#360view: Celtics' defence proves key against Warriors

Jay Asser 21:06 02/04/2016
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  • Victorious: Boston Celtics.

    If there is a ‘blueprint’ to beating the Golden State Warriors, it’s one that very few teams in the NBA possess or are capable of producing.

    It just so happens that one of those teams is the Boston Celtics, who after nearly handing the defending champions their first loss of the season in a double overtime affair back in December, ended the Warriors’ invincible 54-game winning streak at home with a 109-106 victory at Oracle Arena on Friday.

    Characterising the loss as a let-up by Golden State or chalking it up to inevitability fails to give Boston their due credit. An inspiring win, especially without the services of crucial cog Jae Crowder, proved how difficult an opponent the Celtics are for the league’s world-beaters.

    It starts on defence. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson form the best backcourt in the NBA and their shooting powers the Warriors’ entire offence. What the Celtics do so well, which most teams don’t have the personnel to replicate, is play stifling perimeter defence.

    Avery Bradley’s defensive prowess is well-known. The shooting guard was given the label of “best perimeter defender in the league” by Portland’s Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum following Boston’s 109-106 loss to the Trail Blazers the night before defeating Golden State.

    Curry hasn’t publicly given that high of praise to Bradley, but it’s clear the All-Defensive Team candidate is one of the very best at guarding the reigning MVP. Bradley’s lightning-quick movement and ability to minimise airspace doesn’t shut down Curry – which no one can – but it does make it more difficult for him to get shots off or make plays.

    Whereas many teams would be happy to have one player of Bradley’s defensive ilk, Boston has another in Marcus Smart.

    The second-year product is a much more physical presence than Bradley, but his anticipation of the ball-handler is similarly savant-like. One of his skills which make him so special on that end of the floor is his unwillingness to get screened. That talent is particularly magnified and useful when defending Curry and Thompson, who are constantly receiving picks designed to spring them open.

    In addition to Bradley and Smart, versatile players like Evan Turner, who can guard three positions, and Jae Crowder, capable of defending up to four positions, allow the Celtics to throw different looks at opponents and switch heavily with compromising match-ups.

    Even though they lack rim protectors and much resistance in the paint, Boston’s perimeter attack dogs are the main reason why they’re the fifth-best defensive team in the league, based on defensive rating (100.8 points allowed per 100 possessions).

    The Celtics’ eyebrow-raising play against the Warriors is more than just defence, however. It’s also great coaching by Brad Stevens and unrelenting effort by the players, which is often necessary to beat a transcendent team like Golden State.

    Fortunately for the Warriors, the only occasion they’ll have to contend with Boston in the postseason is if the Celtics reach the Finals – a daunting task with the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers cemented as the two best teams in the Eastern Conference.

    For that, Curry, Thompson and Co. can relate to what Portland’s McCollum said: “We are not going to see any Avery Bradley’s in the Western Conference.”

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