The Celtics defense has gotten off to an awful start in the 2014-15 season, as they rank 26th out of 30 teams giving up 110.9 points per 100 possessions. The Celtics give up a league high 50.9 paint points per game, and that number trends closer to 60 paint points per game over their last 3 contests. It is not as if the Celtics are giving up paint points because they have committed to defending the 3 point line, as they rank 25th, giving up 25.9 points from 3 per game.
The Celtics porous defense has the team, and everyone else, looking for answers. This is a young team that, without a rim protecting big, was expected to struggle some on defense. However, many thought that with perimeter defenders like Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics could at least keep guards in front of them and contain them from having big scoring nights. This has not been the case. Just about everyone is having success against this Celtics defense.
In search of answers, John (@RedsArmy_John) has proposed that the Celtics try switching to a zone defense. I, however, think the Celtics should stick with their man to man defense, even with the struggles the team is currently experiencing. Here are the arguments for (John) and against (Geoff) the Celtics playing a zone defense.
Against (Geoff)
While the Celtics have struggled in just about every aspect of their man to man defense, I think they should stick it out and work through it, and here’s why: This team is going to need to learn how to play man to man defense at some point, and that process might as well start now. At this point in time, the Celtics’ lack a rim protector that is the staple of many of the league’s top defenses. However, a rim protector will certainly be one of if not the top priority in free agency this offseason or through a trade.
If the Celtics are able to sign or trade for a solid rim protector, their defense would improve significantly. Avery Bradley, Rajon Rondo, and Marcus Smart are all gifted defensive guards who excel in pressuring the basketball. The issue right now is if they pressure the ball and get beat, there is no one on the back line who is capable of blocking or altering shots on a regular basis. If and when the Celtics get a rim protector, this player would allow Brad Stevens to ramp up the ball pressure even more, knowing that there is an intimidating presence waiting if a guard gets beat. Bradley, Rondo and Smart could be super aggressive trying to create turnovers, feeding into the Celtics transition game. This type of Celtic defense is scary to think about, and would certainly be a force. This is the type of defense I envision for the Celtics, and the team is really only one free agency signing or trade away from having the right personnel.
The reason I would like to see the Celtics stick with their man to man defense now is because when they do obtain a quality rim protector, everyone else needs to know what they are doing. Right now it is clear that the Celtics struggle with knowing their defensive responsibilities, being in a solid help position, and rotating effectively. These are all struggles they are going to have to work through, and why not work through them now? Brad Stevens is a smart coach and the Celtics have high IQ guys who are more than capable of learning man to man principles. As great as it would be to make a run at the 8th seed in a weak Eastern Conference, the Celtics are still in rebuilding mode where player development must take priority over ‘stop-gap’ type fixes. While it is extremely frustrating to watch, let’s give these guys some time to learn and develop.
Finally, would a zone really solve our problems? It may allow the Celtics to pack the paint a little bit more and force some 3 point shots, but the team still lacks rim protection and length and would continue to struggle down low. The Celtics are missing certain personnel to play man to man effectively, but the same can be said about the zone. Teams that play zone effectively in the NBA are long and athletic, two words I would not use to describe Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk, and Tyler Zeller. Think about the size and athleticism of this year’s Thunder squad with Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, and Perry Jones. Or the 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks with Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and Corey Brewer. The Celtics do not have this type of personnel that would allow the team to play an effective zone either.
While the struggles are frustrating to watch, the Celtics need to keep working through their problems on the defensive end by playing man to man.
For (John)
I was raised as a basketball player with a “real men play man-to-man” mentality. Whenever someone suggested we try a little zone, I’d scoff and take it as a personal insult. So it is with no pride or dignity that I suggest the Celtics play any zone at all.
I’m not advocating for the complete abandonment of the man-to-man scheme. They do,ultimately, need to execute defensively in man-to-man situations. However, there are obvious deficiencies that the Celtics need to fix if they’re going to stop giving up a million points per game.
Right now, the Celtics don’t seem to care to stop the ball from getting into the paint. Neither Rajon Rondo nor Avery Bradley have been much more than spectators as opposing guards fly by them into the lane and force a chain reaction of bad rotations that lead to teams getting almost anything they want. The only Celtics hope is for teams to miss so they can take advantage of their good rebounding and start off on the break.
So the zone would have a couple of effects:
1: It packs the paint and prevents some of the dribble penetration that is the primary problem. Teams would have to beat the Celtics with lower-percentage shots.
2: It combats the “conserve energy on defense so we can run the offense” syndrome. With the team running so much and guys working on the offensive end, they will tend to relax more on D so they can have some legs under them to score points. In a zone, defending the area at least let’s guys worry less about chasing guys around the court.
None of this is ideal, but I think you have to coach to your personnel rather than force your personnel to fit a scheme. The Celtics are clearly not able to consistently execute proper man-to-man defense. They may get better at it later, or they might trade for a guy who can snap things into place. But right now, at this moment, they are just unable or unwilling to do it.
So I think it’s time to mix in some zone, especially at key moments in the game like those late 4th quarter situations that desperately call for stops. Even if they only play zone 15-20% of the time, it might be enough to turn some of these losses into wins. I think finishing off games and getting some more positive results are important, and this might be the way to do that.
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