Mavericks (24-21) at Celtics (23-24) Game #48 3/31/21

[Tr1boy]

Celts have 3 all stars and one 1st all team D

Vs a team with one all star

And getting killed

 Brad is "underachieving" this group. When will Danny realize this?

[PhoSita]

There is seriously no reason to think that making the playoffs would be better for the future of the franchise than simply resting guys heavily the remainder of the season and getting a top 12 pick.

[RJ87]

I hate when Walker dribbles down and fires up a quick three.

What about when Tatum does it?

No, I dont like that either.

Live and die by the three...I mean Brad ball.

Quit listening to the analytics...posting up and mid range jumpers can win games too.

I mean, this is the entire NBA. Analytics actually show we don't take enough 3's.

[nickagneta]

Just tuning in....

Guess I didn't miss much.

[Silas]

Sometimes Tatum is such a ball hog.

[ozgod]

One team can shoot, one can't....

Yet, somehow we've shot one more three than them. 

I suspect it's because their analytics nerds have told them that they aren't shooting enough threes and were taking too many midrange shots. From Jay King's article in the Athletic after the loss to the Jazz:

Stevens saw that the Celtics had attempted 18 more field goals than Utah. Normally, the coach suggested, that type of disparity would result in a Boston win. But not against the Jazz, who found other ways to shift the odds in their direction. In a league where the 3-point arc can mean everything, the Celtics again lagged behind top competition from that distance.

“If you would have told me we took 18 more shots in the game, I would have felt pretty good about our chances,” Stevens said. “But I do think the quality of shots, as far as just from an efficiency standpoint, favored them quite a bit. As it has all year. They’ve been the best in the league at it.”

The Celtics have not. For various reasons, they have not kept up with the rest of the league’s push toward embracing the 3-point arc. It’s a strange development because, under Stevens, they used to be among the league’s trendsetters in the movement. Four years ago, during Isaiah Thomas’ final season in Boston, his team ranked third in 3-point attempts per 100 possessions, trailing only James Harden’s Rockets and LeBron James’ Cavaliers in that statistic. The league has evolved a whole lot since then. More and more big men have increased their range. Many guards, following Stephen Curry’s lead, are now pulling up from well behind the line. The average team now launches almost eight more 3-pointers per game than the average team from the 2016-17 season. Even in such a rapidly transforming environment, the Celtics have regressed in their shot selection. They are actually taking fewer 3-pointers per 100 possessions this season than they did four years ago. Entering Tuesday, they ranked 18th in 3-point makes and 20th in 3-point attempts per 100 possessions. Though they rank a decent 11th in 3-point percentage, they are doing themselves a disservice by failing to use the line to greater effect. Tuesday, the Jazz outscored Boston by 27 points from behind the arc. The final score: 117-109.

https://theathletic.com/2456816/2021/03/17/the-celtics-are-getting-their-shots-but-theyre-the-kind-that-leave-a-team-behind-in-the-nba/

That's why we're seeing them jack it up from 3 a lot more recently.

[Chief]

I hate when Walker dribbles down and fires up a quick three.

What about when Tatum does it?

No, I dont like that either.

Live and die by the three...I mean Brad ball.

Quit listening to the analytics...posting up and mid range jumpers can win games too.

I don’t see how anyone can like playing with Tatum...he does not pass and the offense in most cases runs through him.

I hope the coaches praise him on the pass to Kornet.  It was one of the better passes of his career.

[liam]

Walker and Smart are a predicable 4-17.

Pritchard has 5 points on 2 shots.

Do you think Brad watches the game? He can't be seeing something practice cause there is no practice. What is he watching?

[RJ87]

Celts have 3 all stars and one 1st all team D

Vs a team with one all star

And getting killed

 Brad is "underachieving" this group. When will Danny realize this?

Smart has been far from 1st team all-anything this season.

[esel1000]

There is seriously no reason to think that making the playoffs would be better for the future of the franchise than simply resting guys heavily the remainder of the season and getting a top 12 pick.

Been saying that for weeks now. This team is going nowhere.

[Silas]

At least Fournier hit a couple of shots.

[Phantom255x]

I think we need to accept this team is likely headed to a first round exit.

I mean yeah they could also miss the playoffs entirely but I think other teams are just worse (somehow).

[jambr380]

Marcus and Kemba, 1 for 9 from 3s.  Why won't Brad let Payton play more minutes?

Really 1-8. Kemba, once again, throwing up a prayer at the buzzer at the end of the 2nd. It's bad enough when he does it in a game where is on fire, but when he is shooting this poory, it just makes his bad percentage even worse. I really wish the ball would be in somebody else's hands at the ends of quarters for a change - the dude can't help but shoot it.

[liam]

I hate when Walker dribbles down and fires up a quick three.

What about when Tatum does it?

No, I dont like that either.

Live and die by the three...I mean Brad ball.

Quit listening to the analytics...posting up and mid range jumpers can win games too.

I don’t see how anyone can like playing with Tatum...he does not pass and the offense in most cases runs through him.

I hope the coaches praise him on the pass to Kornet.  It was one of the better passes of his career.

Kornet needs to be on the floor if for no other reason, Tatum likes passing to him.

[CF033]

Walker and Smart are a predicable 4-17.

Pritchard has 5 points on 2 shots.

Do you think Brad watches the game? He can't be seeing something practice cause there is no practice. What is he watching?

It feels like he sticks hard to his game plan rotations and never adjusts to how players are actually performing.