What are C's stats to track this season?

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/30-celtics-questions-30-days-what-are-cs-stats-track-season



What are C's stats to track this season?



By A. Sherrod Blakely


August 31, 2018 10:45 AM



BOSTON – When it comes to winning, there’s a long and exhausting list of analytics that play a role in a team’s success or struggles.


For the Celtics, one of the top teams heading into the 2018-19 season, there’s plenty of data that will contribute to them inching closer to their goals this season.

Here’s a look at four key stats to track for this upcoming season that will factor significantly in Boston’s success:


DEFENSIVE RATING

There may not be another analytics stat that speaks better to a team’s title hopes than where it stands defensively. Looking at the past 20 NBA champions, only one (Los Angeles Lakers, 2001) finished the regular season outside of the league’s top 10 in defensive ranking. Brad Stevens said from the outset of his time in Boston that defense would be a foundation for his teams. The Celtics have finished in the top five in two of the past three seasons, which includes a league-best 101.5 rating last season, and have finished no worse than 14th in all but his first season.


DEFENSIVE REBOUND PERCENTAGE

Boston has not been a good rebounding team for years but seemed to take noticeable strides in that direction last season. The total number of rebounds isn’t nearly as telling as the percentage of rebounds Boston’s players are able to corral – especially on the defensive end of the floor. Success in this category not only keeps the number of second-chance points allowed at a minimum, but it also makes it easier for a team that plays as much position-less basketball as the Celtics to get out in transition quicker and thus, find easier ways to score in transition. Last season, the Celtics were 11th in defensive rebound percentage (.784) which was the best finish in that category under Stevens. There has indeed been progress, evident in how they compared to Stevens’ earlier teams in which three of his first four finished in the bottom half of the league.


BENCH POINTS ALLOWED

If the Celtics can keep their projected starting five healthy – the same five who started last season in the opener against Cleveland - scoring should not be an issue for this group. That means the bench will be counted on to be more impactful as a unit defensively. That group will likely include defensive standouts Marcus Smart and Aron Baynes. Last season, the Celtics’ defense was tough on opposing bench players. According to hoopsstats.com, Boston allowed opposing benches to score 33.2 points per game, which tied San Antonio and Detroit for the third-fewest bench points allowed. Keeping second units at around that point total will go far in Boston remaining among the top teams in the NBA.


TRUE SHOOTING PERCENTAGE

Golden State has been the gold standard the rest of the NBA has been trying to catch up with for years. A big factor in their success has been that they shoot the hell out of the ball. Considering the roster includes Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, who typically cleans up their misses, it’s no surprise that the Warriors have been the NBA’s leader in true shooting percentage each of the past four seasons – all of which ended in the Warriors either winning an NBA title or getting to the NBA Finals. Boston undoubtedly wants to close the gap that exists between themselves and the Warriors, and this is one of those categories where it'll have that opportunity. The Celtics finished 14th last season (.552), which was a noticeable dip from the previous season when their True Shooting Percentage ranked sixth in the league (.567). However, Boston is overall trending in the right direction considering the first three seasons under Stevens ended with Boston’s True Shooting Percentage ranked among the league’s bottom-10 (28th in 2014; 23rd in 2015; and 21st in 2016).



bob


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The only stat that matters is in Regards to the numbers 17 & 18.. if we get past 17 and make it to 18 we are good. Everything else is fools gold.

Boston will be a solid defensive team again next year and is likely to be even better because they have added a legit shot blocker and defender in Williams.

The Celtics were 5th in Defensive rebounding percentage.

The bench may be the best in the NBA.

Last year GS was # 1 in 3 pt shooting percentage at .391. Boston was 2nd at .377 and with the return of Hayward that percentage should get even better.

The main weakness on offense is the free throw shooting percentage. Boston ranks 17th. Hayward will also help in that area but guys like Brown needs to be much better and Morris, Baynes and Smart need to improve as all 3 shot in the low 70's.

dboss wrote:Boston will be a solid defensive team again next year and is likely to be even better because they have added a legit shot blocker and defender in Williams.

The Celtics were 5th in Defensive rebounding percentage.

The bench may be the best in the NBA.  

Last year GS was # 1 in 3 pt shooting percentage at .391.  Boston was 2nd at .377 and with the return of Hayward that percentage should get even better.

The main weakness on offense is the free throw shooting percentage.  Boston ranks 17th.  Hayward will also help in that area but guys like Brown needs to be much better and Morris, Baynes and Smart  need to improve as all 3 shot in the low 70's.

So really as far as the 3 pts fog percentage goes, if Smart never shot a 3 all season we'd have had the best..

I will be very curious about the minutes distribution.
Seems that with our depth no one should play heavy minutes in any back to back games.

We can change our lineup so dramatically to counter virtually anything any other team throws at us.

And in hand with those minutes will be how the occasional games off for rest of some of the players pans out.

And lastly games played at the end of the year..... would love to see like about 75-78 (or more) games for 12 players.
Because that would mean we stay pretty healthy.  Which to me is the most important thing of all!

beat

Will the Celts be able to catch up with the Warriors big edge in efg offensive and defensive differential of last year - plus 6.5. The Celts were at plus 2.3.

swish

Matty wrote:

dboss wrote:Boston will be a solid defensive team again next year and is likely to be even better because they have added a legit shot blocker and defender in Williams.

The Celtics were 5th in Defensive rebounding percentage.

The bench may be the best in the NBA.  

Last year GS was # 1 in 3 pt shooting percentage at .391.  Boston was 2nd at .377 and with the return of Hayward that percentage should get even better.

The main weakness on offense is the free throw shooting percentage.  Boston ranks 17th.  Hayward will also help in that area but guys like Brown needs to be much better and Morris, Baynes and Smart  need to improve as all 3 shot in the low 70's.

So really as far as the 3 pts fog percentage  goes, if Smart never shot  a 3 all season we'd have had the best..

Correct Matty

If Smart did not shoot the 3 ball the Celtics percentage would go up.

I do not expect Smart to stop shooting 3 but I wish he cut his attempts per game in half.

dboss wrote:

Matty wrote:

dboss wrote:Boston will be a solid defensive team again next year and is likely to be even better because they have added a legit shot blocker and defender in Williams.

The Celtics were 5th in Defensive rebounding percentage.

The bench may be the best in the NBA.  

Last year GS was # 1 in 3 pt shooting percentage at .391.  Boston was 2nd at .377 and with the return of Hayward that percentage should get even better.

The main weakness on offense is the free throw shooting percentage.  Boston ranks 17th.  Hayward will also help in that area but guys like Brown needs to be much better and Morris, Baynes and Smart  need to improve as all 3 shot in the low 70's.

So really as far as the 3 pts fog percentage  goes, if Smart never shot  a 3 all season we'd have had the best..

Correct Matty

If Smart did not shoot the 3 ball the Celtics percentage would go up.  

I do not expect Smart to stop shooting 3 but I wish he cut his attempts per game in half.

After 4 years in the league it could be time to tie his shooting hand behind his back - He's a lousy shooter period. Below figures are for guards with at least 4 fga per game, from both 2 point and 3 point range.

2017-18 season

Combined shooting percentage - .367 - ranked 49th of 50
2 point shooting percentage - .429 - ranked 47th of 50
3 point shooting percentage - .301 - ranked 49th 0f 50

http://bkref.com/tiny/HgTsI

 swish