Boston Celtics Prime Factor: Attack The Rim

Following the Boston Celtics’ 104-90 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, the majority of us probably spent hours lamenting Boston’s performance from behind the arc.

Obviously, shooting 4% from three-point land is an attention-getter, in the worst way possible.  No one was ever going to confuse the Celtics’ backcourt with the Splash Brothers out in Golden State, but a team that wants to spread the floor and push the pace on offense and defense in order to negate the size advantage so many of its opponents will hold over the Cs needs to be able to tickle the twine at least 30% of the time.

The most disappointing thing about the Celtics this Saturday, however, was the fact that this team decided to abandon its athleticism and energy and settle for those 25 outside shots.  Yes, Boston is going to have to take, and make, outside shots this season to stay competitive – but with floor spacing comes cuts to the basket and attacking the rim in transition, and Boston apparently wanted very little to do with that against Houston.

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Rajon Rondo,  Avery Bradley.  Jeff Green.  Marcus Smart.  James Young.  Phil Pressey.  Boston has some athletic players who should be attacking the rim, putting the defense onits heels and drawing trips to the charity stripe.  Well, in theory, that is.

In reality, the Celtics had three free throw attempts in the first half against Houston.  Three.  The Celtics wound up with 18 on the evening . . . to the Rockets’ 40.  Watching game film, there’s too many times that the Celtics settle for one pas, one three-point attempt . . . in transition.  Why?  The defense is still getting set; why not drive it to the rim?  Attack a player like Dwight Howard; make him play D, or foul you.  Three-pointers in transition once in a while are fine, but for the most, the long ball should be the result of good ball movement and finding the open man, not settling for a shot.

If Boston wants to win against the Dallas Mavericks tonight, settling for shots will not get it done.   I understand that knocking down threes consistently will open up the floor for more cuts to the hoop, but Boston cannot hope to shoot well to abandon forays into the paint for deep bombs.  I look to see the Celtics pressing the attack tonight, especially in transition, rather than living and dying by the three all night long.  After all, Dallas is committing 20 personal fouls on average per game – take what they’ll give you, Boston!