Game 1: Just the numbers

[seccom]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

During the regular season and the playoff, Lakers committed 2 less foul per game than the opponent. Celtics, on the other hand, committed 2 more fouls per game in the playoff and .5 more fouls in the regular seasons. Since FT attempts have a direct relationship with fouls committed. Before the final, I expected this will be a big advantage for the Lakers. But this was not the case yesterday. Celtics not only score more point from the field, they also score more point from the free throw line.

On the Lakers side, not everything was bad. One stat really surprised me: FG attempts.

Lakers actually attempted one more FG than the Celtics, which was not the case through out playoff. They almost always attempted less FG and than their opponents. But why?

Celtics’ 13 TOs to Lakers’ 8 TOs was probably the main reason that Lakers had more FG attempts. This was also a surprise stat since Celtics normally had a big advantage in this area.

Celtics had 1 more block shot than the Lakers was another surprise since this was normally a huge Lakers advantage. In the playoff before the final, Lakers block 1.5 more shot per game than their opponents and the Celtics block 1 less shot per game than their opponents.

There was only one stat that met my expectation. It was offensive rebounding. Celtics’ 3 extra offensive rebounding is expected.

Cheers...

[wdleehi]

The Laker's three point shooting suffered a big part because of the Celtics defense. They didn't allow the drive by Kobe.  He didn't create the space for the shooters.  There were less open shots. 


As for fouls, Celtics are the stronger and more aggressive team.  It is not surprising they got to the line more often. 

[seccom]

The Laker's three point shooting suffered a big part because of the Celtics defense. They didn't allow the drive by Kobe.  He didn't create the space for the shooters.  There were less open shots. 


As for fouls, Celtics are the stronger and more aggressive team.  It is not surprising they got to the line more often. 

Believe or not, I have not watched the game yet. Yesterday was my girl's gradution. I want to write this truly by the number.

However, a .214 3FG% allowed is a much better figure than Celtics's normal .316 against the whole league in both the regular season and the playoff. From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game.

[Roy Hobbs]

Believe or not, I have not watched the game yet. Yesterday was my girl's gradution. I want to write this truly by the number.

However, a .214 3FG% allowed is a much better figure than Celtics's normal .316 against the whole league in both the regular season and the playoff. From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game.

First, congratulations on your girl's graduation.

Second, you should watch the game before making statements like "From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game."  Our defense needed to get the kinks out in the first half; the team blew multiple defensive assignments. 

Additionally, KG missed nine shots in a row, which is far from typical.  Perk played a poor to terrible game.  James Posey was a non-factor offensively, as was the bench is general outside of Sam Cassell in the first half.

The Celtics can certainly play better.

[seccom]

Believe or not, I have not watched the game yet. Yesterday was my girl's gradution. I want to write this truly by the number.

However, a .214 3FG% allowed is a much better figure than Celtics's normal .316 against the whole league in both the regular season and the playoff. From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game.

First, congratulations on your girl's graduation.

Second, you should watch the game before making statements like "From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game."  Our defense needed to get the kinks out in the first half; the team blew multiple defensive assignments. 

Additionally, KG missed nine shots in a row, which is far from typical.  Perk played a poor to terrible game.  James Posey was a non-factor offensively, as was the bench is general outside of Sam Cassell in the first half.

The Celtics can certainly play better.

I should change my statement to

"From the Celtics side, they really cannot play better than yesterday's game in terms of 3FG defense (in terms of number)."

[BballTim]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

[seccom]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

The figure that you have post, actually told another story. The different in the FG% in regular season vs the playoff for the Celtics is the probably the main reason why the Celtics is struggling in the playoff.

In playoff, every teams is scoring less point than the regular season, but the drop in Celtics is probably bigger than most teams especially away from Boston.

I would also add a little comment on FT attempts. Having a 7 FT attempts edge in the first game help the Celtics to win that game, but it may have negative impact on future games. Since NBA officals are well known to even things out. Just something to think about..

[wdleehi]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

The figure that you have post, actually told another story. The different in the FG% in regular season vs the playoff for the Celtics is the probably the main reason why the Celtics is struggling in the playoff.

In playoff, every teams is scoring less point than the regular season, but the drop in Celtics is probably bigger than most teams especially away from Boston.

I would also add a little comment on FT attempts. Having a 7 FT attempts edge in the first game help the Celtics to win that game, but it may have negative impact on future games. Since NBA officals are well known to even things out. Just something to think about..

And how many of those were intentional fouls at the end of the game?


plus, the Celtics force the lakers into jump shooting while the Celtics attacked the basket. 

[BballTim]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

The figure that you have post, actually told another story. The different in the FG% in regular season vs the playoff for the Celtics is the probably the main reason why the Celtics is struggling in the playoff.

In playoff, every teams is scoring less point than the regular season, but the drop in Celtics is probably bigger than most teams especially away from Boston.

  First of all, I'd like to clarify what I was posting. In case it wasn't clear, the regular season was just the two Celts Lakers games. Also, the main reason the Celts struggled in the playoffs was that they'd never been to the playoffs as a group. The only time before this season that any of our top 6 had appeared in the playoffs together was the 20 or so minutes that Pierce and Perkins played against the Pacers 3 years ago. You saw game 1 (I assume). You probably saw some of the Pistons series, or maybe game 7 against the LeBrons. Do you think that the Hawks could take us to 7 games right now? It was an aberration.

[BballTim]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

I would also add a little comment on FT attempts. Having a 7 FT attempts edge in the first game help the Celtics to win that game, but it may have negative impact on future games. Since NBA officals are well known to even things out. Just something to think about..

  Aside from the fact that we took 9 more FTs a game than you in the regular season, Phil needs to tell your boys not to get 2-3 fouls in the first couple of minutes of the quarters. We probably had more non-shooting trips to the line than usual because the Lakers got into the penalty so early. We kept doing that in Cleveland...

[CoachBo]

Totally irrelevant numbers.

The Lakers got their butts beat - bad - on the backboards and they offered up no inside defense whatsoever.

If that doesn't change soon, it will be a short series.

Period.

[seccom]

Score: The final score is Celtics 98, Lakers 88.

The Celtics score 98 points on 76 FG attempts or 1.29 points per FG attempt. It is a lot better than their playoff average of 1.23. On the other side, Lakers score 88 points on 77 FG attempt or 1.14 points per FG attempt. It is a lot worst than their playoff average of 1.31.

Let us look at their scorings in detail, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 42.1, 41.6
3FG% - 31.6, 21.4
FT – 28/35, 21/28

It was advantage for the Celtics in all 3 figures. However, 2 numbers told the story of the game more than others: the Lakers 3FG percentage and the FT attempts of both teams.

Lakers’ 3FG% in playoff is .368 and regular season is .378. Yesterday’s .214 was way below those numbers. Celtics’ 3FG% allowed for both regular season and the playoff was .316. It is pretty easy to conclude that the Lakers just had a bad 3 points shooting night and the Celtics defense may have something to do it but not a lot.

Let us look at their scorings in detail from the regular season, (Celtics, 1st number, Lakers, 2nd number):

FG% - 48.4, 38.8
3FG% - 38.5, 31.5
FT – 25/34, 20/25

  So the Lakers shot better from the field, worse from the 3point line, and took 3 more free throws than they did vs the Celts in the regular season. The Celts shot worse from the field, worse from the 3 point line, and took 1 more free throw than in the earlier meetings. Also, consider that if the Lakers made 1 more 3 point attempt they'd have been at 29%, not much below our average. And in the playoffs, they shot 40% on 3s vs Denver and Utah, and 32.5% vs the Spurs, and our 3 point defense is better than the Spurs. We were the best vs 3 point shooting in the league by a pretty wide margin.

The figure that you have post, actually told another story. The different in the FG% in regular season vs the playoff for the Celtics is the probably the main reason why the Celtics is struggling in the playoff.

In playoff, every teams is scoring less point than the regular season, but the drop in Celtics is probably bigger than most teams especially away from Boston.

I would also add a little comment on FT attempts. Having a 7 FT attempts edge in the first game help the Celtics to win that game, but it may have negative impact on future games. Since NBA officals are well known to even things out. Just something to think about..

And how many of those were intentional fouls at the end of the game?


plus, the Celtics force the lakers into jump shooting while the Celtics attacked the basket. 

I cannot answer your question. I have not watch the game yet. It is just the number. Everything is just the number. But you can tell me how many of those are intentional.

[seccom]

Totally irrelevant numbers.

The Lakers got their butts beat - bad - on the backboards and they offered up no inside defense whatsoever.

If that doesn't change soon, it will be a short series.

Period.

Actually, just by the number, Lakers always lost on the backboard, that is expected. If you want to, check out their stat against the Jazz. It is totally one sided in favor of the Jazz. Having a rebounding edge is nothing unusual about the Celtics. They always have that edge.

[seccom]

Totally irrelevant numbers.

The Lakers got their butts beat - bad - on the backboards and they offered up no inside defense whatsoever.

If that doesn't change soon, it will be a short series.

Period.

Actually, just by the number, Lakers always lost on the backboard, that is expected. If you want to, check out their stat against the Jazz. It is totally one sided in favor of the Jazz. Having a rebounding edge is nothing unusual about the Celtics. They always have that edge.

A few days ago, I spend a little bit of time looking at Celtics' playoff number. It was very clear to me, the greatest strength of the Celtis team is rebounding. Most of you (the Celtics fan) believe Celtics's greatest stength is in defense. It is not necessary the case especially in scoring defense, which does not accounted for rebounding, steal and turnover.

So we have 2 teams, one strong in rebound, one weak in rebound, it is the biggest Celtics advantage.

[Redz]

Totally irrelevant numbers.

The Lakers got their butts beat - bad - on the backboards and they offered up no inside defense whatsoever.

If that doesn't change soon, it will be a short series.

Period.

Actually, just by the number, Lakers always lost on the backboard, that is expected. If you want to, check out their stat against the Jazz. It is totally one sided in favor of the Jazz. Having a rebounding edge is nothing unusual about the Celtics. They always have that edge.

A few days ago, I spend a little bit of time looking at Celtics' playoff number. It was very clear to me, the greatest strength of the Celtis team is rebounding. Most of you (the Celtics fan) believe Celtics's greatest stength is in defense. It is not necessary the case especially in scoring defense, which does not accounted for rebounding, steal and turnover.

So we have 2 teams, one strong in rebound, one weak in rebound, it is the biggest Celtics advantage.

Yes, the Celtics biggest advantage over the Lakers may indeed be their rebounding, but overall their biggest strength is their defense.  The Celtics don't shoot the ball much at all, and yet they outscore their opponents by a silly amount.  That means they make a lot of stops (and hit their 3's at a pretty good rate on offense). 

What you saw in the 4th quarter of Game 1 - the lock down, give `em nothing, defense - was the type of thing we have become quite accustomed to from this years Celtics. 

So, yes, there is a big advantage over the Lakers in rebounding, but the overall defense is this team's mantra, and it is what beat the Lakers into submission in Game 1.