Celtics out-shoot Spurs, Hayward winged, in one-sided Alamo duel

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Despite falling into a 7 – 0 hole to kick off Saturday afternoon’s confrontation with the San Antonio Spurs, Brad Stevens’s Wrecking Crew quickly righted their ship. Within 10 possessions, the C’s had assumed a non-refundable lead – the third consecutive encounter in which our boys have played from in front for the final three-and-a-half quarters or so.

Shot Selection

The team’s emotional leader Marcus Smart posted a rather interesting stat line – nine of his 10 field goal attempts were three-pointers (90% of his shots, sheesh!). For the season, 52 of Smart’s 76 shots have emanated from beyond the arc (.684). Last season, 61% of his FGA’s were treys (His up-to-the-minute career 3PAr is .512.)

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“Hurricane Marcus” has logged 240 minutes to date – launching a shot every 3.2 minutes.

Gordon Hayward’s sadly-interrupted hot start saw him shooting once every 2.4 minutes – Jaylen Brown one shot per 2.2 minutes in his intermittent play.

The quickest triggers on the squad have belonged to Kemba Walker (1.8 minutes between shots) and Jayson Tatum (1.9 minutes) – and of course there’s the never-shy Carsen Edwards (2.6 minutes)


Game 8 at San Antonio


Boston 135

FG: C’s – 48-94, .511
3FG: C’s – 14-37, .378
FT: C’s – 25-28, .893 [11 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .635
OR: C’s – 7 + 2 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 36 + 4 (team) [minus 2 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 8 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 105 {46 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.286
CV%: C’s – 59 / 105, .562
Stripes: C’s – 11 [5.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 64.5 / 105, .614 {expected production, 129 points}


San Antonio 115

FG: SA – 39-99, .394
3FG: SA – 14-30, .467
FT: SA – 23-30, .767 [12 conversions]
TS%: SA – .512
OR: SA – 21 + 2 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
DR: SA – 36 + 4 (team) [minus 3 FT rebounds]
TO: SA – 15 + 0 (team)
Poss: SA – 103 {52 “Empty”}
PPP: Char – 1.117
CV%: SA – 51 / 103, .495
Stripes: SA – 7 [3.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: SA – 54.5 / 103, .529 {expected production, 109 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

Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Abacus Revelation for the Road

As expected, the box scores from the NBA G-League’s opening weekend just don’t add up!

The Association’s Developmental Loop is “test-driving” the game-hastening notion that all trips to the foul line will consist of just ONE shot – the value of the shot (1, 2 or 3 points) determined by the conditions surrounding the illegal conduct.

Consider that in Maine’s first outing, Romeo Langford hit 10 FG’s, two of them treys, and three of four FT’s for 27 points – but the specifics of how 3 FT’s equate to five points are hardly self-evident …

… and apparently left to one’s imagination?
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