Enes Kanter, Jaylen Brown agree – defensive communication needs work

While there were promising moments on offense for starters and the bench alike, the Celtics need to get back to better defensive habits all around.

The Boston Celtics were very rusty on the defensive end in their first game back after the hiatus, and it showed despite some promising developments on offense with the second unit.

While the bench mob indeed looked a little more confident and capable scoring, pretty much everyone from top to bottom needed to communicate better guarding the Oklahoma City Thunder, who ran away with the friendly 98-84 in the fourth quarter.

Speaking after the game at the team’s media availability session, reserve center Enes Kanter laid it out on a platter, neither worried nor in denial about the work still needing to be done.

“I don’t make [any] excuse, man,” began the Turkish center.

“I mean, obviously we didn’t do anything for about four months, but I think if tonight was the first night that we just went out there and just — I think it was nice because we’re just going to get the rust off, and especially I think we just … saw where we are, especially the second half, so we just need to get in better game shape.”

“Also — sorry for speaking too long, I know you’re out there watching — justice for Brionna Taylor,” closed Kanter.

The reference being to the Louisville-area emergency medical technician killed by police in her own home in March, the officers in question yet to be charged with a crime.

When asked how he thought Boston stacks up against the Milwaukee Bucks — the Celtics’ first opponent in the resumed season at the end of the month — shooting guard Jaylen Brown felt the team has to worry about their own house before making any comparisons.

“First, we’ve just got to worry about ourselves. And just getting better each and every day, focusing on what’s important for us when we do our job we play … We’ve just got to focus on us, and get better. And we don’t have a lot of time to do it. An even shorter amount of time to get to the peak, for the level we want to get at.”

We’ve got to do what it takes to get there,” he added.

The novelty of playing in arenas without the benefit of crowds to get you going — whether through cheering or booing — is just one of many facets the team will need to account for.

Defensive communication is certainly at the top of the list.

“The fastest team that makes the adjustment is going to be the better team, so while we’re here, we’ve got to be vocal, we’ve got to reach out, we’ve got to adjust as fast as we can. Chris Paul did a great job of organizing his team, and we’ve got to do a better job organizing ours.”

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to work on, but we’re going to get there,” added Brown.

Boston next face the Phoenix Suns for the second of three tune-up exhibition scrimmages on Sunday, July 26th at 1:30 p.m ET.

And when you consider what we saw out on the court coupled with what we’re hearing from the players…

…it’s safe to say there will be plenty of work on defense in Saturday’s practice session for all.

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