Celtics start slow (again) but roll past road-weary Heat

In late January of 1967, the Cincinnati Royals were scheduled to play on six consecutive days – the Miami Heat wrapped up the modern NBA’s equivalent of such a marathon Wednesday evening against the Celtics in the TD Garden. The surprising early-season contenders from South Beach were competing for the eight time in 12 “playing dates” (13 days), six times on the road.

Fittingly for a “marathon” concluding in Boston, the Heat had to face their “Heartbreak Hill” the night before in Toronto, a hard-earned Overtime victory over the defending champions.

Miami started strong in both ends of this week’s tough back-to-back, assuming early leads and playing from in front through most of the first half … but thanks in part to the prior evening’s extended play, the Spoelstra-less (Congrats, Pop!) Heat ran out of gas after last night’s intermission. (A fresh team doesn’t yield 26 Points off TO’s. Combining TO- and 2nd-Chance-Points, Boston was +20 for the game.)

"Bostonian" Dan Craig running the show

This game – coming on the heels of back-to-back “off” days – was the C’s second “Schedule Win” of the season. They have not squandered either opportunity.




Boston 112

FG: C’s – 35-80, .438
3FG: C’s – 16-41, .390
FT: C’s – 26-32, .813 [16 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .595
OR: C’s – 9 + 3 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 36 + 1 (team) [minus 3 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 9 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 95 {44 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.179
CV%: C’s – 51 / 95, .537
Stripes: C’s – 10 [5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 56 / 95, .589 {expected production, 112 points}


Miami 93

FG: Mia – 34-78, .436
3FG: Mia – 14-38, .368
FT: Mia – 11-17, .647 [7 conversions]
TS%: Mia – .544
OR: Mia – 8 + 3 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
DR: Mia – 32 + 4 (team) [minus 4 FT rebounds]
TO: Mia – 18 + 1 (team)
Poss: Mia – 93 {52 “Empty”}
PPP: Mia – 1.000
CV%: Mia – 41 / 93, .441
Stripes: Mia – 8 [4 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Mia – 45 / 93, .484 {expected production, 90 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

In that six-game stretch back in 1967, Oscar Robertson and his team went 4 – 2, even winning on both the fifth and sixth nights.


images: Charles Krupa