Wow--the C's really melting in crunch time

[clover]

These numbers, from Jay King, are extraordinary:

"Below follows a glimpse of the shooting percentages for Boston’s six most frequently-used players during crunch-time (the final five minutes of a game, with the teams separated by five points or fewer).

Behold the carnage:

Jeff Green: 34.3% FG (23-67), 25% 3PT (8-32)
Jared Sullinger: 29.4% FG (15-51), 26.7% 3PT (4-15)
Avery Bradley: 32.1% FG (9-28), 27.3% 3PT (3-11)
Rajon Rondo: 19.2% FG (5-26), 0% 3PT (0-7)
Jordan Crawford (no longer with the team): 52% FG (13-25), 22.2% 3PT (2-9)
Brandon Bass: 24% FG (6-25), NA% 3PT (0-0)

Since being acquired midway through the season, Jerryd Bayless has also been tasked with some late-game shot creating, to various levels of success. He’s shooting 5-for-14 (35.7 percent) from the field and 3-for-6 (50 percent) from deep."

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2014/04/brad_stevens_haunted_by_boston.html

[nickagneta]

The Celtics offense this year has been awful. From its construction(rather a poor, college like system that is fairly easily defended), to its execution(see the above numbers, 26th in ORTG, 28th in eFG%, 23rd in TOV%, 28th in 3PT%, 26th in PPG) to its personnel, loads of undersized players, loads of PFs, loads of PGs, no 3 point shooters, no centers).

Its really been tough to watch this team offensively this year.

[clover]

I guess it can be said that their offense kept them out of the no man's land of mediocrity, but really.

Green, Rondo, and Bass in different ways talked about becoming the man, being the team leader, and stepping in to help fill KG's shoes.

Here are the stats for the whole team:

http://stats.nba.com/leaguePlayerClutch.html?pageNo=1&rowsPerPage=25&filters=TeamAbbr*E*BOS

CJ leads at 50% shooting, Humphries at 46%, and KO and GW tie at 43%.

I'm pretty sure KO will be in and shooting late in games when they really want to win next year.

[Moranis]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

[mmmmm]

The Celtics offense this year has been awful. From its construction(rather a poor, college like system that is fairly easily defended), to its execution(see the above numbers, 26th in ORTG, 28th in eFG%, 23rd in TOV%, 28th in 3PT%, 26th in PPG) to its personnel, loads of undersized players, loads of PFs, loads of PGs, no 3 point shooters, no centers).

Its really been tough to watch this team offensively this year.

This pretty much sums it up.

When you throw a lineup on the floor that has 3 guys who all take the same shot (10-14 foot 2PT jumpers) and only one guy who resembles a 3PT shot, so you basically don't have any space opened up and then compound the problem by not running any real creation plays ("Let's play the Globetrotters Shuffle until one of us thinks they have a shot!") you aren't going to have a very efficient offense.

I'm only praying that Stevens chose purposely to run this crapola scheme on purpose as a one-year thing and will hopefully adopt a real NBA offense next season.

[Donoghus]

I guess my question given the context and out of my own plain curiosity.

What is the league average of this stat?

I do agree with the sentiment that this offense has been horrendous to watch this season.  Just downright awful.

[clover]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

[vinnie]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

[slamtheking]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

yeah, I don't see that happening.  I like KO and think he can develop into a solid role player but #2 option, I just don't see it.

[fantankerous]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

If KO is a #2 option on a championship team, he's playing in Europe.

[clover]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

If KO is a #2 option on a championship team, he's playing in Europe.

I've got about 15 years to be proven wrong.

[nickagneta]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

If KO is a #2 option on a championship team, he's playing in Europe.

I've got about 15 years to be proven wrong.

Don't worry...you will be.

[MBunge]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

If KO is a #2 option on a championship team, he's playing in Europe.

I've got about 15 years to be proven wrong.

Don't worry...you will be.

Who was the second option when Hakeem won his titles?  Kenny Smith?  Mario Ellie?  Instead of saying #2 option on a championship team, ask if KO can be Jason Terry.  I don't think you can absolutely say "no" to that right now.

Mike

[nickagneta]

When you don't even have a #2 option, let alone a #1 option, what did you expect was going to happen when the defenses really clamp down (i.e. the end of close games)?

Yep. And if Rondo, Green, Sully and Bradley aren't anywhere near #1 or #2 options, you've gotta believe Danny is open to drafting and trading anyone and anything to improve the team.

(I do think KO will end up being a #2 option on a championship team--somewhere, somehow.)

Whoa! KO a #2 option on a championship team? Stunned.

If KO is a #2 option on a championship team, he's playing in Europe.

I've got about 15 years to be proven wrong.

Don't worry...you will be.

Who was the second option when Hakeem won his titles?  Kenny Smith?  Mario Ellie?  Instead of saying #2 option on a championship team, ask if KO can be Jason Terry.  I don't think you can absolutely say "no" to that right now.

Mike

Yeah, I can.

[kozlodoev]

Who was the second option when Hakeem won his titles?  Kenny Smith?  Mario Ellie?

Um... Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry, Vernon Maxwell and Othis Thorpe. Just in case you really wondered.