NBA would be more interesting if coaches experimented more on defense. College coaches do it all the time, or at least they did in normal times. Stevens could put a great defensive unit out there that might offset rebounding issues if hidden in a zone.
What’s Boston’s best defensive group?
Nick Nurse has done great work with zones.
Best Celtic defense? Tatum, Smart, Theis, Brown (who I criticize often but will get there eventually) and Grant (Romeo in his place when healthy). Greene could be interesting in the 2-3. TimeLord will be special if he stays healthy and gets the minutes, seems like he is just about to pop.
Thybulle going nutz at the top doesn't surprise me. I've been a Cuse fan for 4 decades, and Thybulle's college coach, Mike Hopkins, was a Cuse zone believer. Simmons/MT will lead the league in steals if they go with it more.
Spoelstra, really tweaked his 2-3 last year by playing Butler and Derrick Jones Jr at the top with Herro/Duncan on the backline.
The key to the 2-3 working
1. going with long-armed guys at the top
2. limit paint touches by not permitting dribble penetration
3. shot-blocker in the middle
4. wings come up and deny the 3pt line
If the opponent passes around the perimeter you got them
Watch-out for: opponents getting paint touches, drawing the zone in, and then kick-outs for step-in 3pointers