Paul George and Mitchell Robinson are officially in Boston, and if you thought the Celtics’ defense was already scary, get ready for a whole new level of chaos. This squad is gearing up to unleash a defensive monster that could rival the 2022 Celtics team, the one that rode its defense all the way to the NBA Finals. Yeah, that team had Tatum and Brown doing work offensively, but they were also turnover machines. This year, the offensive options might feel a little less clear without a definitive number two (unless Payton Pritchard goes absolutely wild), but the defensive potential? That’s where the real excitement is brewing.
Turnover Terrors Join The Fold
Look, last season the Celtics defense was already solid, no doubt. They ranked 5th in the NBA in defensive rating, according to Cleaning the Glass. Fifth! That’s elite. But here’s the kicker, the spot that had us scratching our heads: they were 23rd in creating turnovers. Twenty-third! That’s a huge hole in an otherwise stifling defense. Enter Paul George and Mitchell Robinson. These aren’t just depth guys, folks; these are game-changers specifically brought in to fix that turnover problem. CelticsBlogger Nate Moskowitz nailed it back in July when he said George and Robinson create turnovers. George was in the 89th percentile in steals percentage for forwards last season. Robinson, a big man, was in the 95th percentile! That’s not just good, that’s absurd. These guys aren’t just accentuating a top-5 defense, they’re plugging its biggest leak.
Unleashing Derrick White And Defensive Depth
What’s even wilder is how these additions open things up for the rest of the roster. Derrick White, who spent a lot of last season constantly guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter players, is about to be unleashed. Now, with George, Jayson Tatum, and a host of others able to take on those tough assignments, White can roam. Robinson, being one of the best switching bigs in the NBA, makes that possible. Imagine White off the ball, blowing up plays, getting those momentum-swinging blocks! It’s going to be electric. And the depth? Neemias Queta took a massive leap defensively last season, protecting the rim and cleaning the glass, and he’s set to get even better. Plus, Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh have already shown they can be plus defensive options coming off the bench. Joe Mazzulla has got a ton of options to throw at opposing offenses, and that’s a seriously dangerous position to be in.
This season has all the makings of a defensive clinic. We’ve seen it before: elite defenses win in the playoffs. The 2022 Celtics proved it, and the 2025 Thunder rode their D all the way to a championship. There’s real optimism heading into this season, and it’s all built on the absolute defensive juggernaut this team is shaping up to be. Get ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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