Stat Check: Transition Year

Yeah, yeah, it's just pre-season, but these stats are music to my (virgin) ears. It's what we've been waiting for.





http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4698134/stat-check-transition-year






There's a danger in putting too much stock in
preseason statistics, but given Celtics coach Doc Rivers' desire to push
the tempo this year, it seems prudent to point out Boston's impressive
transition numbers during the exhibition slate.


Of the 11 play types tracked by Synergy Sports, transition accounted
for a team-high 16.8 percent of Boston's preseason plays. Boston
averaged 1.216 points per play (169 points on 139 plays), which ranked
second in the NBA (other squads are wrapping up their exhibition
slates), and the Celtics shot 58.2 percent overall in transition while
turning the ball over just 12.9 percent of the time.



To put those numbers in perspective, only 13.4 percent of Boston's
plays last season came out of transition (still second highest on the
team, but well behind spot-up attempts at 20.6 percent). Boston averaged
1.128 points per play in transition a year ago (20th in the NBA), while
shooting the exact same 58.2 percent, but turning the ball over 14.5
percent of the time.



Here's maybe the most encouraging number: Last season, Boston only
got to the charity stripe 12.4 percent of transition opportunities.
During the preseason, that number jumped up to 18 percent.



The key contributors to the transition attack? Maybe it should be no
surprise that Jeff Green tops the list. Green averaged 1.667 points per
play -- ranking in the 99th percentile among all NBA players -- while
shooting 83.3 percent (5 of 6 overall) and getting fouled 54.2 percent
of transition opportunities. Green finished with 20 points in 12
transition plays.



Paul Pierce (1.538 ppp) and Courtney Lee (1.385 ppp) were other top contributors, aided by their 3-point shooting in transition.



Here's more good news for Boston: The team's top two transition
players from last season were Avery Bradley and Chris Wilcox. Both sat
out the entire exhibition slate while working their way back from
injuries, but will provide two ready-to-run presences once healthy
enough to get back on the floor.



One area to watch this season: Rajon Rondo struggled to finish (7 of
19 shooting; only fouled on 10.7 percent of transition opportunities).
Clearly it is Rondo's passing abilities that allow Boston to thrive in
transition, but if he can become a more consistent weapon attacking the
hoop on the move (or at least increase the trips to the charity stripe)
then Boston can really fuel its offense in transition.





bob



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