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Boston Celtics: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18

By Tevin Williams

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /

2. Pick up the pace

We’ve already covered spacing, so let’s move on to pace. Pace and space has become one of the most popular buzzwords of today’s NBA, and it’s also the reason for the explosion of small-ball lineups. The lumbering 7’1″ big man has never been so irrelevant.

The Boston Celtics have the youth and athleticism to excel on the fast break, and they need to take advantage of it. The Warriors, Rockets and Nuggets led the league in points per game last season, and they also finished in the top seven in pace.

Many of the league leaders in pace are bad teams, because they have to play fast to make up for their deficiencies on offense. But the great teams that are among the league leaders in pace, namely the Warriors and Rockets, succeed because they play so fast.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni‘s Seven Seconds or Less system was brilliant. When his teams attempt the first good look on every play, they end up with a lot more possessions over the course of 48 minutes, which is why the Rockets finished second in the league in scoring.

The Warriors played at an extraordinarily fast pace in the 2017 NBA Finals, and they ran the Cavs right out of the building. Remember how gassed LeBron looked at times when the fourth quarter rolled around?

In order for the Celtics to make the Finals, they’re going to have to go through Cleveland. The Cavs have an average age of 29.4 years, making them the oldest team in the NBA. Playing at a fast pace against Cleveland in a playoff series could be their biggest kryptonite.

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