“Cat-burglar” Celts swipe Game 7 from rambunctious Raps

In the close-out of Boston’s series-clinching 92-87 nail-biter over Nick Nurse’s resilient Raptors, the play-by-play man on the national broadcast – was it Marv Albert-sound-alike Kevin Harlan? – pointed out that one-third of the Celtic scoring (31 points) had directly followed a Toronto Turnover.

Upon closer inspection, one sees that 12 of the Raptors’ 18 TO’s was a steal awarded to a Celtic player … and additional analysis shows that Brad Stevens’s boys scored on 10 of the 12 possessions on the heels of those steals. [By contrast, Toronto managed just one steal among Boston’s 12 TO’s (which cost them 18 points).]

The 20 Boston “Points off Steals” included seven lay-ups, an alley-oop and two mid-range jump shots, half that total categorized as “Fast-Break” points. [Smart 8 points, Walker & Brown 4 points each, Tatum & Theis 2 points each]

Strangely enough, through six games Toronto had 49 steals to the Celtics’ 36.

Game Seven Pressure?

Jayson Tatum seemed determined to put his fingerprints on this game from the start, delivering 12 Q1 minutes that produced nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block.

Hats off to the Williams Boys, whose steady, heady play included grabbing half the team’s 10 Offensive Rebounds … the rookie also contributed one of the steals.

Impressive showing from three guys, none of whom has celebrated his 23rd birthday.


BOSTON 92

FG: C’s – 35-86, .407
3FG: C’s – 9-38, .237
FT: C’s – 13-23, .565 [10 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .479
OR: C’s – 10 + 6 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 34 + 0 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
TO: C’s – 10 + 2 (team)
Poss: C’s – 92 {47 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.000
CV%: C’s – 45 / 92, .489
Stripes: C’s – -1 [0.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 44.5 / 92, .484 {expected production, 89 points}


TORONTO 87

FG: Tor – 31-75, .413
3FG: Tor – 8-28, .286
FT: Tor – 17-19, .895 [8 conversions]
TS%: Tor – .524
OR: Tor – 7 + 1 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Tor – 37 + 3 (team) [minus 5 FT rebounds]
TO: Tor – 18 + 0 (team)
Poss: Tor – 93 {54 “Empty”}
PPP: Tor – 0.935
CV%: Tor – 39 / 93, .419
Stripes: Tor – 6 [3 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Tor – 42 / 93, .452 {expected production, 84 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

Through 11 playoff games, the C’s have allowed exactly 1,100 points, precisely 100 per game, while scoring 1,184 -- +7.6 per.

Boston has converted 529 of 1,088 possessions (.496), the opposition 498 of 1,089 (.466).