It’s the threes and protection, silly

Earlier than Saturday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Raptors, I dug into the earlier 13 field scores to see how the Celtics have been beating groups. and their 10-3 document had all of Boston’s hallmarks that raised Banner 18: threes and protection.

Right here’s a tough statistical profile from this season.

Defensive score below 110.0: 6-0

During the last couple of video games, the Celtics have ramped up their protection. After giving up 118 factors to the Warriors over per week in the past, they’ve given up 30 or much less factors in 12 out of the final 16 quarters of basketball. They’re proper on tempo at 110 factors per 100 possessions to match final yr’s defensive effort. The massive distinction is that this season, different groups, notably youthful groups, have actually stepped it up on that aspect of the ball, too; the Thunder, Magic, Rockets, Warriors, and Grizzlies all rank forward of Boston.

There’s clearly optimism that Boston will likely be higher when Kristaps Porzingis returns. Neemias Queta and Luke Kornet have each discovered methods to contribute, however there’s nothing like having KP as your rim protector. Final season, the Celtics gave up 15.5 made discipline objectives within the restricted space per recreation. That’s as much as 17.9 this yr with out their 7’2 shot blocker within the paint.

Final season, there have been 30-2 after registering a 110.0 defensive score or much less.

Holding opponents to 12 or fewer offensive rebounds: 10-0

Of their championship season, the Celtics had been among the best defensive rebounding groups within the common season. They grabbed 72.6% of their opponents’ misses, good for seventh within the NBA. It looks as if an apparent stat to level — getting the ball after a miss is the interval on the finish of an excellent defensive sentence.

Once more, with out KP, they’ve taken a slight hit on the defensive glass. However of their three losses, it’s been their evident Achilles heel. The Pacers, Warriors, and Hawks pulled down 16, 15, and 19 offensive rebounds respectively.

Final season, the Celtics completed 46-10 when giving up fewer than twelve offensive rebounds.

20 or extra made 3s: 3-0

The Celtics have gone completely nuclear 3 times this yr: on Opening Evening in opposition to the Knicks and on the highway in Detroit and Brooklyn. That’s Mazzulla ball.

They’ve pushed the envelope even additional this season capturing simply over 51 (!) threes an evening vs. the 42.5 that appeared preposterous final yr. They’re not making them on the identical clip (38.8% vs. 37%), however don’t ever query Mazzulla about it. That is how the workforce was constructed and that is how they’ll play.

In 2023-2024, they accomplished that feat fifteen occasions and received each time. In truth, they received all 27 video games once they hit not less than eighteen triples.

In final night time’s 126-123 time beyond regulation win over Toronto, the Raptors grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and recorded a 126.8 offensive score. You may verify off these first two benchmarks.

Nevertheless, the Celtics twenty first three that put them over the edge? Tatum’s recreation winner:

By the primary fourteen video games, the Celtics have performed effectively, however there’s a sense that they’re not completely clicking on all cylinders simply but.

“It’s a brand new season. It’s a brand new factor. You’re all the time on a unique path. We’re competing. We’re simply not executing on the stage that we have to. There’s a distinction there,” Mazzulla stated after the workforce improved their document in clutch video games to 4-3.

“I just like the mentality that we’ve had all through the season. We had an ideal follow yesterday. We’re competing. We’re simply not executing. When you may win video games while you’re not at your finest, that provides you the mindset of ‘we are able to get higher.’ The blokes have that. We simply should proceed to work via it.”