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#2 They are still one of the top three defensive teams in the league
The Boston Celtics have always used their stellar defense to feed their offense. For the past few years, they have been one of the top defensive teams in the league and this year has been no different. With a 105.7 defensive rating, they are the third best defensive team in the league, only behind the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The cornerstone of their defensive success has been Al Horford, who is one of the best shot-blockers in the league. He leads the Celtics with 1.4 blocks per game, and has also been dominating the opposition defenders in the paint using his body.
While Al Horford takes care of the rebounds and the blocks, Marcus Smart and Kyrie Irving have also been great with their defensive presence, averaging 1.7 and 1.5 steals per game respectively. With the amount of importance Brad Stevens gives to the defense, this team cannot be taken lightly in the playoffs, and can challenge other contender teams like the Raptors and the Bucks.
