NBA Holiday Cheer Begins at Home

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

‘Twas the week before Christmas
When through the League proper
The Home teams were flushing
Their foes down the hopper.

Friday’s 10-game slate of NBA action produced nine Home winners, over half of them – topped by the C’s 21-point pasting of the Pistons – easing their way to comfortable double-digit victories … and it’s likely no coincidence that the one exception occurred in the historically Santa-hatin’ City of Brotherly Love.

In point of fact, though, home-court hasn’t been providing much advantage in the Association over the past week or so – Homeboys had been exactly .500 (34-34) over the prior 10 days.

ELISE AMENDOLA, AP

Uncharacteristically, Andre Drummond and his Michigan mates have been a decidedly mediocre rebounding squad this season, currently No. 15 defensively (.775) and No. 13 offensively (.231). But who foresaw such a puny .658 showing on the defensive glass from Duane Casey’s old-school cagers Friday night?




Boston 114

FG: C’s – 45-86, .523
3FG: C’s – 9-27, .333
FT: C’s – 15-21, .714 [9 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .598
OR: C’s –13 + 0 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 38 + 0 (team) [minus 3 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 20 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 102 {48 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.118 CV%: C’s – 54 / 102, .529
Stripes: C’s – 3 [1.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 55.5 / 102, .544 {expected production, 111 points}


Detroit 93

FG: Det – 34-85, .400
3FG: Det – 11-31, .355
FT: Det – 14-19, .737 [9 conversions]
TS%: Det – .498
OR: Det – 11 + 6 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
DR: Det – 25 + 4 (team) [minus 2 FT rebounds]
TO: Det – 24 + 1 (team)
Poss: Det – 102 {59 “Empty”}
PPP: Det – 0.912
CV%: Det – 43 / 102, .422
Stripes: Det – 6 [3 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Det – 46 / 102, .451 {expected production, 92 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

The Celtics’ 59 defensive “stops” against Detroit Friday night is the third-most they’ve posted this season, behind only the 61 of their Overtime loss to the Clippers and the 62 of their early November laugher in Charlotte.