Celtics have become the team no one wants to play

 The Boston Celtics, over the last six games, are not the same crew we saw earlier in the season. They are undefeated in that span - hold the top spot in the League in Defensive Rating - and they just got better minutes before the Trade Deadline.

That 6-game Defensive Rating is an astounding 95.4, and no team is even close. The Miami Heat sit in second place at 105.4. Adding defensive whiz, Derrick White, and bringing back their mobile, hustling German import, Daniel Theis, checks most boxes for maintaining - or even improving - that smothering defense.

Sending Enes Freedom packing clearly indicates that both Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka want medium sized, mobile defenders out there, and no slow-footed big men need apply. The two guys in charge also don't seem to have an affinity for little guys and the threat of mismatches. Payton Pritchard will need to show effectiveness against larger opponents.

So opposing teams that dreaded facing Boston's defensive stalwarts won't be getting any breaks anytime soon. On the offensive end, there remain question marks that hopefully will be erased by the team's lock-down "D".  their identity, and they are not backing down from it.