Boston Celtics: 5 keys to winning the East in 2019
By Tony Pesta
3. Free throws
Perhaps the strangest issue with this team is its inability to get to the free throw line. Right now, Boston ranks 29th in the league for free throw attempts per game. This is not sustainable for a title-contending team.
Free throws are a great way for a team to gain some rhythm and earn some easy points in a tight contest. Often times, a trip to the free throw line can be the spark a player needs to get himself going. That’s why it’s so crucial the Celtics start getting to the free throw line more often. It’s unacceptable for a team as talented as Boston to only be shooting 19.2 free throws a game.
Boston’s minimal free throw shooting is a direct result of poor shot selection. Players such as Jayson Tatum and Kyrie Irving shoot way too many mid-range jump shots when it would be more effective to take an extra dribble and attack the rim.
Currently, the Celtics attempt the third-most shots in the league from 10-14 feet. On these shots, they connect on only 43 percent of them. In contrast, they rank 23rd in the league for drives per game.
This is a bad habit that the Celtics will need to resolve before they can find any type of playoff success. The mid-range jump shot is quickly becoming the worst field goal in basketball and the Celtics should look to quit attempting them before it’s too late.