Boston Celtics Are Number One in So Many Ways

No. 4 - Rebounds spread
Celtics: 42, opp: 38.9 (+3.1)

Jeez. Did this team have a weakness? While they struggled at times, they were fourth best in outrebounding their opponents. Imagine what it would be if Kendrick Perkins stayed out of foul trouble.

No. 5 - Steals (8.5)

That number actually went down as the season went on. For a while they lead the league with 10 a game. But the defense actually got better without having to steal as much.

There are others. But that ought to help you understand just how dominant they were.

Doc Rivers, Tom Thibodeau, ubuntu, and Kevin Garnett brought a team together to do the hard work of defending, and embracing the shared responsibility of team defense.

The offense, which was expected to flow and be hard to stop, actually took a back seat to the effort at the other end of the court. Offensive numbers were still excellent in most cases. But there were times the offense stuttered.

The lesson to be learned is that defense keeps you in the hunt, even when the offense struggles. It did for the Celtics 82 times and got them an NBA Championship. They played the NBA game like few ever have.

Celtic fans? Just “D”-lighted.

(All stats were culled from 82games.com and Yahoosports.com)

Tom's article first appeared on CelticsCentral in the Connecticut Post

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?