C's Not Finding the Hot Hand

[Big333223]

I was thinking about this the other day and then last night, Jaylen Brown went 5/7 for 12 points in the first quarter. The rest of the game he was 1/3 for 4 points. After a scorching first quarter, why were the Celtics unable to get him more shots?

Is it a problem with the offense? Is is possible that, because the goal is to move the ball around and get the "best shot" that the ball just naturally finds everyone over time and doesn't give any priority to the players who are hitting shots?

Or is it a problem with the players running the system. This system is new to most of the team and most of the players are new to each other. They need more time to get comfortable with each other and where the ball needs to be and we forgot how important that was during this win streak.

Or is it not a problem, I'm overreacting and the hot hand doesn't exist anyway?

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I was thinking about this because Tatum is so good too but he goes quarters without a shot most games. I think it's that we go to the hot hands a lot all at once, like we will give Tatum and brown 4-5 shots almost in a row, the other team adjusts and at the moment a guy like brown isn't consistent at getting his own shots because of his handle (better than last season IMO) after they shut down his mini explosion. Tatum it's more of aggression thing IMO, he gets a lot of looks at what would be good shots for him but he hesitates and passes. He hasn't realized that his shot is often the best shot, he seems afraid to make mistakes. That's probably him trying to shed the knock of being all iso at Duke. Then you have smart and roze who aren't good shooters but are going to put up shots no matter what. Not bad to have that confidence but our better shooters, much like KO last season, need to borrow some of their confidence. They are both very young too so they are trying to fit and not make waves, I think by next season they won't be so hesitant and hopefully better.

[kozlodoev]

I was thinking about this the other day and then last night, Jaylen Brown went 5/7 for 12 points in the first quarter. The rest of the game he was 1/3 for 4 points. After a scorching first quarter, why were the Celtics unable to get him more shots?

Is it a problem with the offense? Is is possible that, because the goal is to move the ball around and get the "best shot" that the ball just naturally finds everyone over time and doesn't give any priority to the players who are hitting shots?

Or is it a problem with the players running the system. This system is new to most of the team and most of the players are new to each other. They need more time to get comfortable with each other and where the ball needs to be and we forgot how important that was during this win streak.

Or is it not a problem, I'm overreacting and the hot hand doesn't exist anyway?

Brad doesn't believe in consistently running plays that exploit favorable matchups, and this set of players can't do it on their own. I think the difference with Doc's regime in this aspect is pretty glaring. Under Doc, we had no problems posting up Kendrick Perkins ten times in a row, if we knew he'd get 8 easy layups out of it. Now, the team seems preoccupied with moving the ball -- sometimes for the sake of moving  the ball and in detriment to their own offensive efficiency.

[keevsnick]

One problem is that both Brown and Tatum are still dependent on others for the generation of their offense. They both score most of their pints off there points off catch and shoot threes, in transition, through straight up drives to the hoop and through exploiting mismatches when they have one. Don't get me wrong, they've shown the ability to be more than that. Brown has excellent burst of the dribble and Tatum's footwork is top notch, but neither are to the point they can generate their own offense. That's the difference between what they are right now (good starters, complementary scorers) and what Hayward is (all star, good shot creator). In all likelihood this problem will solve itself with another year or two of development.

Now that being said part of this is on Brad/the team approach. If Brown/Tatum are ur best shooters/finishers outside of Irving/Horford then we have to put them in better situations to score. This could mean running more plays specifically for them out of halves/timeouts or even in just set half court offense. It could mean actually giving them the chance to handle the ball in the pick and roll. Or it could be as simple as instructing Marcus smart to stop throwing up 5 no chance threes a game (last night not withstanding) and get them the ball more.

[PaulAllen]

The top three (Irving, Tatum, and Brown) are all shooting around 50% and 40% from three... Even Smart and Rozier are shooting WAY better!! However their lack of rebounding and second chance points are killing them..

Also worth noting Horford has been looking sluggish, far from how he produced in the first 20 games... Maybe he needs some diet advice from Kyrie..

[libermaniac]

One problem is that both Brown and Tatum are still dependent on others for the generation of their offense. They both score most of their pints off there points off catch and shoot threes, in transition, through straight up drives to the hoop and through exploiting mismatches when they have one.

Exactly.  It's just a sign of the ball not moving "from side to side" as Stevens likes to say.  Usually, the 2nd unit will come in and pound the ball, and that seems to set the tone into the 3rd quarter.