Celts conjure up sufficient pest control to subdue fast-starting Hornets

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Unless I’m mistaken, there is a codicil to the “Law of Averages” that requires there be occasional aberrations in performance. The most obvious recent basketball example of this phenomenon was the Houston Rockets’ infamous 2018 playoff flame-out that featured a mind-boggling 0-for-27 stretch of three-point shooting.

Despite Boston’s ultimately one-sided swatting of the pesky but road-weary Hornets Sunday at the TD Garden, there was not a whole lot of “Average” in the Algebra of this game – from a box-score showing a mere 14 combined Turnovers, to the Celts’ jaw-dropping +30 in Total Rebounds. (And poor Brad Wanamaker’s impressive five Q4 assists will get overlooked in lieu of Jayson Tatum’s 9-for-13, 22-point scoring blitz.)

The “extremes” of this encounter are epitomized by Charlotte’s .652 Conversion Rate (15-for-23) in Q1 contrasted with their .250 (6-for-24) in Q4. (For the full 48 minutes, Charlotte managed just three Second-Chance shots.)

Jim Michaud / MediaNews Group/Boston Herald

Coach Stevens had to be pleased with the efforts of his rotation (?) rookies, who combined for 24 points (on 60% FG shooting) and a dozen boards in just over 60 minutes of court time. Romeo Langford matched wily vet Enes Kanter with a team high three Offensive Rebounds.




Boston 119

FG: C’s – 46-88, .523
3FG: C’s – 14-32, .438
FT: C’s – 13-16, .813 [5 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .626
OR: C’s – 10 + 4 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 47 + 1 (team) [minus 5 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 11 + 2 (team)
Poss: C’s – 92 {41 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.293
CV%: C’s – 51 / 92, .554
Stripes: C’s – 11 [5.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 56.5 / 92, .614 {expected production, 113 points}


Charlotte 93

FG: Char – 33-82, .402
3FG: Char – 10-34, .294
FT: Char – 17-23, .739 [8 conversions]
TS%: Char – .505
OR: Char – 2 + 2 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Char – 25 + 2 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
TO: Char – 3 + 3 (team)
Poss: Char – 92 {51 “Empty”}
PPP: Char – 1.011
CV%: Char – 41 / 92, .446
Stripes: Char – 4 [2 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Char – 43 / 92, .467 {expected production, 86 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 Hornets were the fifth team to face Boston as the second game of a back-to-back … the C’s have taken care of business each time.

Milwaukee and Philadelphia have enjoyed the most “back-end” opponents, each undefeated in seven tries … at the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Dolan’s Knicks are 1-5 when facing a team on the second night of a B2B.