The Boston Celtics have begun their title defense in a bit of a funk. Despite leading their first-round series against the Orlando Magic 3-1, they have struggled to get their typically high-powered offense into gear.
During the regular season, the Celtics committed to shooting from beyond the arc in a way no other team in NBA history has. They shot an absurd 48.2 threes per game during the regular season, making 36.8 percent of them. Threes accounted for 54 percent of their shots, seven percent more than the next-highest team, the Golden State Warriors. That prolific shooting contributed to the eighth-highest scoring offense in the NBA during the regular season (116.3 PPG).
Against the Magic, however, Boston’s three-point attempts have plummeted. In the first four games of the series, which resumes Tuesday at Boston (8:30 ET), the Celtics have only attempted 33 threes per game, which ranks 11th of the 16 teams in the playoffs. The rate they are falling has also declined slightly (34.8 percent, 12th in the playoffs). It is showing in the results, as Boston is averaging 103 points per game.
The drop in three-point attempts has led to a drastic change in the method Boston has found offense. During the regular season, it averaged the fewest free-throw attempts in the NBA (19.1 per game). With more than 15 fewer shots from three per game so far in the playoffs, the Celtics have gone to the other extreme and are averaging the most free-throw attempts in the postseason (26.3 per game).
This shift in offensive production has been most apparent in reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. During the regular season, Brown averaged 5.7 three-point attempts, 5.1 free-throws attempts and 22.2 points per game. In the four games in the postseason, he is averaging only 3.5 three-point attempts, 6.8 free-throw attempts and 23 points.
Some credit is due for Orlando’s stifling defense. After ranking first in the regular season in opponent points per game at 105.5, it is proving that defense carries over into the postseason. However, on its championship run last season, Boston went up against the fifth- and sixth-ranked defenses in the postseason in the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. But it still attempted 40.2 threes per game and averaged 108.8 points.
Boston’s approach can yield results against a middling Magic team whose offense is limited beyond Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. But the Celtics must regain their identity before the next two rounds. Its potential opponents are the Indiana Pacers, who have averaged 117.5 points in the playoffs, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are averaging 126 points.
Boston’s defense should hold up far better than a broken Milwaukee’s has against Indiana or diminished Miami did against the Cavaliers. But for the Celtics to continue their march to back-to-back titles, they must reclaim their flamethrowing identity from last season and the regular season.
