10 Celtics stats that should show encouragement, discouragement

Irrespective of the way you slice it, the Celtics have been one of many league’s prime surprises and greatest groups coming into the All-Star break.

Boston is 35-19, good for second place within the Japanese Convention because it continues to seek out methods to win after a serious roster shakeup over the offseason. In fact, Jaylen Brown rising as one of many sport’s prime scorers has contributed to that. He’s scoring 29.3 factors per sport this yr, incomes him his first All-Star starter nod.

However there are different the explanation why the Celtics’ report is so robust. There are additionally some causes to have some concern about whether or not this workforce could make a robust playoff run.

So, let’s dive into these issues and take a look at 10 encouraging and discouraging stats for Boston coming into the All-Star break.

Encouraging stats

3: The Celtics are within the prime three in offensive ranking (third) and defensive ranking (second). 4 of the final 5 NBA champions have ranked within the prime 5 in each classes. Solely one of many final 14 champions has ranked exterior of the highest 5 in internet ranking, too.

16.8: The Celtics’ most frequent lineup (Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta), by way of possessions performed, has a 16.8 internet ranking this season. For reference, that quantity is astronomically greater than the web ranking Boston had with its most-used lineup final yr. That lineup had a minus-0.4 internet ranking final season.

17.7: Payton Pritchard has seemingly grown comfy in his function as one of many Celtics’ major scorers as of late. He’s scoring 17.7 factors per sport because the begin of the brand new yr, taking pictures 49 p.c from the sector and 40.6 p.c from deep. For reference, there are solely two guards within the league who’ve scored that many factors per sport whereas taking pictures that effectively from the sector.

19: Jaylen Brown has had a robust yr, however the Celtics haven’t been overly-reliant on him to a fault. They’re 18-9 within the 27 video games he hasn’t scored 30 factors this season, together with the 5 video games he’s missed. Boston has gone 4-1 within the video games Brown has sat out this season.

15: When opponents have a great taking pictures evening in opposition to the Celtics, it hasn’t been a loss of life blow. The Celtics are 15-15 in video games the place the opposite workforce shoots not less than 35 p.c from the sector, which is taken into account to be league common. For reference, the Knicks are 14-18 underneath the identical circumstances this season.

23: One of many Celtics’ magic numbers to victory is 23. After they get 23 assists in a sport, they’re 27-6 this season. After they don’t, they’re 8-13.

Discouraging stats

21: The Celtics are 12-14 in clutch video games this season. Not solely is that twenty first within the league, however that’s the worst mark among the many 12 groups that at present maintain a playoff spot.

38.9: Derrick White’s made simply 38.9 p.c of his discipline purpose makes an attempt this season. No workforce has received a championship with considered one of their guards taking pictures under 40 p.c because the Mavericks in 2011. Jason Kidd made simply 36.1 p.c of his discipline purpose makes an attempt that yr.

9: The Celtics’ defensive ranking (112.6) is sweet, rating ninth within the league. But it surely won’t be elite sufficient to show right into a deep playoff run. Three of the final 4 NBA champions ranked within the prime two in defensive ranking.

16: Boston remains to be fairly reliant on its 3-point taking pictures, shedding most of the time when it fails to have an honest taking pictures evening. The Celtics are 9-16 within the 25 video games they’ve shot under 35 p.c from deep. For reference, the Pistons are 13-11 in such video games this season as they maintain the perfect report within the Japanese Convention coming into the All-Star break.