BOSTON – We are witnessing a Boston Celtics team that’s scoring at a level we haven’t seen since Larry Bird’s bon voyage season of 1992.
But for all those triple-digit performances that the Celtics have compiled this season, it won’t do them much good tonight when they host the Detroit Pistons.
Because as important as Boston’s scoring punch is to winning, they need to bring it defensively if they are to defeat the Pistons.
Boston (28-22) comes into tonight’s game off a 97-89 win at New York, with wins in six of its last seven games and nine of 12.
“It’s a good feeling,” Stevens told reporters after Tuesday’s win over the Knicks. “But a lot of games left.”
And for them to be successful, Boston will have to continue to make sure their highly regarded defense stays on top of its game.
Boston currently has the No. 2 defense in the NBA with a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 98.9.
Boston Celtics
And with such a jumbled state of affairs in the Eastern Conference, every game could be the one that determines the Celtics’ postseason fate.
The Pistons have a similar mindset as they come into tonight’s game having won three of their last five games while currently occupying the seventh seed in the East.
The 100-point plateau has been a benchmark for success this season for Detroit.
They come into tonight’s game with a 20-7 record this season when they score 100 or more points.
Meanwhile, Boston is just 5-19 this season when they allow an opponent to score at least 100 points.
So while the scoring display Boston has put on lately makes for great highlights, their success tonight – and the majority of this season for that matter – comes down to what they defensively.