The month of December was going to be a make-or-break stretch of the 2021-22 NBA season for the Boston Celtics. They wanted to reclaim their place among the Eastern Conference elite, but their roster had some holes.
People pointed to their offensive deficiencies beyond Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as what would hold them back. So, they began locking in on defense and building their identity on that end of the court.
For a stretch, it was their calling card. They were making things extremely difficult for their opponents to score the basketball. Boston started the season 2-5 but pushed their record over the .500 mark and their defense was a big reason why.
Unfortunately, they have been unable to sustain that level of performance defensively. Not having Jaylen Brown, a high-level defender, in the lineup hurts, but Boston has plenty of other players that can get after it on that end of the court. For whatever reason, they are not getting it done.
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Boston has seen its defensive numbers dip dramatically in recent weeks. Over their last seven games, the Boston Celtics are ranked 20th in defense. They are allowing 113.9 points per 100 possessions.
What makes that number even more disappointing is that it includes a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in which they won 88-87. Boston has surrendered at least 114 points in the other five games, including 137 to the Utah Jazz.
This has been a troubling trend for Boston, as they are 19th defensive in their last 10 games. It was something that was beginning to slip that the team is now losing all control of. It is clear that the team needs some changes around Jayson Tatum, but pinpointing exactly what needs to be changed is the challenge.
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Getting healthy would certainly help, but how much? The roster is limited compared to other top teams in the NBA and finding a way to change that is easier said than done.
