The Boston Celtics have been a conundrum so far this season. Picked by many to be the second best team in the East following the signing of Al Horford, the C’s have simply not lived up to the expectations through two weeks.
So what is wrong with the Celtics? Well according to Isaiah Thomas, they’re just not that good.
Following via Chris Forsberg of ESPN:
“We’re not as good as we thought we were,” said Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, a black hoodie drawn tight over his head as he tried to explain the latest defensive dud. “When we don’t come out with a sense of urgency, we’re not a good team, and that’s what happened tonight.”
But what about those aspirations of being a top defense?
“At this point, we’re all talk,” Thomas said. “That’s all we’re doing. So until we put it together in a full 48-minute game and show what we can do at that end, we’re not gonna be a top defensive team.”
Thomas isn’t totally wrong. The Celtics have the second worst defense in the league right now, and just gave up 123 points to the Nuggets in a loss. Their 3-3 record is emblematic of their team: great offense, less-than-stellar defense.
But at the same time, they have had injuries to Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Jae Crowder. That’s three of their top four defenders and players. Six games into the season is far too early to worry about that defense which promises to be a good one. Isaiah Thomas can rest a little more easy, not that he was losing sleep over playing defense.
