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Jaylen Brown Doesn't Want Celtics' Defensive Identity to 'Go Out the Door' With Marcus Smart
Taking on a defensive identity under former head coach Ime Udoka was at the root of the Celtics engineering the most impressive in-season turnaround in the NBA's history, going from 11th in the East in mid-January of 2022 and on the outside looking in at the play-in tournament, to finishing second in the conference standings.
In the playoffs, their suffocating defense helped them overcome only producing the second-fewest points per game in the final five minutes of matchups within five and nearly propelled them to the NBA mountaintop.
But after coming within two wins of Banner 18, a coaching change came with a philosophical shift. Joe Mazzulla preaches complimentary basketball. He also tilts more toward the offensive end of the court.
Under that structure, heavily relying on success from beyond the arc, Boston reverted to a team too easily impacted by shots not falling.
Still, the Celtics' talent and personnel, plus their first-year bench boss incorporating more switching, resulted in them yielding the second-fewest points per 100 possessions and allowing the fifth-fewest points per game in the regular season, per NBA.com.
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But throughout the 2022-23 campaign, players throughout the rotation would voice the need to return to an identity where defense sets the table for their success.
And while opponents scored less per contest against Boston in the playoffs, going from averaging 111.4 in the regular season to 108.6, players continued expressing that sentiment as the Celtics remained inconsistent defensively.
That included Malcolm Brogdon stating the following after going down 3-0 to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
"I think in the Atlanta series, I think in the Philly series, I think (that) we got away with things that now are biting us, so that's definitely troubling."
When asked to elaborate, the Sixth Man of the Year conveyed, "I think it's mainly on the defensive end. We haven't been consistently great defensively all year long. And that was the team's identity last year. And I think that's slipped away from us. We've had spurts where we've been great defensively but not consistently.
"Honestly, we've struggled in every series we've played. So now we're playing a team that's playing as if they're the best team in the league, and they're just incredibly disciplined, incredibly consistent. And I think we've struggled with teams that are consistent on a possession-by-possession basis every night."
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In a wide-ranging exclusive interview after the season ended, Marcus Smart told Inside The Celtics, "Defense wins championships. Shots come and go, but if you play tenacious defense and pride yourself on that side of the ball, good things will usually happen. Good defense usually leads to good offense and easier shots in transition as well."
Wednesday, after signing the most lucrative contract in NBA history, what projects to be a five-year, $304 million veteran supermax extension that could increase in value depending on where next season's league salary cap settles, Jaylen Brown spoke publicly about Smart's departure for the first time.
At that press conference, held at MIT, home to the Bridge Program, developed by the All-NBA wing's 7uice Foundation, which works with the Community Biotechnology Initiative at the MIT Media Lab to provide science and technology opportunities for children in Boston's underserved communities, Brown also discussed an aspect of the Celtics acquiring Kristaps Porzingis in the deal that sent Smart to the Grizzlies that excites him.
"I think what Kristaps can bring to us defensively, in addition (to what) some of our other guys can bring to us defensively, I want to make sure that's where we hang our hats this year. And that starts with me; that starts with Jayson (Tatum); that starts with Rob (Williams); with Marcus gone, we don't want our defensive identity to go out the door as well, so we've got to really emphasize that at the start of training camp."
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When asked about Brown's comment after the press conference, Mazzulla responded with the following.
"You have to commit to it daily. You have to talk about it. We've had multiple systems. This team and this organization have always been built on defense. A few years ago, we played double-big, there was a bunch of maintaining, and it was a physical way to play when (former head coach) Ime (Udoka) came. And last year, we were able to do some switching.
"And so, I think we have an opportunity to kind of blend both of them to where we do maintain our system and do some of the things that we did really well for the majority of the season. And then, just kind of reinvent and find small ways that adhere to our roster. We'll be playing more double-big, probably. And so with that, we can do some different stuff."
Mazzulla's ability to tailor offensive and defensive structures to his team's personnel and the belief it'll play more zone defense in 2023-24 is an exciting prospect that could also go a long way toward Boston maximizing who it has on its roster on defense.
The additions of Sam Cassell and Charles Lee to the coaching staff and a season that reaffirmed what should be at the forefront of their identity should also help the Celtics be more consistent defensively as they pursue Banner 18.
Further Reading
Jaylen Brown Wants Record-Setting Contract with Celtics to Spark Revolutionary Goals
Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement
Payton Pritchard Officially Named to USA Select Team
Intriguing Option for Celtics May Soon Become Available
Sam Cassell Discusses What Brought Him Back to Boston and What He'll Bring to the Celtics
Oshae Brissett on Joining Celtics: 'I Just Want to Go Win'
Marcus Smart Reflects on His Time with Celtics: 'I Left Everything I Had'
