Those critical of the Boston Celtics' offensive approach shake their heads at the volume of threes Joe Mazzulla's team launches. Last season, they hoisted an average of 48.2 shots from behind the arc. The Golden State Warriors were second in that category. They took 42.4.
In a recent edition of his new show, the "White Noise Podcast," Derrick White addressed those who view Boston's three-point rate as a negative.
"I hate when people are like, 'You guys do shoot too many 3s,'" voiced White. He then beautifully articulated the truth behind the Celtics' offense.
"We had a team where spacing was everything for us. And when we created space, when we drove, when we attacked, we were creating those 2-on-1s and we were getting looks that every team in the NBA would take, especially from the shooters that we had shooting the shots."
What skeptics are missing about the Celtics' offense
The 2023-24 NBA champions boasted the NBA's most versatile rotation the last couple of years. The floor was frequently filled with interchangeable players. Mazzulla and his coaching staff then maximized that leverage.
Whether it was putting Jrue Holiday in the dunker spot, Kristaps Porzingis in the corner, or anything in between, constantly cycling through the abundance of ways to utilize such a dynamic group created conundrums for the opposition.
Boston repeatedly generated high-quality shots. That those were often from three-point range wasn't an accident; it was a decision driven by a simple calculation. If those attempts are worth more and you can consistently create a numbers advantage to turn drive-and-kicks and opportunities off screens into desirable looks from beyond the arc, then why wouldn't you?
Even the Celtics' approach proving fruitless as they squandered a pair of 20-point leads in consecutive home playoff losses to the New York Knicks requires further examination.
In the series opener, Boston's barrage of missed threes in the second half mostly came on quality chances for reliable shooters. Could some of them have gone towards a two-point attempt to help settle the situation? Sure. And not every possession ends with a sound process producing the desired result. There were decisions the vanquished wish they could have back. But show the Celtics which one of those expected makes wasn't about to go down, and they'll act accordingly. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that.
Furthermore, while there's a higher conversion rate around the rim, misses at the basket are like turnovers. Trying to attack inside the arc could have worked. It could also have fed into New York's game-changing momentum.
Those opportunities often come with a higher degree of difficulty due to congestion around the basket or a better contest on a mid-range shot. There was no guarantee those would find the bottom of the net, either. In fact, in Game 2, as deja vu unfolded, what often burned Boston was passing up threes due to what happened in the series opener.
Lastly, as much as "Mazzulla Ball" is about leaning into the mathematics of basketball, the priority is trying to create the best shot possible every time down the floor. The Celtics had the personnel to apply that in a manner that led to launching the most threes in the league.
And while Boston lost two floor-spacing centers in Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, the Celtics will help get the most out of their top-two projected replacements, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza.
Their other departure from that position on the depth chart was Luke Kornet. The organization converted him from an offensive approach oriented around shooting threes. Instead, he utilized his size, basketball IQ, screening, passing abilities, and finishing at the rim to fuel his on-court evolution.
They will also tap into what Queta and Garza do best to aid their ascent. That's what "Mazzulla Ball" is really about: maximizing the talent on the roster and consistently creating high-quality shots. It led to banner 18. And with Boston's bench boss signing a multi-year extension, he's in a position to continue carrying that out to aid the Celtics' return to title contention.