3 Stats That Prove the Celtics Will Win the NBA Championship
By Joe Summers
2. 52.1% Opponent Effective Field Goal Percentage
Defense has long been the Celtics' calling card and this year is no different.
You have the usual suspects like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, but gone is Marcus Smart and in is Jrue Holiday, who helped the Bucks win an NBA championship as one of the best defensive guards in the NBA.
Boston currently has a 52.1% opponent effective field goal percentage, the fourth-best mark in the league. Since 2005, over 90% of Finals winners have ranked in the top eight in opponent effective field goal percentage. Defense does still win championships.
Celtics defense has been on another level this season pic.twitter.com/3oGjYvvSc9
— ☘︎ (@CelticsRepublic) December 15, 2023
The versatility and depth Boston's roster possesses gives the coaching staff tons of options on how to deploy the defense.
Whether they need to go big or prioritize rangy wing defenders, the Celtics can hang with any team in the league. They have the third-best defensive rating (109.7) in the NBA and have ranked among the league's best each of the last several years.
There's no reason to believe the Celtics will fall off defensively, so they'll be bonafide contenders even if they sustain an injury.