Do the Celtics have a new philosophy?
A. Sherrod Blakely writes that the Celtics’ offseason additions symbolize a change in philosophy. According to Blakely, gone are the days of lockdown defense and shutting down opponents. The Celtics will still focus on stopping teams from scoring, but realize they’ll have to score more points themselves to win games. (CSNNE)
The moves made by the C’s this summer signal not just a new season, but a new vision for success.
Instead of relying so heavily on defensive stops to win, rendering teams defenseless against an onslaught of shooters will likely be their modus operandi for victories this season.
When you look at the pieces added this summer and those that are no longer around, it’s clear the C’s are looking to outshoot, and not necessarily shut down, opponents.
The Celtics have lost their resident around-the-basket banger, Kendrick Perkins (right knee), for most of the season. Replacing him in the starting lineup will likely be Jermaine O’Neal, a solid defender but a definite notch or two below Perkins.
Rasheed Wallace has called it career for the C’s, robbing Boston of one of the more underrated low post defenders of the past decade.
And his replacement?
Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant offensive players of this generation whose defense . . . is what it is.
The Celtics’ defense on the perimeter isn’t all that much better, either.
I respect the hell out of A. Sherrod Blakely, but I couldn’t disagree more strongly with his assessment. The Celtics lost Perkins… but when the playoffs come around he’ll be in the lineup. The Celtics signed Jermaine O’Neal to replace Rasheed Wallace… and O’Neal is an infinitely better defender than the Sheed we saw most of last season. The Celtics lost Tony Allen… but reportedly tried their hardest to keep him, and replaced him with two players — Delonte West and Von Wafer — who are known as solid defenders. Shaq sucks at the pick-and-roll… so Doc Rivers has spent the entire summer devising a way to hide that weakness.
The Celtics will still start Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo, two All-NBA-caliber defenders. When Perk comes back, there will be three All-Defense types in the lineup. The defensive mentality ain’t changing, folks. The Celtics are still going to shut people down. They’re still going to be out to take your heart and limit your scoring. My only concern is that the Celtics will miss Tom Thibodeau more than we realize.
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Celtics Blog | Jay King | September 3, 2010
Boston Celtics, Delonte West, Jermaine O'Neal, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Rasheed Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Thibodeau, Von Wafer
Von Wafer is a solid defender? Where did we get that impression. Far as I can tell the jury is still out on that because well… he’s never really learned to play D. There’s nothing to suggest he’s a bad defender, but I haven’t seen anything to say he’s “solid” either.
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He’s not great, but every stat I’ve looked at suggest he’s solid. I wouldn’t call him lockdown, but he’s not swiss cheese.
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Actually the stats seem to be an incomplete picture but would suggest that VW is a solid one on one defender.
His teams have all allowed slightly above their averages when VW is on the floor but the counter parts he was defending averaged lower numbers than their own averages.
If that’s so, then the case can be made that Von Wafer’s INDIVIDUAL defense IS solid, whereas the jury would still be out on the team defense.
The Celtic’s would not have signed VW OR Shaq if they didn’t think they could play defense to a certain degree within the system.
The Celtic’s defense is nearly flawless and will continue to be the mantra, with or without Thibs.
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God, how I wish training camp and the season would start so we don’t have to read these b.s. ‘speculative’ articles that are just fabricated fluff. The Cs not being built on or for defense? Asinine statement if there ever was one. Go Cs…
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You mean you don’t think KG is, as I type this, begging Doc to play like the Phoenix Suns?
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I’m sure they are going to run more this year as the rebounding will be better and the overall talent is better. Now if they could play Phoenix style with a suffering defense I’d be all for it as that style is great to watch. Have a great Labor Day weekend…Go Cs…
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I hope they run. I want to see Rondo with the ball in his hands, speeding downcourt and killing opponents. Thanks a lot, you too.
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I’m betting they will run more.
The transition has fueled a lot more of their offense the past couple of years with Rondo developing as he has.
With the improvement in the froncourt for rebounding as well as the bench players with athleticism like West, Quis, Von Wafer included in the bench lineups and maybe some Ray in there, they will have the speed to run the floor with Rondo, while spotting up on the edges for corner 3′s when the defense get’s back in transition.
The offense will be much more balanced and formidable, and if there is a drop in defense it will only be slight. The post defense with KG, Shaq, JO and Perk when he get’s back will be tremendous though.
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