13 thoughts on the Celtics' 13-game winning streak

1. The Celtics rank just 26th in the league in field goal percentage (43.5 percent) despite having the NBA’s best record at 13-2. The fact that the C’s have managed to pull off 13 straight wins in spite of that lackluster shooting is an impressive feat in itself and a tribute to how well the Celtics are playing in other elements of the game (rebounding, not turning ball over, defense). While the Celtics are over-performing in some areas, this is a department Brad Stevens can happily point to as a potential source of improvement to keep them grounded.



2. Who are the biggest culprits on the shooting woes front? Look no further than the backcourt of the second unit. Marcus Smart (27 percent), Terry Rozier (33 percent) and Shane Larkin (30 percent) are all shooting terribly from the field, and are just as bad from 3-point range (all sub 30 percent downtown). In a rather troublesome twist, the trio is shooting with very high frequency from beyond the arc, collectively taking more than a third (10.5) of the C’s 3-point attempts per game. The law of averages says these percentages should get better (particularly for a guy like Rozier), but the high volume of attempts from these guys will burn the C’s at some point if it lasts.

3. So how have the Celtics managed to overcome the horrendous shooting with the second unit? Tenacious defense has kept that group afloat most nights, essentially allowing the reserves to tread water on the scoreboard. (Except on the rare night when Rozier, Smart or another reserve get hot.) That formula failed against the Nets until midway through the fourth quarter, which was particularly eye-opening since the C’s weren’t bringing it on the defensive end until Larkin and Aron Baynes re-entered the game. Without that fire, the bench quickly squandered two double-digit leads built by the starters in both halves, showcasing a problem that Stevens is going to have to sort out soon: Finding a consistent way for the bench unit to get buckets.

4. Marcus Morris took care of the scoring problem Tuesday night, earning 11 of his 21 points while anchoring the reserve unit in the fourth quarter. However, it’s becoming apparent in my mind that Stevens is going to have to think about bringing Morris off the bench for starter minutes to help fortify that unit. If not, Morris, Tatum or Brown (whoever plays with four reserves) is going to need to get more aggressive with their offense consistently (Tatum is the ideal target for this). Deferring to the likes of Smart and Rozier is a losing proposition on the offensive end given their shooting woes. They need to do better on this end as the defense starts to regress (which it will) to a more realistic number.

5. The bench logjam in the frontcourt (Baynes/Theis/Ojeleye) could also be solved by moving Baynes into the starting five on more of a regular basis. Stevens has flip flopped between him and Morris, depending on matchups, when both have been healthy. But it’s going to be a challenge to find a way to play Daniel Theis and Baynes together off the bench. The C’s offense collapsed on Tuesday when they shared the floor for the first time all year, and there just isn’t enough reliable spacing/scoring right now to make that pairing work without above-average shooters to surround them. Both have played well enough to earn regular minutes, and starting one makes separating them easier (with the benefit of adding a proven scorer to the bench). Some opponents will make Stevens start small no matter what, but when given the chance, starting Baynes will make minutes management easier.

6. Al Horford is not only solidifying an All-Star spot with this spectacular stretch, but he’s also already making a strong case to be an All-NBA selection. The 6-foot-10 veteran is close to averaging a double-double during the streak (playing 11 of 13 games) with 16.1 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. He’s leading the team in field goal percentage (59 percent), 3-point percentage (54 percent), and plus/minus (+10.5/G). That hot shooting has put him among the league leaders in true shooting percentage, trailing the likes of Kyle Korver by mere percentage points. All for a 31-year-old. Incredible.

7. Rozier leads the NBA in defensive rating (96.7), a stat that’s more indicative of how well a collective team is playing together on the defensive end rather than individual play. Fittingly, the Celtics have seven players that rank in the top nine across the league in defensive rating (Horford, Irving, Tatum, Baynes, Brown, Smart), a tribute to how consistent the group’s defense has been for the better part of the last 13 games.

8. From talking to front office personnel across the league, Boston’s rebounding may be one of the biggest surprises of the young season. Stevens joked Tuesday night that the group battled to stay in the “top 30” last year in the rebounding, but collectively this roster has turned into a top-5 team on the glass on both sides of the floor, making them the best overall rebounding team in the league through 15 games. The added length of guys like Tatum and Baynes has helped the cause tremendously, but don’t underestimate the value of added minutes for guys like Rozier and Brown this season. The athletic youngsters have been two of the best guard rebounders in the league, leaping high for loose balls while the bigs box out.

9. Stevens always seems to figure out the right formula by the fourth quarter of all these wins. Whether it was Jabari Bird checking J.J. Redick in Philadelphia during Game 1 of the streak or Larkin providing a defensive jolt and an offensive steadiness in the fourth quarter last night, the C’s tend to have the right mix of guys on the floor when the game is being decided every night.

10. Speaking of the fourth quarter, the C’s domination of the frame has been the story of the streak from start to finish. Boston has the best fourth quarter offense and defense in the league, giving them a +20 net rating in the frame over the last 13 games. I may do a deep dive into the specific numbers later, but that’s an absurd stretch.

11. Despite shooting 27 percent from the field, Smart ranks third on the team in plus/minus (+9.9 per game) during the streak. That’s the perfect encapsulation of him as a player at this point.

12. Tatum’s shooting splits during the run: 51/50/86. I know Ben Simmons is putting up monster numbers with the Sixers, but Tatum’s consistent contributions on both ends as a critical member of a likely 50-plus win team has to give him a real shot at being on the top of most ballots in what could be the most competitive Rookie of the Year race ever.

13. If this streak doesn’t come to an end on Thursday night against the Warriors, I’m not quite sure when it will stop. A three-game road trip starts on Saturday, but the C’s face a couple of cellar-dwellers in Dallas and Atlanta and an up-and-down Miami squad. All three games come with a day of rest before hand. After that? Six of Boston’s next seven games come at the TD Garden. A loss will come at some point (probably Thursday), but don’t look for constant winning to slow down anytime soon.