Are Marcus Smart & Aron Baynes' combined 36% on 3-pointers in Game 1 a fluke?

Yes, the math is correct. In Game One versus the Philadelphia 76'ers, Marcus Smart and Aron Baynes shot a combined 4-of-11 from beyond the arc for a 36.4% rate.

Smart shot 2-of-8 on threes, and at least one of my readers got a boot out of me writing that this may be an indicator that his shot is coming around. I was only partially jesting when I wrote it, knowing that a thumb injury and surgery doesn't usually turn a bad shooter into Steph Curry. But I maintain that it could be a good sign of things to come. Marcus has three days to help heal that shooting hand just a little bit more. Although that right hand keeps getting abused in every game he plays.

Aron is another story. He shot 2-of-3 from three-point land, and that should help the Celtics cause. The 76'ers may decide they need to pay some attention to Baynes on the perimeter and not have five defenders on the other four Celtics players.

It is no secret that opponents expose a rival team's weaknesses in the post season. Well, Boston can't tolerate 5-on-4 defenses from opponents with a Celtics non-long-distance shooter out on the perimeter being ignored. So hopefully, the 36% 3-point shooting by Aron and Marcus is not a fluke and it will continue. Just don't hope for a combined 36% all the time!

Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC

Photo via Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images














https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/30/aron-baynes-celtics-3-pointers-nba-playoffs-game-1-76ers-al-horford-terry-rozier-jayson-tatum/