This is about defense, leadership and titles.

This defensive rebirth, I believe, is about Avery Bradley. He has inspired his team mates to play hard and Courtney Lee, the other half of his back court, has been one of the first to answer his challenge.

Team defense is not about getting "hot" or lucky...it is about hard nosed play from motivated, talented players.

The greatest teams in NBA history were about defense and a host of them wore green.

This Rondo debate has obscured some of the most extraordinary defensive play we've seen since 2008.

Lee and Bradley have lead their team to victory four games straight by taking the court and dominating their opponent.

You can't be a Celtic player today and not want to fight alongside these two players and for these two players.

In the last four games the veteran two guard out of Western Kentucky and our own 22 year old first rounder from Tacoma, Washington have climbed into their man's skin and driven the Boston Celtics into the top of the three key defensive categories:

Opponent 3 PT% last 4 games > 26.1% (number one in the NBA)

Opponent TO PG last 4 games > 18/game (Number one in the NBA)

Opponent FG % last 4 games > 41.8% (number one in the NBA)

Rondo has nothing to do with this. For four games, Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley have been the top defensive back court in the league.

One forced bad shot and one forced off target pass after another leads to one win after another...these are the statistics of NBA titles.

A team doesn't shoot their way to a title. They play like Bradley and Lee.

Leadership is not about locker room speeches or being anointed the team leader by some media hack. It is about keeping your mouth shut and playing your a$$ off.

Lee and Bradley are inspiring the Boston Celtics to play like champions and one look at the roster assures us that they have every chance to be just that.