Stan Van Gundy says the Celtics have assembled the best roster he’s ever seen
Stan Van Gundy coached in the NBA for almost three decades. He's never seen a better roster than these Celtics.
Stan Van Gundy has watched a lot of NBA basketball during his lifetime.
The 65-year-old former coach and broadcaster began his NBA career as an assistant with the Miami Heat in 1995. He made four different stops as a head coach: Miami, Orlando, Detroit, and New Orleans.
According to The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, Van Gundy said he has never seen a roster more talented than the one the Celtics have this season.
“That’s probably the best NBA roster I’ve seen,” Van Gundy said. “All five of their starters are plus defenders.”
The Celtics led the league in net rating last year and were second in defensive efficiency behind the Timberwolves. They were the only team to have two players (Jrue Holiday and Derrick White) finish in the top-10 of the defensive player of the year voting.
Holiday was recently voted as the league’s best perimeter defender in the NBA’s annual GM survey.
The Athletic called White the “best little shot blocker” in the league, noting his uncommon ability to swat shots as a player 6-foot-4 or smaller.
Jayson Tatum showcased his defensive versatility throughout the playoffs, guarding wings and post players.
A well-rounded effort from Jaylen Brown earned him the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. He said before last season that it was a personal goal of his to make the all-defensive team. He wasn’t selected, but his defense improved significantly.
The Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis for a considerable amount of time during the beginning of the season because of an injury, but his 7-foot-3 frame is another weapon for the Celtics on the defensive end. Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Xavier Tillman will be called on to fill his void. Collectively, they helped the Celtics lead the league in defensive rebounding last year.
Boston was also the most efficient team in the league on offense last season.
They shot 38.8 percent from 3-point range as a team and had three players (Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis) average 20 points or more.
The Celtics have almost their entire roster returning this season, and the defending champions are among the favorites to win it all.
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