Boston Celtics have gone 90s Detroit Bad Boys on Kevin Durant

Dennis Rodman is not walking through that door, but the Boston Celtics as a team has brought 90s defense back to the NBA and has the best player in the world shook or at least looking subhuman.

While Kyrie Irving got his points, a 39-point performance in Game 1, Kevin Durant has struggled in both games which has been the key to the Celtics taking a demanding 2-0 lead back to the Barclay’s center.

With just as many turnovers as field goals made, the Celtics’ defense has turned back the clock and swarmed Durant like the Detroit Pistons found a way to get under the skin of the great Michael Jordan.  More impressively for the Celtics, they are doing it without Robert Williams who is expected back as soon as Game 3.

Though one could say Marcus Smart, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is as close as anyone on the Celtics roster would get to the character that was Rodman, the team defense is what is reminding “PTI” co-host Michael Wilbon of the Bad Boys who changed the landscape of the NBA back in the prime of the 1990s.

"“That reminded me last night of the late 1980s-early 1990s defense that the Pistons would put on Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen,” Wilbon said on a recent broadcast.  “Jordan Rules…That’s what it looked like the Celtics were doing last night to Keven Durant.”"

Can we call this Durant rules?

As the Boston Celtics have length and five players on the court at any given time able to switch and defend and double team Durant, Boston has delivered a blueprint on at least slowing down the Nets star.  They are being physical with him.  From Jayson Tatum’s ability to play him straight up to Al Horford or Daniel Theis switching out to double team him and get their hands in his face, the Celtics have Durant looking dumbfounded while bricking shots.

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Durant must figure things out or it will be a quick series for the Nets, especially if the NBA refs continue to allow the physicality that obviously has played into the Celtics hands.  Even if they don’t, it’s still a win if Durant is at the free throw line instead of putting up 40 or 50.

Whatever happens the next few games, the Boston Celtics have Kevin Durant ready to tap out.

"“They’re doing a great job of trying to cut off my scoring and trying to limit my shot-making,” Durant admitted following Game 2, via NBC Sports Boston.  “Two or three people contest, or somebody is in the lane when I’m driving, or they might double here and there.“So, they’re doing a good job.  It’s on me to figure it out.”"

Credit Celtics head coach Ime Udoka for getting his team to buy in to the defensive philosophy.  But also, credit Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for sticking with it even when their own offense is struggling.  Those players are as locked in as Smart, Horford, Theis and Grant Williams off the bench.

Just like Jordan, Durant will figure things out and score.  The key is to keep him working for those shots.  Keep him frustrated when his offense is not flowing.  Most importantly, just keep the pressure up, say in his head and keep Mama Durant yelling on the sidelines.