Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens knows the difficulty of the Celtics second-round series with the Toronto Raptors will increase by an order of magnitude compared to the Philadelphia 76ers on both ends of the ball.
Asked about the importance of transition defense against the Raptors, who have been one of the best transition teams in the NBA this season, the Celtics coach countered with how that will involve Boston’s approach to offense.
“We just want to run good offense,” he explained.
“Good offense means that you make the right play when the right play presents itself. If you’re supposed to go the glass based on the positioning you’re in, go. And everybody sprints back immediately to set your defense so … the emphasis to go to the glass or not doesn’t really change. But the emphasis to get back and set your defense against Toronto is clearly a huge priority. If you look at any playoff series, it’s the easy baskets teams get [that] put them over the top.”
“Whether it’s the transition baskets, the offensive rebound baskets, loose balls — those types of things you’ve got to make everything as challenged as possible because they’re great in transition,” added Stevens.
Previewing Boston Celtics-Toronto Raptors Game 1, Round 2 https://t.co/YBpNooM89q
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 30, 2020
Defense in particular will be the issue for the Celtics with the Raptors, who own the league’s second-best defense.
They are close to the best in the NBA at forcing turnovers, which Stevens expects Boston to need to be prepared for.
“They overhelp, and get back, they don’t rely on always getting back to their own.
“They’ll always stay in plays with their effort. But when you drive the ball, there’s going to be hands in the gaps, there’s going to be long arms in the gaps swiping it every time you drive it. So, you’ve got to make sure that you’ve got to get rid of the ball on time in the series.”
“If you over-dribble, you’re in trouble,” said the Indiana native.
Kyle Lowry PROBABLE in Game 1 vs. Celtics; Hayward, Green, Waters OUT https://t.co/aEDk9OjfBm
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 29, 2020
With tip-off just minutes away, we’ll get our first-ever look at these two East teams colliding in the playoffs, and just how much of a factor that pesky defense will be.
We’ll also get our first look at how Boston does in a playoff series entirely without veteran wing Gordon Hayward, out for three weeks or longer with a sprained ankle.
And speaking of sprained ankles, we’ll also get our first look at exactly how healthy Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry’s sprained ankle actually is.
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