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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 02: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics blocks a shot by Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Charlotte Hornets at TD Backyard on February 02, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts, A statistical overview of the Boston Celtics’ good protection. NOTE TO USER: Person expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Person is consenting to the phrases and circumstances of the Getty Photos License Settlement. (Photograph by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photos)
The Boston Celtics have received 9 video games in a row, with yet one more sport earlier than the All-Star break towards the Detroit Pistons. Should you had advised most followers a month in the past that Boston could be on this place, they might have laughed in your face.
After a January 28 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics sat at 25-25 on the season. They’d been a .500 staff for the previous yr and a half and issues had been wanting grim.
After which one thing modified.
A statistical overview of the Boston Celtics’ elite protection
Boston has not dropped a sport since then, and there’s actually just one clear motive behind it – they’re enjoying a few of the finest protection within the league.
Not simply a few of the finest, although, the perfect. Since that January 28 loss, the Celtics have the perfect protection within the NBA, and it’s not even shut.
They maintain a defensive score of 95.5 in that span. The following-best staff is the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who’ve a defensive score of 106.0 over that interval – greater than 10 factors worse than the Celtics.
As well as, the C’s are permitting solely 94.1 factors an evening in that span, whereas the second-best mark (Dallas Mavericks) is ready at 101.8. Boston doesn’t simply have a stable protection, it’s completely stifling.
Opponents are taking pictures 37.9 % from the sphere and 29.2 % from three-point vary since January 28. No different staff has even been holding opponents to below 44 % taking pictures.
Stretching again even earlier than their win streak started, over the staff’s final 12 video games, Boston has held opponents to below 100 factors 9 instances. They held opponents to below 90 in 4 of these video games, with their most spectacular win being a 135-87 victory over the Joel Embiid-led Philadelphia 76ers.
The truth is, the Celtics’ protection has been so phenomenal for the previous few weeks, that they’re now the second-best protection in all the league on the season (104.4), and are solely 0.4 factors again of the Golden State Warriors for first.
Boston additionally has the fourth-best web score. Not over the previous couple of weeks, not within the final 15 video games, however on all the season. They’re solely trailing the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Warriors.
In line with Basketball-Reference, all 5 of Boston’s common starters are within the top-16 in all the NBA for Defensive Win Shares this season, with Jayson Tatum rating first general (3.5).
With how poorly their offense has performed, the Celtics have been pressured to depend on their protection, and to date it’s been working wonders for them within the win column.
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