What’s up Celtics fans! As we approach opening night, I found myself in an NBA rabbit hole of videos, stats, and accolades. Eventually I ended up watching [LeBron James vs Paul Pierce Game 7 2008](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZhCU6dncrA). Lebron and Pierce were the focus of that game, of course, but what stood out to me was the low scoring nature of that game…and that got me thinking.
The pace of the game was slower in 2008 than it is in 2022, which partially accounts for the low scoring, but the defensive culture and tenacity of the Celtics from 2008-2012 has continued to be a part of the Celtics identity in the modern era. [Bill Russell created that identity](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/bill-russell-celtics-defense-legend-nba-era/noqaooruqgcanllef3jf9mw7) in the 50s/60s, and other players have embodied that intensity throughout our history ([Cowens](https://from-way-downtown.com/2022/02/08/%EF%BF%BCdave-cowens-behind-basketballs-revolution-1974/), [DJ](https://from-way-downtown.com/2021/08/16/dennis-johnson-basketballs-top-defensive-guard-1980/), amongst others), but KG was the player that reinvigorated that identity after the 90s and the mediocrity of the early 2000s (not to say we didn’t have any good individual defenders in those periods). KG was traded in 2013, but his intense defensive mentality and focus has been carried by core members of the team since then; Rondo, Bradley, Smart, and our most recent finals team when we were clicking defensively. Hopefully that identity can help us another win another championship or more soon.
With that said, how does KGs mentality factor into his Boston legacy?