Call it a case of offensive complacency. As the Boston Celtics have improved their scoring efficiency over the past month, there has been an inverse effect on the team's defense. Some of that erosion went masked by Boston's gaudy offensive output, and Celtics coach Brad Stevens has implored his team to reaffirm the defensive commitment that delivered Boston to its spot in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
The Celtics dropped their second game on a three-game road trip on Monday night in Minneapolis. Timberwolves rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns feasted on Boston's interior defense while putting up 28 points and 13 rebounds.