There was a time — not too long ago — when you wouldn’t have dreamed the Boston Celtics would give up 150 regulation points to a rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder team. Yet, here we are.
For all the positive signs we saw to begin the season, the Celtics have never looked close to replicating the defensive stinginess of last season. We told ourselves things would improve once Robert Williams returned to the rotation, and that’s probably still true. However, there are clearly some flaws in Boston’s current defensive execution that need addressing. Until they are rectified, Williams’ presence will be nothing more than a Band Aid to a larger problem.