Joe Mazzulla: Live & Die Basketball

[Ed Monix]

Kirk Goldsberry recently made an interesting point in regards to the differences in philosophies between Udoka & Mazzulla.

The Mazzulla Era has a much higher level of offensive variance due to his belief in leaning heavily on three point shooting.

When the Celtics shoot 40% from 3 this season, they are 21 - 0.

When the Celtics shoot 32% from 3 this season, they are 6 - 10.

In the month of February, the Celtics are averaging 57 points from three, and only 45 on two’s.

[Goldstar88]

It’s Brads Philosophy. That’s how he believes the game should be played in todays NBA.

[Celtics2021]

Notably they’ve shot 40% from 3 more than 30% more frequently than they’ve shot 32% from 3.  When you’ve got a good shooting team, having a strategy that relies on making shots isn’t a bad one.

They also produce the second-most open and wide open 3-point attempts per game, behind only Dallas.

[Kernewek]

Kirk Goldsberry recently made an interesting point in regards to the differences in philosophies between Udoka & Mazzulla.

The Mazzulla Era has a much higher level of offensive variance due to his belief in leaning heavily on three point shooting.

When the Celtics shoot 40% from 3 this season, they are 21 - 0.

When the Celtics shoot 32% from 3 this season, they are 6 - 10.

In the month of February, the Celtics are averaging 57 points from three, and only 45 on two’s.

I like Goldsbury's insights usually, but this has a tinge of 'water is wet' about it. The league average from 3 is 36% this year, and the C's are shooting 37.8% ...

In other words, when they make threes at an above average rate they win basketball games, and when they don't, they usually, but not always, lose them. I would hazard a guess that this trend (wins when you're shooting above 40%  from three, losing record when you're shooting sub 32%) applies to most, if not all, NBA teams.