As ever under an Ime Udoka-coached team, defense and rebounding have been the focus. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, guarded mostly by Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks, went 0-for-8 on field goal attempts, missing all five 3-point tries, in the fourth quarter and overtime. This is the scary thing about the Celtics.

Kristaps Porziņģis will help, and change, the Celtics’ defense but their slow start and rim protection troubles prior stemmed from a different approach.