NBA analyst, and former superstar, Isiah Thomas called it. On the NBA TV broadcast last night featuring the Boston Celtics versus a depleted Miami Heat lineup, Thomas praised the "on-ball defense", "defensive discipline" and "defensive rhythm" displayed by The Green. Granted, there were still lapses, but they didn't last.
For the month of January, Boston leads the NBA in Defensive Rating ((102.9) and Opponent Points in the Paint (38.8). In that span, they are second in blocks per game (7.8), largely due to Rob Williams and Al Horford being ranked 5th and 20th, respectively, in blocks per game.
For the month of January, the Celtics also rank 3rd in both defensive rebounds/game and opponents points off fast breaks. The Beantown Boys may be coming out of their slump, at least on the defensive end. Not blessed yet with a cadre of sharpshooters, this Celtics crew needs to rely on their defense to make any noise in the post-season.
Boston remains in 9th place in the East, but now with a 27-25 (..519) record. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games (.600), and if defensive lapses can be kept to a minimum, many analysts feel The Green can make some real headway
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