A lot of changes have come for the Boston Celtics this year. GM Brad Stevens made a plethora of moves this offseason to retool and make some bets on future production. No move excited me more than the addition
of Josh Minott. A seldom-used second-round pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he popped in limited minutes last season. Now he’s looking like a star in his role in the preseason. The big dunks are a lot of fun, but it’s the defense that really catches the eye.
To contextualize his skills, we have to go back to his time in Minnesota. Across 463 total minutes with the Wolves, Minott averaged a staggering 1.9 steals and 1.8 blocks per 75 possessions, along with 5.4 defensive rebounds per 75. He had his most consistent run last season and showcased high-level defensive playmaking. Per Cleaning the Glass, Minott’s steal and block rates were 96th and 83rd percentile, respectively, amongst all NBA forwards. And these were not quiet plays.
Things haven’t changed in preseason with the Celtics. Across 75 total minutes in three preseason games, Minott has hauled in 13 defensive rebounds, pilfered five steals, and blocked two shots. It has caught the attention of the fans, the players, and most importantly, Joe Mazzulla and the coaching staff.
There are some consistency issues to clean up. Minott can be a dog chasing cars on occasion, flying around wherever the ball goes instead of staying home and picking his chances to make plays. Like most young defenders, he’s prone to losing cutters and shooters while watching the ball. But the weak-side rim protection will undeniably be valuable.
Look at Boston’s projected center rotation. Neemias Queta is a drop coverage big man who may be asked to move up and play at the level. Luka Garza has never been known for playing competent defense. Chris Boucher can’t move the way he used to. Xavier Tillman Sr. remains a defensive stalwart in his minutes, but his lack of utility on offense creates lineup limitations. An explosive weak-side protector like Minott would go a long way towards covering their frontcourt flaws.
There are obstacles to Minott getting minutes, primarily due to his offense. A 34% career three-point shooter, he needs a mix of volume and efficiency there to be helpful as a floor spacer. Getting better at stampeding closeouts would be significant, and he has to crash the offensive glass consistently. The high-end defensive plays won’t be able to paper over being an offensive black hole. But, there have been signs in the preseason that he can contribute in that area.
If Minott can space in the corners and fill gaps with cuts while sprinting out in transition, there’s no reason why he can’t get 15-20 minutes per night. Pairing him with their less defensively inclined bigs and guards would go a long way towards keeping the D consistent with bench lineups. There are technical things to iron out, in addition to the lapses listed above. Closeout technique, screen navigation angles, and aggressive fouling will have to be cleaned up.
Minott has the exceptional things down. His nose for the ball, absurd leaping ability, and innate timing are all things that few players possess. If he can solidify the foundation, the potential for defensive growth is unlimited. A locked-in and empowered Josh Minott could be one of the best per-minute defenders in the league this season. Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics have handed them the keys, but only he can drive.
