The TS% numbers were always good, esp when Ray and Pierce were shooting 40%+ from deep.
But we're a jump shooting team. Our best penetration threats are a sometimes unwilling Rondo, and an aging pierce. So if our jumper isn't falling, our PPPossession numbers are up and down at best.
Defense was always the strength.
Hey you guys remember when Pierce, KG, and Ray were all in their early-30s?
What about other offensive measures, like number of shots
The Celtics have been among the league's slowest teams consistently in the KG era (by slowest I mean # of possessions (shots or turnovers) per 48 minutes, PACE).
If you took all the NBA teams since KG's acquisition and sorted them by PACE, you wouldn't get to a Celtics team until #91.
It has historically been a product of an emphasis on defense, and a lack of second chance opportunities, which is a conscious choice.
number of free throws
Yup, that's a real problem. But you know, the Celtics have been usually right in the middle of the pack in terms of another stat, FT/FGA, or free throws per shot attempt. Something to think about.
turnovers
Always been a problem. But, its a bit mitigated by the assist numbers. The Celtics have been among the top two teams in the league in AST ratio (the % of team possessions that end in an assist), and in eFG%.
and numbers of quarters below 20 points? How about building an offense that doesn't rely on jump shooting? How about NOT starting out this season expecting Terry and Lee to run the exact same plays that Ray did when he was here?
Mike
This stuff I got nothin for.