Celtics rank dead last in charity contributions


The Boston Celtics haven't been inflicting damage on anyone. Not yet, anyway. To say they've been struggling would be an understatement.

The good news is the answer to their prayers lies 15 feet from the bucket.

The bad news is I don't think the Celtics know which line I'm referring to.

Now, I don't mean to add fuel to the already scorching inferno burning deep within your Celtic-loving soul post-loss to the Orlando Magic, but the Celtics once again did it. Or didn't do it, for that matter. 

What is "it," you ask?

Get to the freaking free throw line. You know, the reason we actually lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. I know, I know. We couldn't hit a three, yada yada. The fact is the Celtics, in that Game 7, had the Cavaliers in the penalty with around seven minutes to go. And didn't get to the line but maybe a time or two, if at all.

I thought the Celtics would fix that. Thought being the operative word.
You're reading that right, friends. Dead last at the charity stripe.

Unfortunately, that stat rang true this past Monday evening when the Celtics, as I mentioned, lost to the Magic. Adding insult to injury, it happened on our home floor.

A couple of nice stats for you: 
The Celtics and Magic both made the same number of two point field goals in that game.

The Magic managed to make only one more three pointer in that game than we did. (I'm sure you don't need a reminder that we, yes, lost by three points.) 

The Celtics and Magic also made the same number of free throws in that game: seven.

The difference? Like in Game 7 of the ECF, the Celtics had the Magic in the penalty for a bulk of the 4th quarter -- close to nine minutes of it, to be semi-exact.

Almost 75% of the quarter was spent doing everything but the one thing they should've been doing. And considering they have such athletic players -- Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier III, Marcus Morris -- getting to the rack should've been a pretty simple task. Knock down six or seven free throws. Slow the quick-paced Magic and the game itself down. Game over.

The most aggravating thing for us as fans is that the most fundamental of ideologies that's preached to the youngest of players isn't being implemented by professionals: if you're shot's not falling, drive to the basket.

I know how much Brad Stevens loves to preach "pace and space" to the good guys in green, but hopefully, after what he's seen so far this year, his new message to add to the chalkboard should be simple:

GET. 

TO. 

THE. 

FREAKING. 

FREE. 

THROW. 

LINE. 

In case the boys need help, let me remind them: it's that white line parallel to the baseline, 15 feet from the hoop.

Hopefully they'll be much more familiar with that spot on the floor today when they face off against a struggling Oklahoma City Thunder team. 

(fingers crossed)

Follow Edward Babaian on Twitter: @bojixbabaian

Photo Credit: Boston Sports Journal
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