Numbers & thoughts on seeding game 6 “vs” Orlando

As if playing a “home” game against the Magic in Central Florida isn’t peculiar enough, consider this little statistical oddity – Marcus Smart and Kemba Walker each contributed more assists than points to the Celtics’ 122-119 OT victory Sunday evening. Smart’s team-high nine included delivering the ultimate pass on both Boston FG’s in extended play. [The team’s overall playmaking produced an acknowledged assist on 71 percent of their “makes” (32 of 45).]

For the second consecutive game, Coach Stevens’s squad converted exactly half their possessions – the C’s converted at a 59 percent rate in wins against both the Blazers and Raps, their only sub-50 percent effort coming in the “seeding” opener with the Bucks.

Pre-hiatus, Boston was successful on 3,268 of 6,378 offensive possessions (51.2 percent), the opposition 3,121 of 6,378 (48.9 percent). “Striping” added the equivalent of 59 conversions (not quite one per game) to the C’s advantage over the other guys. That translates to an additional 395 points scored, a little over six per game. [In six seeding games, Boston is +50 in points scored, +6.3 per game.]


BOSTON 122

FG: C’s – 45-102, .441
3FG: C’s – 12-40, .300
FT: C’s – 20-24, .833 [10 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .542
OR: C’s – 13 + 2 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
DR: C’s – 41 + 2 (team) [minus 2 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 12 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 110 {55 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.173
CV%: C’s – 52 / 110, .500
Stripes: C’s – 12 [6 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 58 / 110, .558 {expected production, 116 points}


ORLANDO 119

FG: Orl – 42-102, .402
3FG: Orl – 15-47, .319
FT: Orl – 22-26, .846 [12 conversions]
TS%: Orl – .525
OR: Orl – 12 + 4 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Orl – 40 + 3 (team) [minus 1 FT rebound]
TO: Orl – 13 + 1 (team)
Poss: Orl – 112 {59 “Empty”}
PPP: Orl – 1.063
CV%: Orl – 53 / 112, .473
Stripes: Orl – 11 [5.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Orl – 58.5 / 112, .522 {expected production, 117 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 Game 7 of the 1974 NBA Finals, Boston’s quest for Banner No. 12 was aided and abetted by 12 points and a team-high (shared with fellow future Hall of Famer John Havlicek) six assists contributed by a feisty and flashy sophomore reserve backcourt man out of USC, Red’s top choice in the ’72 draft.

Sadly, we’ve learned that 69-year-old Paul Westphal has been diagnosed with brain cancer … let’s keep Westy and his loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.