New Year, New Boston Celtics?

 


The Celtics were disappointing to start the season, and I say that as an honest Celtics fan. Jayson Tatum was not playing like Jayson Tatum, a new coach forced players to adjust to a new gameplan, and the team was simply not clicking. Even with decent additions in Dennis Schroeder and Al Horford, the team struggled to secure a win. They had only seventeen wins, compared to nineteen losses. A measly 47%-win ratio. Paired with an average team score of 108 points vs. opponent team score of 107 points. The Celtics presented themselves to the league as a back-of-the-pack team.

What was supposed to be a team contending for a championship, quickly became a team vying for the chance at a high playoff seed. Yet, there were sparks of hope.

At the end of the year, and up to now, something seems to have clicked with the team. Maybe it’s the fact that Ime found a lineup that works with the basketball he is trying to teach and play, maybe it’s the fact that our best players have finally found their groove, or maybe it’s because winter in Massachusetts forces you to buckle up and be ready to adapt.  Whatever it is, these new-year Celtics seem to have come into the new year with a resolution. Through January, the team has won eleven times, with only six losses. A healthy win-ratio of 65%. Our average team score is still 108 points, yet the average opponent score is now a LEAGUE BEST 99 points.

Our star duo, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown have been playing their best stretch of basketball in recent memory.

In 2021, Jaylen Brown averaged 23.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.6 AST on 43% FG, 35% 3P, and 75% FT. In 2022, he is averaging 26.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.5 AST on 48% FG, 37% 3P, and 81% FT. A clear improvement in all aspects. His defensive rating puts him at 17th in the league, 106.9

Tatum as well has also improved through the new year. In 2021, he averaged 25.6 PPG 8.6 RPG, 3.76 APG on 41% FG, 32% 3P, and 79% FT. In 2022, he is averaging 27 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 4.6 APG on 45% FG, 28% 3P%, and 87% FT. While his three-point make percentage has gone down, his assists per game and points per game averages have increased. Tatum’s defense is also nothing to scoff at, with a defensive rating of 106, 12th overall in the league.

Following J.T in the defensive rating ranking, is Marcus Smart at 13th, with 106.2. He has also adjusted to the new team, boasting career bests in categories across the board. Marcus Smart, doubted at first, is clearly an All-NBA point guard.

With a great backing crew of role players and developing players, such as Payton Pritchard and Grant Williams, and a new rising star in Robert Williams III, the Celtics seemed to have turned around a less-than-perfect season into one with an enormous amount of potential, yet again.

 

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Sources:

- personal Excel statistics created using Pivottables to calculate 2021 vs 2022 - 

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/who-has-the-best-defensive-rating

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/tatum-defensive-rating

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tatumja01.html

https://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-points-per-game

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownja02.html       

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2022.html

 


Celtics fanatic. Basketball lover. All things sports.

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