The Algebra of the Game: Wounded C’s win ugly, extend streak to 10
Summative Equation:
Bos – 51 Conversions + [0 “Stripes”] {7 treys “minus” 7 missed FT’s “equals” 0 stripes}
LAL – 45 Conversions + [-1 “Stripe”] {5 treys “minus” 6 missed FT’s “equals” -1 stripe}
Expected Outcome -- +6 Conversions + [+1 Stripes] = C’s win by 13 points
Actual Score: Boston 107, Lakers 96
Summative Equation (Season-to-date):
Bos – 569 Conversions + [+65 “Stripes”] {133 treys “minus” 68 missed FT’s “equals” 65 stripes}
Opp – 524 Conversions + [+40 “Stripes”] {96 treys “minus” 56 missed FT’s “equals” 40 stripes}
Expected Outcome -- +45 Conversions + [+25 Stripes] = C’s win by (78 + 24) 115 points
Actual Score: Boston 1246, Opponents 1135
Consequently, the Celtics’ 23 “second chances” – good for 22 “follow-up points,” compared to LA’s 14 – compensated for their overall .388 shooting from the field.
Luke Walton’s young Lakers played in fits and starts most of the game. In each of the first three quarters, LA had posted one or more stretches of at least four consecutive conversions AND endured one or more strings of at least four straight Empty Possessions.
But in Q4 the Lakers put together back-to-back conversions just once. Brad Stevens’s short-handed troops won the Fourth 10 conversion to seven – 7-4 in follow-up points.
The Algebra of the Game
1st Quarter
FG: C’s – 13-28, .464 / LAL – 6-18, .333
3FG: C’s – 4-9, .444 / LAL – 0-5, .000
FT: C’s – 3-4, .750 [2] / LAL – 4-6, .667 [2]
TO: C’s – 2 / LAL – 9
OR: C’s – 4 + 2 (team) / LAL – 2 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 26 / LAL – 26
CV%: C’s – 15 / 26, .577 / LAL – 8 / 26, .308
2nd Quarter
FG: C’s – 9-21, .429 / LAL – 13-24, .542
3FG: C’s – 0-6, .000 / LAL – 4-8, .500
FT: C’s – 10-13, .769 [5] / LAL – 6-7, .857 [3]
TO: C’s – 4 / LAL – 3
OR: C’s – 2 + 0 (team) / LAL – 3 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 28 / LAL – 27
CV%: C’s – 14 / 28, .500 / LAL – 16 / 27, .593
FG: C’s – 8-25, .320 / LAL – 13-25, .520
3FG: C’s – 2-7, .286 / LAL – 1-7, .143
FT: C’s – 8-10, .800 [4] / LAL – 2-4, .500 [1]
TO: C’s – 4 / LAL – 3
OR: C’s – 5 + 1 (team) / LAL – 3 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 27 / LAL – 26
CV%: C’s – 12 / 27, .444 / LAL – 14 / 26, .538
4th Quarter
FG: C’s – 8-24, .333 / LAL – 5-18, .278
3FG: C’s – 1-7, .143 / LAL – 0-5, .00
FT: C’s – 3-4, .750 [2] / LAL – 5-6, .833 [2]
TO: C’s – 4 / LAL – 5
OR: C’s – 6 + 3 (team) / LAL – 4 + 0 (team)
Poss: C’s – 21 / LAL – 21
CV%: C’s – 10 / 21, .476 / LAL – 7 / 21, .333
Full Game
FG: C’s – 38-98, .388 / LAL – 37-85, .435
3FG: C’s – 7-29, .241 / LAL – 5-24, .208
FT: C’s – 24-31, .774 [13] / LAL – 17-23, .739 [8]
TO: C’s – 14 / LAL – 20
OR: C’s – 17 + 6 (team) / LAL – 12 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 102 / LAL – 100
CV%: C’s – 51 / 102, .500 / LAL – 45 / 100, .450
Note re Calculations:
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)
“Conversions” calculation: FG’s + FT conversions
Abacus Revelation for the Road
The last time the Celtics won ten in a row this early was 45 seasons ago. At the time, a 24-year-old Dave Cowens – aided and abetted by rugged newcomer Paul Silas – was laying the foundation for an MVP performance.
