Celts forget how to defend, squander fast start in Game 1 setback

The Second Quarter of Tuesday’s opening game of the ECF began innocently enough for Brad Stevens and his Celtics. With starters Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart resting, a Jayson Tatum trey and Brad Wanamaker old-fashioned three-point play (off a Tatum O-board) book-ended two empty possessions as Boston increased an eight-point Q1 advantage to a more comfortable 12 points.

Erik Spoelstra’s South Beach Crew had cooperated by coming up empty on two of their first three tries in the new stanza. To that point, the Heat had eight conversions in their 25 possessions while the C’s had succeeded on exactly half their 26 opportunities.

Man of (5) steal(s)

But from the Tyler Herro Turnover that led to Wanamaker’s cash-in (at the 10:40 mark) until Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo misfired on jumpers in the half’s final 30 seconds, Boston earned a “stop” on just TWO of the Heat’s next 17 possessions. (Miami fashioned streaks of nine and six consecutive conversions.)

But for the Heat’s “rust” at the charity stripe – a sorry one-for-four – the Celts would have been losing at the intermission.

In total, the Heat converted 16 of 22 possessions in Q2 – then matched that total on just 21 tries in Q4 … that’s a Conversion Rate of 74 percent for those 24 minutes of play!

I guess an optimistic Celtic fan can find some solace in the boys pushing this contest into OT despite such ridiculous numbers for such long stretches.


BOSTON 114

FG: C’s – 39-88, .443
3FG: C’s – 15-42, .357
FT: C’s – 21-23, .913 [9 conversions]
TS%: C’s – .588
OR: C’s – 6 + 3 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: C’s – 31 + 3 (team) [minus 2 FT rebounds]
TO: C’s – 10 + 1 (team)
Poss: C’s – 99 {51 “Empty”}
PPP: C’s – 1.152
CV%: C’s – 48 / 99, .485
Stripes: C’s – 13 [6.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: C’s – 54.5 / 99, .551 {expected production, 109 points}


MIAMI 117

FG: Mia – 40-85, .471
3FG: Mia – 16-36, .444
FT: Mia – 21-28, .750 [12 conversions]
TS%: Mia – .603
OR: Mia – 7 + 5 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
DR: Mia – 34 + 3 (team) [minus 0 FT rebounds]
TO: Mia – 12 + 1 (team)
Poss: Mia – 98 {46 “Empty”}
PPP: Mia – 1.194
CV%: Mia – 52 / 98, .531
Stripes: Mia – 9 [4.5 conversions]
Adjusted CV%: Mia – 56.5 / 98, .577 {expected production, 113 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

While venting your frustrations over a “bad loss,” keep in mind that things could always be worse …

… for instance, you could be a Clipper fan.

I’ve often quipped of my confidence that the franchise that began as the Buffalo Braves will never be allowed by the basketball gods to win an NBA championship in my lifetime, generally adding that the very “shock” of the team reaching the Conference Final might just be enough to kill me.

Almost found out the hard way.

Related: Has Paul Pierce Been “Buffaloed” by the Clipper Curse?