Boston Celtics: 3 keys to victory over the Houston Rockets
By Mark Nilon
Lock in on perimeter defense
It’s no secret that the Houston Rockets love to shoot the 3. Historically, Mike D’Antonio led offenses tend to rank at the top of the league in perimeter scoring/ shooting. 2019-20 hasn’t proven to sway away from this trend — especially since they shifted towards this vertically challenged lineup.
On the season, the Rockets lead the league in 3-point attempts with 44.2 per game. For these past 11 outings with this unit of Westbrook, Harden, Eric Gordon, Robert Covington and PJ Tucker, the team has managed to up this number to 48 attempts per game and have increased their scoring averages to 120.8 (second in the NBA).
If the Boston Celtics wish to come away from tonight’s game victorious, perhaps the most important thing they need to key in on is their perimeter defense.
Luckily for the C’s, the team as a whole ranks fifth in the association when it comes to opponents 3-point field goal percentage, allowing an average of only 34 percent.
The team lives and dies by the 3 — as made evident by their 37.9 percent shooting in wins and 30.4 percent shooting in losses. If Boston can hold them in check form downtown, it would only aid in their quest to take down the soaring Rockets.