Offensive Struggles Are Vanishing For The Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been known for their defense this season, but since Jan. 2, the team is averaging an impressive 105.7 points per game.
The Boston Celtics are currently 23-21 after a big win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. In that game, the Celtics displayed their much improved offense. The team shot 44.8 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from distance. They also scored 110 points in this game, and they are currently ranked seventh in the NBA in points per game (103.8).
Boston is finally starting to show encouraging signs on the offensive end, and players on the team are starting to find their rhythm.
The Celtics have averaged an offensive rating of 115.1 over the past five games — far above their season average of 105.0, which is 15th in the NBA. With Boston’s defense rating of 101.9 (third in the NBA) and consistent explosive offense, the Celtics are certainly becoming a team to watch out for. They have been playing some of their best offense of the season sine Jan. 2 by averaging 105.7 points per game, and they have been doing it with great ball movement and three-point shooting.
For the season, the Celtics are fifth in the NBA in assists per game (24.0), but over their past five games they are averaging 27.4. Boston is also shooting 39.8 percent from deep over the past five games, which is rather impressive. Kelly Olynyk has even become one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA by shooting 43.7 percent from distance for the season (tied for sixth in the NBA).
The Celtics are starting to roll on offense and becoming more of a two-way team.
Celtics Can Do It On Both Ends
The thing that is very intriguing about the Celtics is that even if they are having an off night from the field, they still find ways to win because of their ability to force turnovers. Boston forces 16.2 turnovers per game, which is tied for second in the NBA and the team also averages 9.5 SPG, which is fourth in the NBA.
Forcing turnovers really helps the Celtics win games when they are having an off shooting night. There have been numerous games earlier in the season where Boston shot the basketball poorly, but found ways to win with their ability to force turnovers.
The most recent example of this was when the Celtics were down late against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 13. Boston was winning for a majority of the game, but they were down three points with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. This is when the Celtics defense came alive by forcing turnovers. A couple steals that led to layups down the stretch pushed the Celtics to victory over the Pacers.
The Celtics really had no business winning at the end of that game, but they found a way to do so with their ability to force turnovers.
Overall
It is really encouraging that the Celtics are starting to find their rhythm on the offensive end. Boston is starting to get it done on both ends of the floor, and now that their offense has been pretty good over the past five games, they do not have to heavily rely on their ability to force turnovers.
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The Celtics have to keep this consistent play up on both ends of the floor if they want to hold on to a playoff spot in a very tight Eastern Conference race.