Arguably the most impressive defensive sequence of this impressive Boston Celtics season came at a time that couldn’t have been any more inconsequential. The Celtics led the Utah Jazz by 27 points in a game they would go on to win by 28, but you could’ve fooled Payton Pritchard. He picked up Jordan Clarkson full-court and remained embedded in his shirt for the next 15 seconds, working through one Hassan Whiteside screen and forcing one terrible pass that resulted in a turnover. He was then met at midcourt by Marcus Smart, Boston’s Keeper of Vibes, to cap off the vibiest play of the season.
The Celtics’ on-ball defense is the NBA’s most menacing pest
