The Boston Celtics have transformed their game into one of the best offenses in the NBA
If you were to label the Boston Celtics throughout the early part of the season, you would hand them the moniker of a squad centered around its performance on the defensive side of the ball, with their main hindrance being a lack of a premier scoring threat.
However, under the tutelage of February’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month Brad Stevens, the Celtics have developed into one of the most formidable offensive attacks in the NBA, becoming a team predicated on fast-paced fury and fluid ball movement.
In a league centered around isolation play and an utter absence of sharing the rock, it’s certainly intriguing and enticing to witness an offense such as Boston’s. Stevens encourages effective ball movement in transition to open up fast-break opportunities for a plethora of players, while calling for rapid ball reversal in the half court offense which has led to a multitude of open three-pointers as of late.
After struggling to score the ball earlier in the season, the Celtics have essentially revamped and refurnished their attacking style as the season has gone along.
We're in crunch time & that's a good thing when the C's are doing things like this. Catch the finish on @CSNNE https://t.co/AYgHWqUOV1
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 26, 2016
The team is currently ranked fourth in the NBA in nightly scoring, posting 105.9 points per contest, and holds the 11th spot on ESPN’s offensive efficiency rating scale.
Still think that Boston’s offense is not among the NBA’s elite? Over the past 15 tilts, the Celtics have posted 108 points per 100 possessions, which trails only the top three teams in the Western Conference. Keep in mind that this has been accomplished without a Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, or Russell Westbrook leading the offense.
While Isaiah Thomas is capable of taking over a game with his tough-natured driving ability, this surge into the upper echelon of the NBA’s scoring squads has been manifested by a sensational sharing of the ball. Also, the emergence of former role players, such as Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, and Jared Sullinger, performing above their glass ceilings on the offensive end.
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This offensive focus has come without a price as well. The Celtics may be guilty of taking a shot too early in the shot clock from time to time, however, their point differential of +4.2 is still good for seventh in the NBA, while going 11-4 over their last 15 games. Boston has also harvested an 11-game winning streak at home, their greatest at the TD Garden since the 2012-13 campaign.