Depleted C’s elude trap, out-point pesky Magic

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The absence of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Enes Kanter created over 80 minutes of available Playing Time to be distributed among the remainder of the team … then starting center Daniel Theiss was whistled for two personal fouls in less than four minutes.

But surprise starter Grant Williams (3-for-4 on treys after a shaky start), Semi Ojeleye, Javonte Green (a team-high three offensive rebounds) and even Big Vince P (a meaningful 10 minutes, the longest stint of his young career) pitched in a combined 86 minutes of steady, productive effort (19 points and 15 boards).

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Kemba Walker celebrated his first starting ASG selection with a spectacular 37-point effort in the face of his long-time coach Steve Clifford – BTW, KW is posting his career-best FG% this season – while Gordon Hayward contributed a nifty 22 – 14 double-double.

Boston’s defense held Orlando to 40% overall FG shooting – the same rate at which the C’s converted their own three-pointers.

Hats off to Coach Brad Stevens, who corralled his 300th regular-season victory as the Celtics’ bench leader.


Game 44 at Orlando


Boston 109

FG: C’s – 40-86, .465
3FG: C’s – 14-35, .400
FT: C’s – 15-18, .833 [8 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .580
OR: C’s – 9 + 3 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 35 + 6 (team) [minus 4 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 13 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 96 {48 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.135
CV%: C’s – 48 / 96, .500
Stripes: C’s – 11 [5.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 53.5 / 96, .557 {expected production, 107 points}


Orlando 98

FG: Orl – 36-90, .400
3FG: Orl – 12-37, .324
FT: Orl – 14-19, .737 [8 conversions]
TS%: Orl – .498
OR: Orl – 13 + 2 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Orl – 33 + 2 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
TO: Orl – 14 + 0 (team)
Poss: Orl – 97 {53 “Empty”}
PPP: Orl – 1.010
CV%: Orl – 44 / 97, .454
Stripes: Orl – 7 [3.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Orl – 47.5 / 97, .490 {expected production, 95 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

Despite Coach Stevens limiting himself to a nine-man rotation in a game devoid of “garbage time,” no Celtic logged 40+ minutes of playing time against the Magic.

To date this season, only four C’s – Hayward, Smart, Tatum (twice) and Brown – reached that work-rate, two cases of such “hard labor” occurring in Boston’s OT loss to the Clippers.

Oddly, Boston is on a seven-game LOSING streak when a player surpasses 40 minutes of PT – that dubious run of bad luck dates back a full 12 months to Jan. 26, 2019 vs. GSW at the Garden.
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