The Algebra of the Game: Heat halt C’s streak, can’t melt their resolve
Though he’s not a boastful enough guy ever to say such a thing, I have little doubt that Brad Stevens has more than a little of that attitude in his approach to coaching – probably in his very bones.
Even in defeat last night – for the first time in 17 games – this never say die competitiveness was on display … on film and in the numbers.
Summative Equation:
Bos – 48 Conversions + [1 “Stripe”] {9 treys “minus” 8 missed FT’s “equals” 1 stripe}
Mia – 47 Conversions + [8 “Stripes”] {10 treys “minus” 2 missed FT’s “equals” 8 stripes}
Expected Outcome -- +1 Conversions + [-7 Stripes] = C’s lose by 5 points
Actual Score: Boston 98, Miami 104
Somebody – the players? the coaches? maybe Red from the afterlife? – decided to test that philosophy to the fullest last night. In the game’s first quarter, Boston was unable to convert consecutive possessions – the only 12-minute session all season in which they’ve earned that dubious distinction.
Other than a five-possession, 11-point run at the end of Q2, the C’s were successful on back-to-back trips down the floor only twice – and one of those four non-stops was concluded with two Kyrie Irving misses from the foul line.
The icing on this little upside-down cake was that they used eight first-half Offensive Rebounds to generate absolutely no points.
Summative Equation (Season-to-date):
Bos – 891 Conversions + [+103 Stripes] {206 treys minus 103 missed FT’s equals 103 stripes}
Opp – 838 Conversions + [+67 Stripes] {162 treys minus 95 missed FT’s equals 67 stripes}
Expected Outcome -- +53 Conversions + [+36 Stripes] = C’s win by (106 + 36) 142 points
Actual Score: Boston 1950, Opponents 1811
It appears that whatever rant Brad Stevens may have delivered during the intermission could be boiled down to five little words: GET TO THE FOUL LINE!!!
Going into last night’s game, the C’s were +76 in Free Throw attempts (+74 in makes) compared to the opposition.
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| Nemesis for a Night |
The Celtics did indeed march to the free-throw stripe for 20 second-half attempts (to Miami’s eight). Alas, missing three of their final four tries changed a potential tie game into a finally insurmountable five-point hole.
The boys went on to convert four of their next five possessions – but that un-kind clock, with a little help from Dion Waiters, wouldn’t cooperate.
The Algebra of the Game
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| Out with the old... |
FG: C’s – 7-22, .318 / Mia – 10-24, .524
3FG: C’s – 2-8, .250 / Mia – 3-7, .429
FT: C’s – 0-0, .000 [0] / Mia – 2-2, 1.000 [1]
TO: C’s – 4 / Mia – 3
OR: C’s – 2 + 1 (team) / Mia – 1 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 23 / Mia – 24
CV%: C’s – 7 / 23, .304 / Mia – 12 / 24, .500
2nd Quarter
FG: C’s – 9-26, .346 / Mia – 9-18, .500
3FG: C’s – 3-9, .333 / Mia – 4-10, .400
FT: C’s – 4-7, .571 [3] / Mia – 5-5, 1.000 [2]
TO: C’s – 2 / Mia – 7
OR: C’s – 3 + 2 (team) / Mia – 1 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 27 / Mia – 26
CV%: C’s – 12 / 27, .444 / Mia – 11 / 26, .423
3rd Quarter
FG: C’s – 8-20, .400 / Mia – 11-21, .524
3FG: C’s – 1-3, .333 / Mia – 1-6, .167
FT: C’s – 5-6, .833 [3] / Mia – 2-3, .667 [1]
TO: C’s – 1 / Mia – 1
OR: C’s – 0 + 1 (team) / Mia – 1 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 23 / Mia – 22
CV%: C’s – 11 / 23, .478 / Mia – 12 / 22, .545
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| ...in with the new. |
FG: C’s – 11-16, .688 / Mia – 9-21, .429
3FG: C’s – 3-5, .600 / Mia – 2-5, .400
FT: C’s – 10-14, .714 [7] / Mia – 5-6, .833 [3]
TO: C’s – 4 / Mia – 5
OR: C’s – 2 + 1 (team) / Mia – 4 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 24 / Mia – 24
CV%: C’s – 18 / 24, .750 / Mia – 12 / 24, .500
Full Game
FG: C’s – 35-84, .417 / Mia – 40-81, .494
3FG: C’s – 9-26, .346 / Mia – 10-28, .357
FT: C’s – 19-27, .704 [13] / Mia – 14-16, .875 [7]
TO: C’s – 11 / Mia – 16
OR: C’s – 7 + 5 (team) / Mia – 7 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 97 / Mia – 96
CV%: C’s – 48 / 97, .495 / Mia – 47 / 96, .490
Note re Calculations:
The number of “possessions” is an accurate count, not a formula-based estimated value.
For purposes of clarity, the bracketed digit following the FT% is the exact count of “conversions” represented by those FTA’s.
“Possessions” calculation: FGA’s + FT conversions + TO’s – OR’s (including Team OR’s)
“Conversions” calculation: FG’s + FT conversions
Abacus Revelation for the Road
The Celtics’ 18 fourth quarter conversions rate as a season high – the Heat ended up with a measly two defensive rebounds in Q4.
