Mazzulla ball strikes once more - CelticsBlog

Getting into Tuesday evening, the Celtics led the NBA in three pointers tried per recreation (51.1) and three pointers made per recreation (18.9). They take numerous threes and make numerous threes.

Tuesday evening was no totally different. In actual fact, it was the principle catalyst for Boston’s 120-117 win.

The Celtics shot 22/41 from whereas the Cavs have been simply 10/29. Boston outscored Cleveland by 36 from past the arc in what was finally a 3-point win.

When the Celtics hit 20-plus threes, they win.

Courting again to final season, the Celtics now have 16 video games with at the least 20 made threes. No different workforce has greater than 9.

Boston is 16-0 in these video games.

— Shane Younger (@YoungNBA) November 20, 2024

Cleveland’s perimeter protection was not nice. Plenty of their closeouts weren’t laborious and they didn’t appear intent to run the Celtics off the three-point line.

As you may see, Allen comes out to contest Horford’s three however he doesn’t run him off the road. He permits Horford to step right into a shot he’s very comfy making.

On this one, Jaylen Brown is being guarded by Darius Garland and Ty Jerome helps off of Vacation in order that Jaylen can’t get to the basket. Jaylen sees it and hits Vacation for an open three.

If Jerome hadn’t helped, it doubtless would have required Jarrett Allen to return over and assist, however he was guarding Jayson Tatum within the nook. That’s taking pictures observe for Tatum.

It’s what makes the Celtics so laborious to protect — they discover the mismatch, assault it so that you assist and depart a shooter vast open.

Right here, Brown beats Allen to the cup so Niang helps, leaving Horford vast open. Brown sees the vast open Horford and throws the cross leaving Craig Porter Jr. in a bind: if he chases to the open man, Horford passes to Payton Pritchard within the nook which is a better share shot than the above the break three. Thus, Porter leaves Horford vast open who knocks within the shot.

That is one other a part of what makes the Celtics so harmful from above the arc — they hit their non-corner threes as properly.

19 of the Celtics 22 made threes on Tuesday got here from above the break, or non-corner. In accordance with Cleansing the Glass, the Celtics shot 56% on non-corner threes through the recreation, which ranks within the 98th percentile in video games performed this season.

All of us keep in mind an enormous speaking level of the Finals was not permitting the Mavericks take nook threes and that the Celtics have been keen to dwell with those from above the break. Dallas shot 27.4% from above the break in that collection.

Three level taking pictures is a foundational a part of Mazzulla ball. Elite three level shooters are those who take them from above the break and this Celtics roster is plagued by these guys.

To start out the season Al Horford is taking pictures 49% on non-corner threes and Payton Pritchard is at 45%. Sam Hauser, who has been up and down this season, was at 41% final season.

In accordance with ESPN’s Matt Williams, the Celtics have made 287 threes of their first 15 video games, that’s the most in NBA historical past within the first 15 video games of a season.

It’s a large piece of what makes the Celtics so dominant. Their shot chart is most all the time extra analytically sound than their opponents and Tuesday was no totally different.