Poor "Striping" proves costly in Celtics' opening-night defeat

The last time Brad Stevens's Celtics faced Brett Brown's 76ers seven months ago, the teams combined to attempt 59 foul shots -- then another 70 on opening night ... Wow!!

Through the first 16 games of NBA 2019-20, the average team is taking just over 26 FT's per game and making just under 20 of them ... slightly higher than last season. (2018-19: 23.1 "takes" and 17.7 "makes" per game per team)

Now let's consider that teams -- both last season and in the early stages of this one -- are making about eleven-and-a-half treys per game.

So, in today's NBA, Team "Average" augments it rate of converting possessions by five or six points (I call then "Stripes") each game -- the equivalent of two or three additional conversions.

The "style" of NBA play has evolved in such a way that no team has compiled more missed free throws than successful three-pointers since the Splash Brothers were so dubbed. In other words, no team has posted a "negative" seasonal score in "Striping" for several seasons.

But in Wednesday's rather disjointed opener, both "contenders" managed to do so.

Game 1 -- at Philadelphia

Boston - 93

FG: C’s – 33-90, .367
3FG: C’s – 7-26, .269
FT: C’s – 20-34, .588 [14 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .443
OR: C’s – 10 + 2 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 31 + 3 (team) [minus 4 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 10 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 103 {56 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 0.903
CV%: C’s – 47 conversions / 103 possessions, .456
Stripes: C’s – -7 [-3.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 43.5 conversions / 103, .422 {expected production, 87 points}


Philadelphia - 107

FG: Phi– 37-85, .435
3FG: Phi– 7-29, .241
FT: Phi– 26-36, .722 [17 conversions]
TS%: Phi– .531
OR: Phi– 12 + 4 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Phi– 50 + 1 (team) [minus 7 FT rebounds]
TO: Phi– 15 + 2 (team)
Poss: Phi– 103 {49 “Empty”}
PPP: Phi– 1.039
CV%: Phi– 54 conversions / 103 possessions, .524
Stripes: Phi– -3 [-1.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Phi – 52.5 conversions / 103 possessions, .510 {expected production, 105 points}


Note re Calculation & Notation:

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) – FT OR’s

“Conversions” calculation: FG’s + FT conversions

“Stripes” calculation: 3FG’s – missed FTA’s

TS% = True Shooting Percentage

PPP = Points per Possession

CV% = Conversion Percentage


Abacus Revelation for the Road 

Philly's Joel Embiid was assessed a "minor" flagrant foul late in Q3 -- consequently, Enes Kanter got an FT conversion and the C's got a "free" possession.

When the stats for this game are finalized, will Embiid be assessed a Turnover to account for the extra opponent possession?

Should he?