How have the Boston Celtics managed to go up two games to none in their second-round series against the NBA’s defending champions, the Toronto Raptors?
In a word, defense.
Specifically, transition defense — the Celtics have found a way to stymie the way the Raptors’ top-five defense generates the majority of their offense in transition, as their active hands and overhelping tends to create a host of fast-break scoring opportunities.
Through gaming the scheme by which Toronto has managed to earn a top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference in a season many analysts assumed a retooling or even rebuild was in the cards after Kawhi Leonard’s exit, Boston has put themselves in pole position to advance past their Atlantic Division rivals.
There’s still two wins required on the Celtics end to do so, but if the Raptors don’t find a way to adapt in a hurry, we may just see ‘The North’ packing up and departing that direction once again.
Watch the video embedded above to see an excellent video breakdown by the folks at the Coach Daniel YouTube channel of what it is the Celtics are doing to take away Toronto’s transition game.
