Thunder vs. Celtics: Boston's Defensive Woes Will Continue Against OKC

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo knows why the team sits with a disappointing 6-6 record to start the 2012-13 NBA season (h/t WEEI).

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Rajon Rondo: ‘We’re making a lot of dumb mistakes’ on defense dlvr.it/2Wf1Yn

— WEEI (@WEEI) November 22, 2012"

Dumb mistakes on defense have plagued this team all season long, but that only scratches the surface of the depth of its defensive issues.

Opponents are shooting 46.3 percent from the field against the Celtics—only the Portland Trail Blazers (50.1), Cleveland Cavaliers (48.9) and Phoenix Suns (47.2) allow a higher shooting percentage to opponents, according to Yahoo! Sports.

It was only a year ago that Boston held opponents to the lowest field-goal percentage in the league—41.9 percent—making its inability to at least make things difficult for the opposition this season incredibly baffling.

Things came to a head on Wednesday night when the San Antonio Spurs shot 58.4 percent from the field en route to beating the Celtics by 12, 112-100.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, things don't get any easier on Friday night. The defending Western Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will walk into TD Garden in Boston looking to win their fourth consecutive game.

Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder are shooting 48 percent from the field. Ironically, that's exactly the same as the Celtics.

However, unlike Boston, Oklahoma City's defense has been excellent thus far in 2012. The team have held opponents to less than 43 percent shooting from the field, due largely in part to the Thunder's youth and athleticism.

That youth will trump the experience of the Celtics on Friday night, leading the Thunder to a win in Boston that will be far easier than the score makes it appear.