When the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown this offseason, the move left many questioning the rationale behind such a significant and unexpected decision.
The possibility of the Boston staple moving became increasingly apparent in my eyes after the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes ended with the former Bucks star landing in Miami. Still, I could never have imagined that the team Brad Stevens ultimately chose to pull the trigger with would be the Celtics’ longtime rival, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston
ultimately received two future first-round picks and 36-year-old Paul George in the deal. The immediate concerns among the fanbase centered largely on what many perceived as a lack of adequate compensation for a Finals MVP coming off the best statistical season of his career. Other following questions may have included George’s hefty contract and what would he have left in the tank for his next campaign after an impressive playoff run.
Those concerns were understandable, particularly given George’s age and injury history. However, his performance last season offered reason to believe that he can still provide real value, especially defensively.
While he may no longer be the All-Defensive caliber defender he was earlier in his career, George showed that he still possesses the length, instincts and versatility to make an impact against some of the league’s best offensive players. His playoff series against Boston provided perhaps the clearest evidence of that, making it worth taking a closer look at how George showed he can still be a reliable defender heading into next season and why Boston wanted to add him.
Defensive Playmaking
Whether you believe this current roster is closer to contention than last year’s group or not, one thing is difficult to dispute: there is a clear philosophical alignment behind the moves Boston made. Mazzulla Ball is predicated on creating two-on-ones, and at times, three-on-twos, and capitalizing on those advantages. But another critical component of Boston’s identity is its emphasis on winning the possession battle. That means controlling the shot margin in several key areas, most notably by creating and suppressing turnovers and consistently controlling the glass on both ends of the floor.
The green team’s biggest signing this offseason was Mitchell Robinson, who specializes in getting extra possessions and closing them as a rebounder while also being an underrated defender.
Last season Paul George specialized in taking the ball away from the other team.
He ranked in the 98th percentile in both steals (2.7) and deflections (6.5) per 100 possessions illustrating just how disruptive he remained as a perimeter defender.
George’s anticipation, instincts, and ability to read the floor allowed him to create turnovers in a variety of ways, many of which were the product of subtle defensive reads rather than simply gambling for steals. A closer look at the film illustrates just how effective George remained at creating those opportunities.
When watching George’s steals, every attribute mentioned above comes into play. But when you pair his anticipation and instincts with an exceptionally quick trigger to the ball and a 6-foot-11 wingspan, you get a defender who can seemingly appear out of nowhere to make a play on the ball. At times, George looks less like a basketball player and more like a defensive back playing center field, reading the quarterback, anticipating the throw, and using his length to close on the ball before the intended receiver ever has a chance.
He also possesses exceptional reflexes, which, when combined with his wingspan, allow him to seemingly throw a hand into passing lanes at the last possible moment and still come away with a steal or deflection.
His timing as a help defender stood out to me as well. Whether he is serving as the tagger in a pick-and-roll, rotating over as the next defender, or simply sitting in the gap to cut off a driving lane, George consistently demonstrates an understanding of when to commit and when to stay home. His wisdom and other tools allow him to recognize an opening and help and emerge in an instant to help a teammate.
During one of Jaylen Brown’s Twitch streams, he was joined by Celtics wing Jordan Walsh, and while the two were watching highlights, Brown gave the audience a glimpse into one of Boston’s defensive principles.
George should fit neatly into this element Boston emphasized last season. You can see how he attacks the ball as soon as the handler isn’t facing him.
And of course, a prerequisite for most guys wearing green: you have to be willing to be the first to the floor.
While Boston will certainly need George’s off-ball prowess, that is only part of what he brings defensively. On the ball, his overall coverage aggression can smother ball handlers, while his still-impressively quick feet allow him to stay attached and in position to utilize his active hands and exceptional wingspan.
On ball defense
George’s ability to generate steals holds immense value, but it doesn’t provide the full context of him still being a great defender. His ability to stay attached, absorb drives, and contest without conceding easy advantages allows him to consistently make an impact at the point of attack.
When looking at George strictly as an on-ball defender, two areas in particular stand out: his ability to navigate screens and his knack for blowing up actions through ball denial. His combination of footwork, strength, and length allows him to fight through screens while staying attached to his assignment, while his instincts and physical tools make him particularly effective at denying the ball and pushing offensive players well beyond their intended catch points.
First, let’s just enjoy some good defense.
One conclusion I came to while rewatching George’s playoff defense last season is that, when all the components of his on-ball defense are working in concert, he can really influence a player’s shot quality. This helped him post really good shot defense numbers when matched up against some of the best scorers in the Eastern Conference.
As far as screen navigation goes, the common denominator across most of these clips is George’s ability to stay attached. More often than not, he gets into the offensive player’s chest before the screen arrives, putting himself in an ideal position to get skinny and work his way through the screen without losing contact with his assignment. You’ll also regularly see him keep a hand or forearm on his man as he navigates, giving him a constant feel for where the offensive player is and helping him maintain that connection as he continues to work. This also helps him get back in front of his matchup if he ends up getting behind.
When blowing up actions and pushing catch points out through ball denial, George applies that same aggression and stay-attached mentality to make receiving the ball as difficult as possible for the offensive player. This is really good when disrupting handoff actions like Zoom or Miami, but he also can top-lock players looking to use pin down screens and keep them away from other off ball screens.
George’s defensive strengths fit naturally into the way Boston wants to play. His ability to generate turnovers can create the extra possessions the Celtics covet, while his screen navigation, ball pressure, and denial can make opposing offenses work harder simply to get into their actions. At his best, George doesn’t just defend individual players; he can alter the quality and timing of the shots an entire possession produces.
That doesn’t mean the concerns surrounding his age, health, or contract should be dismissed. But if George can stay healthy and consistently tap into the defensive tools, he displayed last season, Boston may have acquired more than an aging star with something left in the tank. They may have added a veteran wing capable of making a meaningful impact on one of the fundamental principles of their defensive identity: making every possession harder to win.
