The Boston Celtics finished the regular season as the best defensive team in the league (in terms of points allowed per game 91.1). In the Championship season of 2007/2008 defense was the winning formula for the Celtics. Despite again being the NBA's best defense this past season, there has been something missing from this team's defensive effort. Ever since the Kendrick Perkins trade and the injuries to Shaquille O'neal and Jermaine O'neal, this team has desperately lacked defensive production from the center position.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics was determined by intense defense and clutch shooting. Many are not used to see the Knicks play any sort of defense, but they were a different team on Sunday night (holding Boston to 87 points). As well as New York defended the Celtics had a defensive stopper of their own, and his name was Jermaine O'neal. The much maligned six time all star has been injured nearly all season, but shined through in his first playoff game as a Celtic. O'neal made all six of his shots, grabbed four rebounds, blocked four shots, and in only twenty minutes greatly helped the Celtics in the victory.
This is what had been missing; a defensive presence in the paint to swat shots away and allow Kevin Garnett more free roam. KG is an excellent one on one defender, pressuring the ball, stealing the ball, bothering shots with his length, and is the best defensive communicator in the NBA. He can guard any position effectively, but does operate best with a defensively sound center at his side (which is true for any big man). Garnett and Perkins were so effective because Perk would hold down the fort underneath the basket while KG patrolled the paint. Jermaine backed up KG and was superb in this game and again proving why the Celtic's truly need a solid defensive center.The Celtics should have no trouble surpassing the Knicks in the first wave of the postseason and will do so within five games (worst case scenario in six). Jermaine played very well in Game 1 and set the defensive tone for the night, but the game still came down to the wire and into the cold blooded hands of Ray Allen. This is why I named him the “Irreplaceable man” a player who you always want taking the big shots in the crucial moments. Ray continues to add to his storied history of hitting clutch shots and his game winning three pointer with 0:11 on the clock was yet another piece of greatness.
The Will of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnet is at championship strength this year. They will never quit and they will never cease to will their way to victory, but they need a supporting cast to win a title. In Game 1 Jermaine O'neal was nothing short of a star supporter for the Big Four and his contributions from the Center position were invaluable. With, or especially without Shaq, the Celtics need this type defensive intensity from Jermaine. To emerge from the Eastern Conference past the Heat and Bulls they will need strong interior defense; to expose Miami's weakness and to combat Chicago's strength
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