You have heard the expression by now, uttered during the NBA playoffs each and every year: Defense wins championships. The Celtics, led by Tom Thibodeau's tenacious tactics, proved the famous phrase true, and ensured pundits will continue saying it for generations to come.
The 2007-08 Celtics' championship capped off an amazing run, and of course, defense was the main reason why. Boston had one of the best team D's off all-time last season, and it was the team's defining characteristic that allowed them to raise banner number 17.
The team was able to retain Thibodeau this past offseason, and along with the intensity of KG and Co, the Celtics appear to be picking up right where they left off last June. In last night's 96-83 victory at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Boston's swarming D held the lowly Thunder in check. After a slow first quarter in which OKC took a 29-21 lead, the Celtics defensive intensity really picked up. The Thunder scored only 15 points in the second quarter, and just 11 in the third. Boston's transition defense was spectacular as well. While the C's were able to score twenty points off OKC turnovers, the Thunder only scored eight points off of 14 Boston TO's. When the Green got it going offensively at the start of the second quarter, their defense never let up. Oklahoma City went 1-17 to begin the second, and Boston pulled away from there.
The Celtics proved the old saying true last year, and are looking to do it again. If Boston can keep up the pressure at the defensive end of the floor, it is a phrase we will be hearing many times again this June.
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