The Celtics have been throwing Javonte Green to the wolves lately, out of necessity more than anything else. He drew one of the toughest covers in the NBA last Saturday night in Devin Booker for most of his minutes but did not shine in that effort as Booker posted 39 points with Green making a handful of costly mistakes in regards to communication and coverages.
The Celtics have always liked the 26-year-old for his defense though and with two top defensive wings sidelined in Tatum and Brown on Friday night in Orlando, Green was given a chance at another big assignment: Slowing down Magic sixth man Terrence Ross.
The 6-foot-6 wing had torched the Celtics off the bench last year as Orlando went 3-0 against the C’s. Ross posted 19 points per game in just 25 minutes off the bench in those contests, catching fire at all the wrong times for Boston as they lacked a defender who could stay close enough with him through screens to bother his shot.
Green is arguably the quickest wing on the C’s roster so he was really the only guy on the roster outside of Gordon Hayward with the size and speed to hang with him, especially with Smart taking point duties at times. Hayward’s offense and rebounding would be desperately needed in this one and Brad Stevens knew this, opening the door to Green for the big assignment.
“We talked to Javonte this morning about with Tatum probably out and Jaylen might be out, you need to be ready to guard him as hard as you can. He spent all day watching extra and preparing extra, and that’s what you have to do,” Stevens told reporters in Orlando.
The end result was as big of a factor in Boston’s comeback win over the Magic as anything the C’s did defensively. Ross was a measly 3-of-14 off the bench, including 2-of-11 from 3-point range, which helped the C’s limit the Magic to 41 points in the second half.
A look at the film indicates just how good Green’s effort was. He fought through every screen and got into Ross’ airspace on nearly every catch-and-shoot while being careful not to overextend himself and foul.
The effort did not go unnoticed around the C’s locker room.
“Javonte came in and his defense was incredible on Terrence (Ross),” Kemba Walker said. “Terrence is one of the best scorers we have in our league off the bench and the way he contested those shots, he just did a great job on him.”
Green’s effort was not just consistent on the perimeter. Ross made just one field goal attempt from inside the arc, failing to create separation against the 6-foot-5 wing when he tried to take him off the dribble.
The end result was Ross going 1-of-9 from the field with Green on him according to matchup data, along with 0-of-7 from 3-point range.
“He’s the one we singled out in the locker room, because that’s what good teams do. They have guys that take those little things about the game and try to help you win,” Stevens said.
“When you talk to a guy before the game and it translates to the game, there’s nothing better," Walker said. "There’s no better feeling, probably for a coach as well.”
Green added a bit of a bonus beyond his own defensive effort as well, using four steals to help set the stage for 7 points and 6 rebounds, including this show-stopping throwdown.
Petition to put Javonte Green in the dunk contest@2Xtremebounce pic.twitter.com/c3WbLscH8M
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) January 25, 2020
