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Celtics: 3 Ways the C’s can improve the PG position this coming season

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The Boston Celtics’ up-and-down season came to a close in a 4-1 series loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Terry Rozier appeared on ESPN’ First Take to say he was leaving the Celtics because of what he sacrificed. Kyrie Irving seems to be already out the door. It is now the time we must ask what the Celtics long-term plan is at the point guard position. Believe it or not, they’re in a much better position to improve this position than you think.

Celtics star Gordon Hayward is a viable ballhandler in a Brad Stevens system

1. Make Gordon Hayward the PG

Gordon Hayward and Brad Stevens history is well documented, and it seemed at a few points this year that Stevens wanted the system to flow through Gordon. He’s not the same wing player he was before the ankle injury. However, he is still a good ball-handler and reliable shooter. Hayward is very experienced in Brad Stevens’ system thanks to his college experience. Hayward would be able to act as an extension of Brad Stevens due to this knowledge, and help the Celtics’ young core acclimate to the system. In the ever-evolving position-less NBA, Hayward seems like the perfect fit at the 1 in Stevens system. This also puts Hayward in a position to succeed and live up to his superstar-level contract.

Celtics and Patty Mills are an ideal match

2. Trade for a low-cost veteran PG

The Celtics are a relatively young team who don’t have a defined leader (unless you count Horford). Younger, more talented players have been driving out veterans and leaving great value out on the trade block. It’s important to note that these are low-cost guys, not high paid Free Agents, that are covered here. Guys like Patty Mills, Ricky Rubio, and Jeff Teague have been around the league for a while. These guys are quality players when surrounded by talent. The relatively low trading cost creates great value. Patty Mills presents the best value and fit for the Celtics. He is a reliable scoring threat and is referred to as a ‘team player’ by his peers. Mills is exactly the type of guard the C’s need following Kyrie’s imminent departure.

Ja Morant is regarded by many as the most talented PG in the draft

3. Trade up in the draft for Ja Morant

Celtics fans have been very happy recently with general manager Danny Ainge’s wheeling and dealing trades. They have brought Boston a surplus of draft picks and quality players. Ja Morant is projected to be the #2 pick to the Grizzlies and the draft. The Celtics best first-round pick currently sits at #14. Boston has a multitude of quality bench guys that are expendable. The C’s also have a stockpile of picks (one of those pics being Memphis’ own pick next year). They have all the resources to make the move for the talented young PG. Morant averaged 24.3 PPG, 10.0 APG, and 5.0 RPG. He’s the first player to average 20+ points and 10+ assists since the assist became a stat in the 1980’s. Morant makes the most sense for the Celtics because he’d mesh with the young core they built already. He’d give the C’s a bright future to look forward to.

Celtics Will Reveal Themselves Against Milwaukee

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Celtics fans have been confounded throughout the season because the team they cheer for has
been, at times, very good but mostly just good enough. If someone told you before the season
began that the Shamrocks would be the No. 4 seed in the East when the playoffs commenced,
you would have to believe that your local entry either underachieved or was ravaged by
injuries. Did Hayward’s leg not heal? Did the long grind that is the NBA season, take its toll on
Kyrie again – only in December instead of March? How about the young guns, Tatum, Brown, or
Terry? Maybe Big Al got beat up in the paint and beaten down in the homestretch?
Injuries would have at least given fans a reason to forgive and forget but the lack of cohesion
and team chemistry has been nothing short of stunning, considering last season’s gutsy run into
the conference finals without their two resident superstars. However, sports is a what have you
done for me lately kind of business and right now you can’t complain about the results. Boston
is fresh off of a series sweep of the Indiana Pacers and even the most jaded cynic would be
hard-pressed to complain. But now the rubber hits the road as the Celtics prepare for the beast
of the East, the Milwaukee Bucks. Some of the best betting websites found all in one place at
Sportsbook Review, are dealing the Bucks as 7 ½ point Game 1 favorites and -270/+230 series
chalk over the lads in green. Now we will find out what this team is truly made of, and whether
or not all of this talent on paper will bear fruit in April, May, and dare we say June?
Enjoy basking in the afterglow of Boston’s 110-106 series-clinching win over the Pacers because
the road will be quite a bit bumpier from here on out. But why not revel in Gordon Haywood’s
20-point performance and cheer another unsung hero effort by Marcus Morris? Kyrie only got
14 but played solid defense and got back in transition. Things are looking up, right? Kyrie told us
the playoffs would change everything, the Celts would flip a switch, and right now it’s hard to
doubt him. The Celtics’ superstar was also complimentary of Hayward.
“I knew there was going to be a spark off the bench. (On Sunday) and that person was Gordon
Hayward,” All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said. “This is his city. I’m glad he had a chance to put on a
performance like that in a closeout game.”
Jayson Tatum echoed Irving’s sentiments regarding the playoff Celtics versus the regular season
Celtics. “We’re clicking at the right time. We look like the team everybody thought we would be
at the beginning of the season. It took some ups and downs for us to get here, but I like the way
we look.”

It’s hard not to like the way the C’s look because a sweep is indeed a rare occurrence. However,
it’s just business as usual when it comes to Kyrie Irving. Between his tenure in Cleveland and his
stint in Boston, Irving is a mind-boggling 16-0 in his four first-round series’. Don’t forget, he
didn’t dress last year when the Celtics knocked off the Bucks in seven games, thus his record
remains pristine. Irving is, of course, just one piece of the puzzle and the Celtics will need a
complete team effort if they are to get by what many believe is their biggest adversary in the
postseason. Time will tell and so too will Boston’s defense. Shutting down the Greek Freak,
Giannis Antetokounmpo, won’t be easy but this team has the ability to do just that…don’t they?

Celtics Fooling Themselves

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The Celtics will snap their four-game losing streak tonight in Cleveland because if they don’t, then their postseason won’t last much longer than a cup of coffee against Philadelphia (or Indiana) in the first round. The oddsmakers over at one of the best online sportsbooks in the industry, 5Dimes, is dealing Boston as a 5 ½ point road favorite over one of the worst teams in the league, and the same one that prevented them from advancing to the NBA Finals last season. Of course, that was then, and this is now, with LeBron taking his talents to LA while the Celtics are looking more and more like a group of guys out to get theirs, with little regard of the endgame which is winning a title.

Are you getting a bit tuckered out of this all too predictable Celtics’ soap opera? This rollercoaster of a season has featured glimpses of greatness but far too often, months of malaise mired in mediocrity. Don’t ever get your hopes to high with this team because they will break your heart quicker than you can say, “Kyrie is leaving Boston.” And Kyrie will leave because he now realizes that his one wish, to dribble out of LeBron’s shadow and bask in the glow of a white-hot spotlight all his own, isn’t as easy as he once thought. In retrospect, he had a pretty good gig being Scottie Pippen to LeBron’s Michael Jordan, and winning a world title in Cleveland. He didn’t have to be the man because he wasn’t the man, he was just a damn good sidekick. Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it, is a phrase Kyrie Irving knows all to well.

But perhaps the irony and absurdity of this entire season is the Celtics players somehow concocting this alternate reality that things will all come together the moment the postseason commences. Just read a few of these quotes and try not to arch your eyebrows or scratch your head.

Marcus Smart: “We got a lot of guys back, and we’re all trying to figure out exactly what everybody’s favorite things to do and what spots that everybody excels at and make sure we get everybody in the right position. We’re still fooling with it. But I see great progress, and I’m excited, I’m ecstatic, and I’m happy with what we’re doing.

Kyrie Irving: “You can’t worry about the standings now. It’s too late in the season. I mean, obviously the four or five spot, but one and two is pretty much locked up, 1-2-3. So, as long we get there. I can’t wait for all this other B.S. about the regular season and keep getting better and talking over and over and over again about what we can do to keep getting better in the regular season. I just want to be at the highest level playing. I mean, that’s what I’m here for.”

In the C’s first game in the month of March, a 107-96 win over the Wizards, Marcus Smart lauded the defensive efforts of Jaylen Brown and said, “Ridiculous. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Jaylen play defense like that. He looked like me out there, diving for balls and things like that. We need Jaylen to do that every day. He has the athletic ability to do it. He has the potential to be a great two-way player so, once he finally gets that down it will be hard for anybody to keep him off the court.”

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown is not fond of routinely getting floors burns on his knees, and a flash here, and a sparkle there, of hustle isn’t enough. Over the last four games the Celtics have lost to three very good teams in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Antonio with a setback to the less than stellar Charlotte Hornets sandwiched in between for good measure. But we know the script by now, Boston will bully a bad team tonight and thump the Cavaliers which will woo those who bleed Green back on the bandwagon. But the rest of us are not only leery, but weary as well, of a team that seems to care less about winning than we do.

Can the Celtics Claim the East?

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The Celtics got a taste of what it’s like to face a legitimate Western Conference power clicking on all cylinders when they bowed to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. If you had clicked on over to Sportsbook Review prior to the game and check out a Sportsbetting.ag review, it would have told you why Sportsbetting.ag is one of the preeminent online sportsbooks in the industry, as well as letting you know that they had Boston favored by four points against one of the best in the West. It proved to be a glorious opportunity to bet with your mind and not with your heart as Denver not only covered the number but won the game outright by the score of 114-105.

Once again, the Celtics build us up just to tear us down. Preceding that contest, the Green had won five of six, starting with an enormous blowout of the Golden State Warriors but then, just as quickly as they started this roll, it came to a screeching halt with a lackluster fourth-quarter effort where they were outscored by nine points, the precise margin of victory for Denver. Boston is now half a game behind Indiana for the fourth spot in the East and 2 ½ games behind the 76ers for the No. 3 seed. This column is being written prior to their tango in the City of Brotherly Love tonight so be prepared for a Thursday morning where the sky is the limit – or at least a conference championship – or gloom, doom, and a big ol’ broom right out of the playoffs once they begin.

Watching the Celtics and investing your heart, soul, and maybe even a few bucks over at Sportsbetting.ag, has been like being married to Sybil, a woman with 16 distinct personalities. Although the Shamrocks may not be quite that complicated, they are difficult to love especially when they continually let you down. We expect the big games, the 30 plus point scoring nights from Kyrie, and the blossoming of a superstar in Jayson Tatum. Yet there are evenings, like Monday night, when Tatum plays more like a star-struck kid when he scored just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting over the course of 36 minutes of action.

Another young gun, Jaylen Brown, is simply not the player he was last year, despite glimmers of excellence that occur all too infrequently. Terry Rozier continues to struggle in a backup role, after a stellar postseason last year in place of Irving, with visions of increased playing time and a much fatter paycheck somewhere else next season. Gordon Hayward, who was in concussion protocol for the game against Denver and therefore gets no grief for that loss, has been coming around but hasn’t quite made the bend. At least Hayward doesn’t grouse about being demoted from a starter to a role player, but then again, he is being paid over $30 million to ride the pine so let’s not get too carried away with him being a “team first” kind of guy.

So who are the Boston Celtics? Well, as much as we may hate to say it, they are what their record says they are, which is a very good, although not elite, team. Boston is a tough out for any team in the league, but they are not good enough to derail a juggernaut over the course of a seven-game series. They are better than Indiana, this we know. And if you were to base your opinion on how dominant they have been against the 76ers this season, winning all three meetings this season and owning a 13-3 straight up mark over the last three years including playoffs, then it would be fair to say they are better than Philadelphia.

But tonight will tell the tale because this is a game the Celtics absolutely need if they have any shot at ascending to the No. 3 spot and displacing the Sixers. If they win, or lose narrowly, there’s hope for them in the postseason, but if they get blown out then don’t make any reservations for a road trip to the Oracle Arena in June. Let’s kick back, grab a cold one, and continue to be vexed by a team that we love but doesn’t seem to love us back quite often enough.

Rollercoaster Season Continues for the Celtics

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One day it’s the Good Ship Lollipop and the next it’s the Titanic. That pretty much sums up the year the Shamrocks have had despite the fact that they remain one of the beasts in the East. Unfortunately, they’re not quite as ferocious as we all believed they would be prior to the start of the season. As a matter of fact, if you were to click on over to Sportsbook Review, you could read a Bovada review detailing why Bovada is one of the preeminent online sportsbooks in the industry and one that was dealing Boston as a favorite to win the Eastern Conference this season. But much has changed since October and it appears all of the major threats have added to their arsenals except the Celtics.

After winning nine of 10 from mid-January through early February, the Green proceeded to undo most of that momentum by dropping six of eight. Then they won four of five, including a dominating victory over the world champion Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena. The Celtics were quickly closing the gap on the 76ers and Pacers for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference before the Monday night massacre in LA. The best online sportsbooks like Bovada may have hung them as slight road favorites but they played like dogs – and not underdogs, mind you. It was a 25-point drubbing by a good, although unspectacular, Clippers club. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the loss was Kyrie Irving’s postgame comments heaping praise, and I mean mounds of praise, on Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers, formerly of the Celtics. Here’s just a snippet.

“It’s so easy to play for a guy that’s been a player in this league,” Irving said. “He’s won a championship and he’s done unbelievable things in this league for his players while giving them confidence to go out there and be who they are. Lou (Williams) signed an extension for a reason, and that’s Doc. He puts those guys in position, gives them the freedom and keeps them encouraged throughout the whole game — especially when they’re at home.”

Kyrie went even further but you don’t have to be an ardent disciple of Freud to figure this one out. In essence, Irving was praising Rivers while taking a tacit swipe at his own coach. Brad Stevens was never a player “in this league”, has never won an NBA championship, and apparently is not inspiring confidence in his players, ala Doc Rivers. Kyrie Irving’s personality mirrors the Celtics’ performance this season. One day he says all the wrong things and gets killed in the press while the next day he’s contrite, mature, and somewhat resembles the leader he so desperately wanted to be when he signed with the Celtics, and withdrew from LeBron’s immense shadow in Cleveland.

The Celtics are like the weather in New England – if you don’t like it, just give it a day or two and it will change. Boston still has 14 games remaining on their schedule and trail the Sixers and Pacers by only 1 ½ games for the third playoff spot. Of those 14 games, there are five that could be classified as dangerous. Dates against Denver (home), Philadelphia (road), San Antonio (home), and a home and away against Indiana could prove to be landmines. If they were to lose those but win the other nine, that would give them a winning percentage of .642 which is an uptick over their current .603. That would probably land them in the No. 4 spot over Philly but a pair of losses against the Pacers would more than likely solidify Indiana’s third seed if they continue to play at their current pace. There will be more trials and travails with this edition of the Boston Celtics so we must weather the storm, keep calm, and carry on.

Celts’ Only Constant is Inconsistency

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If you click on over to SBR, and read a Heritage Sports review, you will see why recreational and professional sports bettors always include Heritage as one of their top options when betting sports. But the oddsmakers at Heritage, and other top-notch online books, must be shaking their collective heads when trying to identify an acceptable line on the Boston Celtics. This is a team as enigmatic and mercurial as any in the NBA and Celtics’ fans are feeling the same frustration as those trying to bet with them, or against them.

We see glimmers of hope but then, in a flash, frustration and confusion come to the fore yet again, as it did on Saturday night in Chicago. Boston’s last several games have been a microcosm of the entire season. Talented club with a bona fide superstar, and a few others waiting to blossom, reels off 10 wins in 11 games. After yet another victory, they return home to take on both LA entries within two nights of each other, where the oddsmakers are hanging the Green as double-digit favorites in both contests, and Boston proceeds to lose not one but both. Then, like flicking a light switch, the same team that just laid an egg in consecutive games to inferior opponents travels to Philadelphia to beat one of the preeminent Eastern Conference powers and follows that up with a sound victory over the Pistons.

And despite losing a 98-97 heartbreaker to the Milwaukee Bucks in the following game, we can forgive that road loss against the team with the best record in basketball. But for the luvva gawd what we can’t forgive, or understand, is losing the next game to a team like the Bulls, as 10-point road favorites mind you, contending for the No. 1 pick in the draft by virtue of owning one of the worst records in the league! And to add insult to injury, the Bulls were playing the second leg of back-to-back games, yet the Celtics still bowed 126-116.

Championship caliber teams very rarely fall to the dregs and although they may not cover the number, losing outright is an aberration – a one-off, if that. Even very good teams routinely pad their records against sub .500 clubs like the Bulls, Lakers, Magic, Heat, Suns, et al. Well, not your local entry because Boston has lost to all of those teams which is why their 61.7 winning percentage is good enough to assure them the No. 5 spot in the East but well below preseason expectations. To borrow a term from Kevin Garnett, where’s the grit and balls? Where is the team from last year that took LeBron’s Cavaliers to seven games without Kyrie and Hayward?

Maybe “team” is the operative word. After Saturday night’s loss to the Bulls, Marcus Smart summoned a ray of optimism followed by an expression of the same angst and frustration Celtics’ fans are feeling. “Yeah, we’re good. We’re still in a good position. We’ve got a lot of basketball left. We lost here last year. We got blown out here last year (108-85 in December 2017), and in the end of the season, we were still fighting for everything we wanted to fight for. We still were in the last game of the conference finals. So, this is not the end of the world, but it is embarrassing. It’s embarrassing. Just our effort is embarrassing. How we played is embarrassing.”

When pressed further Smart had this to say, “It’s all simple. It’s just effort. Just effort. That’s definitely it. It’s plain and simple. Just effort…You know, we’ve got all the talent in the world, but you know… I don’t even know what to say. Like, really, I have no words.”

And neither do we.

Anthony Davis Would be Money in Green

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On Monday night the Boston Celtics subdued the New Orleans Pelicans for the second time in two weeks. Despite 41 points from Anthony Davis, the Pelicans could not compete against a Celtics’ starting unit that was absent two of its biggest guns, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, leaving the heavy lifting to Terry Rozier and Daniel Theis in their stead. Add to that, Gordon Hayward (illness) and Aron Baynes (ankle) were also MIA which clearly illustrates how far this team has come in a matter of weeks. When the final buzzer echoed throughout the Garden, the Celtics had delivered a 113-100 beatdown of Davis and the boys on the bayou.

The best betting sites, found all in one place at Sportsbook Review, tagged the Green as 2 ½ point favorites, down from the original 6 ½ before the information became available that the Celtics would be without some of its biggest stars. And lest we forget, this latest victory came hot on the heels of a spectacular 56-point win over the Bulls on Saturday, the largest margin of victory in the team’s history.

The box score for Monday’s win over New Orleans will tell you that Marcus Morris had a brilliant season-high 31-point performance on 66 percent shooting while Anthony Davis led all scorers and donned his Superman cape yet again. But what it won’t tell us is what Davis was thinking as he sank shot after shot yet had no Robin to his Batman, let alone a legion of superheroes at his side. Okay, so maybe the Celtics aren’t comprised of game-changing All-Stars and caped crusaders but Kyrie Irving certainly qualifies and Jayson Tatum is on his way. The Pelicans are a bad team that Davis makes mediocre but how long do you think it would take for Davis to run, not walk, into the lovin’ arms of the Boston Celtics? Blink of an eye, maybe? Yeah, you’re right, too long.

Boston is a solid, although unspectacular, 16-10 on the season but the trials and tribulations they endured earlier in the season seem to have dissipated once head coach Brad Stevens started moving some of his pieces around the chessboard. Gordon Hayward is now coming off the bench, and easing into the role of a team player appears to suit him more than co-starring as the centerpiece of the offense. Once the 2017 All-Star gets acclimated we could see a more substantial role but right now, Stevens is pushing all the right buttons as his team is in the midst of a six-game winning streak that could easily reach 10 before they entertain the Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Garden a week from Friday.

The best betting sites were virtually unanimous in offering the lowest odds, along with Toronto, on the Celtics to claim the Eastern Conference championship this season. Yet, as satisfying as that would be, there is a giant looming in the West by the name of the Golden State Warriors. Even the most optimistic C’s fan would concede that defeating the Warriors for an NBA title would be an outside shot at best. Winning one game in that series would at least take away the humiliation of a sweep and winning a pair from the defending world champs would support the premise that Boston is the second best team in the league.

That’s about as good as it will get with this team as presently constituted unless injuries ravage the Warriors or a heavenly light from above shines on our boys and grants them a series win over a legendary foe. However, getting Davis in a Celtics’ uniform would be the coup de grace, a brilliant masterstroke from Trader Danny. What would it cost? Does it matter? Maybe it happens now or later but if the Celtics want a real chance at defying the odds and defeating the Warriors, it’s a trade that has to happen. Are you listening Mr. Ainge? Continue reading →

How Much Is Horford Responsible for Boston’s Average Start?

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Let’s make one thing clear: If you’re looking for a collection of words bashing Celtics’ center Al Horford, you’ve come to the wrong place.  Horford’s game undoubtedly takes a bit of nuanced viewing to appreciate, and he affects the Celtics positively in ways that don’t always appear in a box score.

However, with Boston scuffling through its first 13 games this year, every player is under a microscope. That includes Horford, who is averaging career lows in rebounds per game and field goal percentage so far this season. Horford is the C’s engine on both ends. When that engine sputters, he becomes a logical target for midday radio hosts and columnists looking to stir the pot.

But how much has the Puerto Plata native contributed to the Celtics’ early season struggles? Let’s run through a few stats to get a clearer picture.

Efficiency Issues

It’s no secret that the Celtics have been atrocious offensively this season. Boston ranks 26th in points per possession, and 28th in field goal percentage. Without getting into it too deeply, this team simply doesn’t attack the rim, doesn’t get to the line, settles for too many low-efficiency shots, and misses too many open looks.

In many ways, Horford has been emblematic of those issues. The former Florida Gator is attempting more threes (4.5 per game) than ever before, yet is only converting at a 27.6% clip. That would be his lowest mark since he stretched his range out consistently behind the arc in 2016.

It’s early, and a slow shooting start can be corrected. More troubling, perhaps, is how his efficiency at the rim has dipped too. From 2013-18, Horford shot 74.3% on attempts inside of three feet, per Basketball Reference. This season, that number has fallen to 66.7% on such shots.

67% isn’t bad, by any stretch. But combined with shooting more threes at a worse rate than ever before, Horford’s efficiency in a key shooting area becomes magnified. The result is a career low 44.3 FG% and a 50.0 eFG%, his lowest mark since his rookie year. Throw in a career-low 63.6% from the line, and you have a bonafide slow offensive start.

Dirty Glass

Horford hasn’t been an above average rebounder since his early days in Atlanta. As he’s expanded his offensive arsenal to the three-point line, his rebounding numbers have steadily declined. However, he has been a consistently solid defensive rebounder, and his ability to grab-and-go makes him a unique weapon in the modern NBA.

Unfortunately, Horford has been even worse than usual at cleaning up the boards. His 10.5% Total Rebound Rate is a career low, sunk by his career low defensive rebounding rate (15%). As with any small sample size, these numbers could change with strong stretch. When examining Boston’s early season woes, however, these stats seem relevant. The C’s currently rank 20th in rebounding rate, after finishing 11th by that metric last season.

Symptoms, Not The Cause

While some aspects of Horford’s slow start have been a part of why the Celtics have looked disjointed out of the gate, ultimately his play has been a symptom of that, and not the cause. The C’s still lead the league in defensive rating, thanks in large part to Horford’s continued excellence on that end. Horford’s current 4.4% block rate would be a career high, and he looks as solid as ever on his rotations.

Additionally, that Horford has only managed a 19.7% assist rate (his lowest since joining the C’s) speaks more to Boston’s inability to convert open looks than it does a decline in his ability to facilitate the offense. Per NBA.com, the Celtics have attempted the second most “wide open” looks, yet have only converted at the 14th-best rate on those looks. They’ve attempted the most “open” looks, too, with similarly uninspiring results. Those numbers should tick up a bit, and Horford will benefit.

Ultimately, the Celtics’ center’s 12-6-4 per game averages aren’t eye-popping, but there’s plenty of room to improve. Time will tell if Horford’s slow start morphs into a slow season. If it does, the Celtics might be in even more trouble than we thought.

Celtics

Three Takeaways: Pacers 102, Celtics 101

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The Celtics suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss at the hands of Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers. Boston had control of the game throughout, though lost the lead with 3.4 seconds remaining in the fourth after an Oladipo 3-pointer.

Despite the loss, the Celtics showed signs of promise. Marcus Morris lead the way with a season high 23-points in 33 minutes off the bench. Morris was one of the five Celtics to score in double figures, as well as one of seven to have at least six-rebounds. The team is playing unselfish basketball, though needs more time to gel.

Celtics

Via USA Today

Here are three takeaways from the Celtics third loss of the season.

Live by the three, die by the three

Boston continued their barrage from beyond the arc. After attempting 55 3-pointers against Milwaukee, they hoisted up another 46 in Indiana.

The 3-point shot has taken reign, and Brad Stevens and the Celtics have made a major impact. The NBA has seen an increase in 3-point attempts per game in consecutive seasons since 2011-12.

Since 2014-15, the Celtics have averaged more 3-point attempts than the league average. Withholding tonight’s performance, Boston ranks fourth in the NBA in 3-point attempts per game with 36.3. Though, they currently rank 21 in in three-point percentage at 34.8 percent, which is a far cry from their 2017 rank of sixth at 37.0 percent.

The Celtics will have better shooting nights, and worse. Their 41.3 percent mark was not the reason they lost tonight, though it will take more than that to beat the Indiana Pacers at the Fieldhouse.

Lack of free throw attempts

Due to the Celtics settling for the 3-point shot, they failed to draw many fouls in the paint. Boston ended the game with nine free throws compared to Indiana’s 25. It is fair to say the discrepancy in free throws allowed the Pacers to keep the game close.

Boston is 0-3 in game this season with 10 or less free-throw attempts. They will have to do a better job of drawing fouls otherwise they will continue to play close games.

Celtics

Via NBA.com

Celtics in Foul Trouble

Boston committed 12 personal fouls in the first half and finished the game with 20. Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Aron Baynes each had three at half time. Specifically, Gordon Hayward played just 11 minutes in the first half due his foul trouble. His presence on defense was missed, as Indiana outscored Boston 27-17 in the second quarter.

Hayward will need to avoid foul trouble, as his impact on the defensive side of floor is integral. His defensive versatility is incredible, as Stevens has matched him up with guards and forwards alike. We’ve seen him matchup with face-up forwards like Blake Griffin and Thad Young, as well as crafty guards like Corey Joseph. If Hayward is in foul trouble, the Celtics will be in defensive trouble.

Their next test will come in Denver against the Nuggets on Monday, November 5 at 9:00 PM ET.

Celtics Rookie First Round Pick Robert Williams Assigned to G-League

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Robert Williams III, the Celtics first round rookie out of Texas A&M, has been assigned to the NBA G-League by the Boston Celtics to play for the Maine Red Claws. The Celtics franchise G-League affiliate tips off Friday night, November 2nd, 2018, against the Westchester Knicks. He is expected to start right away.

Williams was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. In two seasons at Texas A&M, he averaged 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Has he been performing badly?

Not in the slightest. Robert Williams has actually impressed thus far in his action. He threw down a thunderous dunk 0:05 seconds into his game against the Detroit Pistons on October 27th, and then recorded 3 blocks.

The assignment isn’t because Williams hasn’t been playing well. Rather, it’s because they have no minutes for him to play. Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris and Al Horford have gotten the overwhelming majority of the minutes at the five position. That’s not including Daniel Theis, currently injured, who has been getting a lot of minutes too.

I’m sure this was a decision made by Brad Stevens. Stevens see’s the big play material and potential written all over Williams, and would rather him be playing minutes against lesser talent then playing no minutes at all.

Is this a good move?

Hell, yeah! The Celtics have plenty of depth this season and are currently healthy. Plus, they can call up Robert Williams and then send him back whenever they want. This move allows Williams to play, continue to refine his game and keep him ready for NBA action.

So far, the Celtics had only played him in eleven and a half minutes over four games. I’m certain that Williams will return to the team at some point this season. With extra experience, he should play very well upon his return.

In the meantime, someone please make sure that Maine has a roof high enough to keep Williams from bumping his head on the rafters during his launch for a dunk.