The Boston Celtics, after a tough first half against the injury-plagued Memphis Grizzlies, won their 14th straight at home, which is something they last did back in 1990-91. Memphis is a hard-fighting team and entered the game with a very good momentum after their unexpected win at Cleveland two days ago.
The Grizzlies controlled the pace of the game by showing strength both at the defensive and offensive glass. In the first half they out-rebounded the Celtics 23-13 and scored 15 2nd chance points. In the second half, the Celtics did what they do best. They tightened up their defense and ran the floor in a pace that Memphis team couldn’t follow. As a result, Boston finished the game with 19 fast break points, forcing 19 turnovers, and finally won the game easily, 116-96. What can we keep from this game as we move into the last part of the season?
A) Improved rebounding: Due to their fast-paced style, the Celtics have many rebounding opportunities during a game and that’s one of the main reasons they are sixth in rebounds per game in the NBA. However, the stat that we have to look at more closely is Rebound Percentage (REB%). REB% shows the percentage of (the available) rebounds a team obtains during a game. REB% is much more accurate because it takes into account the number of possessions and missed shots during a game. The Celtics rank 20th in REB% and this is something they need to improve on as much as possible.
Their lack of size might be a crucial factor during the playoffs when they will face tougher opponents. Controlling the defensive rebounds is very important for Boston because it helps them do what they want during a game: run the floor. Besides, as we know, securing the defensive rebound is the first step for a successful fast break.
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B) Transition Game success: The Boston Celtics are much more comfortable when running the floor. As we have mentioned, they are one of the fastest-paced teams in the NBA (third overall) and score many of their points in transition (sixth in the league). Over 16 percent of their offense comes from transition plays.
When Celtics are allowed to run during a game and do it successfully, they make most of their opponents feel uncomfortable. In the game versus Memphis, they managed to do so mostly in the third quarter and took a commanding lead they never lost until the end. It’s quite obvious that if they want to keep up their above-expectations season run, they will have to continue being efficient in transition and generate as many fast break points as possible.
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In the next games, the Celtics are facing some playoff teams such as Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers, and both games are going to be a good test for them. The Celtics are in a good spot to finish third in the Eastern Conference and enter the playoffs with home court advantage for the first time since 2012.