Boston Celtics: Second Half Comeback Falls Short in 100-94 loss to Blazers

Hayward, Horford & Brown, Bricklayers Co.

Entering play Sunday, Jaylen Brown was shooting 27.7 percent from three-point range, Al Horford was shooting just 30.2 percent, while Gordon Hayward was making only 31.8 percent of his tries.

All three players are attempting more than four three-pointers per game. On Sunday, Horford missed all five of his three-point attempts, while Hayward (1-for-3) and Brown (1-for-4) missed good looks as well.

The rest of the team shot 40 percent (12-of-30) from deep.

The Celtics offense is predicated on the threat of all five guys shooting from behind the arc. When three of their key pieces are ice cold, even on wide-open attempts, its hard for offense to reach its potential.

Horford’s three-point shooting is especially important because when he knocks down open shots, opponents will second-guess double-teaming Irving in the pick-and-roll, giving him more space to operate inside the arc.

Irving has fired off some incredible over-the-head sling passes to get Horford wide-open threes in the pick-and-pop. Horford needs to reward his point guard with some assists.

Hayward seems closer and closer to a breakout performance soon, perhaps after some rest for the road weary. All his misses lately have seemed dead-on center, most just missing off the back rim. For a shooter, that’s the best miss to have and it means you’re a probably a slight arc adjustment away from going supernova.

Brown has made only one three in each of the last six games, despite attempting 27, and has made multiple three-pointers in a game only twice in 13 games. He is shooting 22 percent on two open three–pointers per game and 27 percent on two wide-open attempts per game.

Let’s hope the boys perk up in the three-game home stand next week.