattered most last season.

All in all, I do think the Celtics need another center, but that’s not the main root of the problem for this team potentially not furthering themselves in a playoff series. But acquiring a two-way wing player would be most ideal at this point for the Boston Celtics.

One last thought. Perhaps this is what the loss of Marcus Smart looks like on the defense and it’s finally starting to catch up to the Boston Celtics.