Who and how many, in the Boston line-up, are proven game finishers and at the same time lock-down defenders whom Doc can start at the same time to effectively stop the league's top back-court finisher combos like Lebron-Wade, Kobe-Nash and Durant-Westbrook? Honestly and unfortunately, none.

They can't negate speed with speed since they don't have it. It will have to be a combination of what they already have - team defense mentality, and what they just have - length. Team defense concept - it's what they are trying to inculcate now into their new members. Length - it's a realized objective by Danny and a strategic pledge by Doc which he is still not willing to explore and exploit - for now.

Let's face the facts. The C's is a help-defense, switching defense team with only two remaining reliable set-offense options - PP then KG. The contenders:

1. Miami will continue to play fast and small ball with LBJ at 4 or 3 and Wade at 2.

2. OKC will continue to play fast and long with KD at 3 or 4 and Westbrook at 1 or 2.

3. LA will be playing long and strong with Kobe at 2, Pau at 4 and Nash at 1.

To me, with their help/switching defense mentality, they can and have to take advantage of their length since it's the only obvious option that can negate the speed and strength of the obvious 2013 championship contenders above.