After a win like that, it’s only logical that the Boston Celtics offense gets a ton of credit. However, this win over the Miami Heat was built on an early defensive foundation. Boston played a stringent brand of defense from the opening tip and quickly stifled Miami’s struggling offense in the first quarter.
The Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis aren’t confined to the offensive end. Both played a key role in the defensive possession above. They contained the pick-and-roll, protected the rim, pressured ball-handlers, and affected the shot release. It wasn’t a major defensive stop, but it was indicative of what the Heat were going to face throughout the night.