The Celtics have not allowed a team to score 100 or more points since the second game at Miami, when the Heat scored 115. Although their defense has been a strength all season, the intensity and precision has increased the past nine games.
In that stretch, behind the rejuvenated Kevin Garnett and the ball pressure of Avery Bradley, the Celtics have allowed opponents just 81.2 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting. Only the Cavaliers and Wizards have managed to shoot more than 45 percent and the Magic and Raptors combined for 120 points.
Boston is second in the NBA in points allowed (86.7, behind the 76ers), which has been a savior because the Celtics are a stunning 25th in scoring. Unlike the 2008 title team, these Celtics do not win easy or with offensive prowess. The Celtics grind out wins, wearing opponents down with interior defense led by Garnett and a new element of point-guard pressure by Bradley.
The Celtics essentially dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies, 98-80, Sunday, limiting a more athletic team by contesting every shot and throttling the beefy duo of Marc Gasol and Marreese Speights. The goal is to force the opposition into jump shots and make them burn the 24-second clock getting into offensive sets.
“Defense is key the last three weeks for us,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after Sunday’s win. “Our guys have bought into it. To see everybody talking - it was really nice in the second half because the defense was right in front of you and you could hear everything. And that’s nice from a coach standpoint when you can hear all the talking. It can’t get better than that.’’
Bradley was pressed into duty because of Rondo’s right wrist injury and Rivers used him as a full-court defender against point guards. He began by harassing Orlando’s Jameer Nelson during the Celtics’ 87-56 win Jan. 23.
That new wrinkle has made the Celtics even more stingy defensively because teams are taking 10 to 12 seconds to begin running offensive plays, which forces hurried shots. The aging Celtics needed more youth and athleticism and Bradley has provided that.
