NBA.com now includes stats by play type: 8 Boston Celtics observations from the new numbers

by **bobheckler** Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:10 am

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/02/nbacom_now_includes_stats_by_p.html

NBA.com now includes stats by play type: 8 Boston Celtics observations from the new numbers

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart goes to the basket during the second half of Boston's 107-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA basketball game in Boston on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Print Jay King | mjking@masslive.com By Jay King | mjking@masslive.com

on February 12, 2015 at 2:30 PM

If you like basketball numbers -- sorry, Charles Barkley -- NBA.com just delivered a late Christmas gift to soothe your soul and diminish your productivity.

On Thursday morning, the league publicly released stats categorized by play types, which means we can now see exactly how many points per possession the Boston Celtics -- or any of their players -- score in several different basketball situations.

A few initial takeaways from the stats:

1. When Marcus Smart entered the NBA, shooting counted as one of his problem areas. He even admitted as much at his pre-draft workout for the Celtics. Half a year later, the rookie is second league-wide behind Kyle Korver in effective field goal percentage during catch-and-shoot situations (minimum 50 chances). Obviously, Smart has developed more quickly than anyone anticipated. What once looked like an issue -- his dependency on 3-pointers -- now makes him an efficient scorer despite his current inside-the-arc struggles. Smart still needs to improve his handle and create opportunities inside, but at this stage of his development, shot selection serves as a real plus.

2. Marcus Thornton (1.25 points per possession) has also been fantastic in spot-up situations. In his role, he's really had a solid season. Sometimes, when things aren't going well, he feels like Boston's only possible source of offense.

3. The Celtics get out in transition a lot (sixth-most in the league), which is helpful, not to mention exactly what head coach Brad Stevens wants. But they aren't making the best of those opportunities. In fact, they score on a lower percentage of transition chances than any team except the San Antonio Spurs. Why? The Celtics just don't have any efficient attackers. Smart and Avery Bradley currently lack the off-the-bounce creativity needed to bend defenses and create easy looks. Evan Turner can make bad decisions. Hardly anybody on the roster can draw free throws with any consistency. Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller have finished (a lot) better than any other Celtics on the break, but, as big men, they naturally see fewer touches than the guards.

4. Not a surprise, but Tyler Zeller (1.14 points per possession) serves as Boston's most efficient pick-and-roll finisher by a long shot. Not a high-flyer, he knocks down a variety of flip shots, half-hooks and floaters, almost like he considers himself an overgrown guard. The methods look unorthodox, but they work. The other young bigs, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, haven't seen nearly as much success in similar situations, though both stretch the floor better and can help as playmakers while diving to the hoop.

5. Why don't more teams want Brandon Bass? A look at his spot-up efficiency provides a solid explanation. He has long been one of the NBA's best midrange shooters, but because he can't shoot threes, he ranks in the 32nd percentile for spot-up situations. A versatile defender, the power forward has rounded out his offensive game in the past couple of years and become less dependent on the midrange jumper. But his lack of size and range would make him a tricky fit on a lot of teams.

6. One reason the Celtics often struggle to score points: none of their ball-handlers can score in the pick-and-roll. Midrange-jumpers-launching Avery Bradley (59th percentile of all players) actually ranks as the most efficient rotation player in that category, well ahead of Marcus Thornton (42nd), Evan Turner (32nd) and Marcus Smart (sixth). Pick-and-rolls can pry a defense out of what it wants to do. But no one on the Celtics poses anything close to a real threat going to the hoop.

7. Another sign Boston lacks individual scoring talent: Brandon Bass, a power forward who does not really own any dribbling moves, scores more in isolation that anyone else on the roster.

8. Only 4.8 percent of Kelly Olynyk's possessions come in the low post. The 7-footer obviously hurts teams as a diverse threat, but learning how to expose mismatches on the block would add a nice extra layer to his game.

I could continue all day (numbers are fun, Chuck!) but I'll stop there. To explore the stats yourself, click here.

http://stats.nba.com/playtype

bob

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