NBA Notebook: Can Celtics win without shooting?

The first preseason game can become a house of sloppy horrors. Shortly before the Celtics and Magic tipped-off on Monday, three turnovers flew back-and-forth between the Raptors and 76ers to open their exhibition. Marcus Smart followed throwing two passes right to Orlando defenders in the passing lane during the opening minutes once Boston's game began. Only two teams committed fewer than 15 turnovers on the first full day of action.

The Celtics faced a more definitive issue during their first game together, shooting 35.2% as a team and 35% from three, despite head coach Ime Udoka seeing the team create quality looks and the ball movement he's emphasizing. He even saw overpassing. An 0-for-7 night from Robert Williams III, a 70% career shooter, struck as an anomaly that helped contribute to Boston's league-worst field goal percentage, as he took more jumpers than usual. Marcus Smart, Josh Richardson and Dennis Schröder, however, know the three-point shooting woes they went through in the win. They'll be relied upon to space the floor on a team that may not boast much three-point personnel in a league more reliant on the jumper than ever before. 

Boston's point guard trio shoot 33.6% from deep in their careers combined, when the average NBA player shot 36.7% from three last season. Smart never reached that threshold, Richardson did twice in Miami, Schröder once -- and that's the back court. 

The Celtics, new and old, hit 36.5% from three across their various teams last season. While not predictive, that would've been around the league median last year, whereas Boston squeezed into the top-10 at 37.4% in 2020-21. Losing Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier and the quietly-reliable Semi Ojeleye hurts.

"I don't think any of us are hoping to shoot that bad again for the rest of the season," Richardson, who shot 1-for-8 on Monday, told Boston Sports Journal on Thursday at practice. "I think it's just confidence, knowing where my shots will come from ... sometimes when I get tired, I kind of get lazy with it. (I'm) just focusing on keeping my balance with my feet on my shot."

Richardson adjusted his mechanics over the offseason to avoid the slumps he thought plagued his recent years, as he aims to be a floor spacer for Brown and Tatum. He found success for stretches in Dallas, he recalled, but couldn't piece the streaks together. Udoka and Stevens, after acquiring Richardson, both expressed confidence in the 91.7% free throw shooter from a year ago bouncing back to the 37.6% three-point average from his first three seasons in Miami. The Mavericks thought the same, before Richardson became a single-digit-minutes per game player in the late stages of Dallas' first-round series. 

On Monday, Richardson regularly stepped inside the arc to take long twos, pushing his attempts toward the rim after an awkward dip evident in his Dallas games. His 2017-18 shot with Miami got to its release point more quickly, with less load time. 

Smart, whose shot may be fixated on more than most guards in the league, attempted fewer than his average 5.9 threes per game from a year ago on Monday. He seemed fixated on his new full-time point guard role, keeping the ball flowing through the offense even with pockets to shoot. Some hoped Udoka's defining difference from Stevens would be reigning Smart in. The Celtics know they'll need some spacing from the back court, and Smart makes himself a passing threat to some degree through his aggressiveness.

"He's one of our natural playmakers that facilitates well. He's not always looking to score, he understands who he's playing with as well," Udoka said. "With the ball in his hands more, he understands the responsibility of that role, so he knows what he has on those wings around him and I want him to be an extension of us coaches on the floor. Recognize mismatches, who to get the shot for, as well as look for his own shot and be aggressive. It's a fine balance." 

Schröder spoke about the freedom he got to play with as Oklahoma City's sixth man during his career 38.5% three-point efficiency year in 2019-20. That shooting spike propelled him to 19 points per game and runner-up status in the Sixth Man race. He's another strong free-throw shooter who hasn't consistently translated that success behind the arc. Schröder didn't make a jump shot during his Celtics debut, but he converted better last season than Richardson, averaging 36.3% as a catch-and-shoot threat with the Lakers. 

"We moved the ball well and got decent looks," Udoka said Monday. "We said at halftime, we came in and that we were shooting 31% at the time and we had plenty of open looks. We got the looks we wanted a lot, we were short, it felt like this is preseason for a reason. They didn't have their legs." 

While that might've been the reason for the abysmal numbers, where the core eight rotation players combined to shoot 6-for-28 (21.4%) from three, it doesn't dispel concerns about average shooting on paper. Sam Hauser and Garrison Mathews specialize on threes, with both too far down the roster to expect consistent contributions. Williams III and Enes Kanter don't shoot threes. Neither does Jabari Parker. Al Horford does, and encouragingly torched at 43% from deep playing the four and five in a similar role in 2017-18 next to Aron Baynes. 

Last year, Horford averaged a career-high 5.4 threes per game with the Thunder. Williams' lob threat could give him even more space to operate and create. Horford will need to survive at the four defensively to average significant minutes there, and shoot even more threes in the face of declining numbers around the rim. If they can play together, their contrasting styles could pull defenders to the back line and the three-point line at the same time.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum shot 39.6% and 38.6%, respectively, last season, but want to focus on getting downhill and creating for the team. Perhaps it's telling of the Celtics' desire to find spacing that Udoka paired Juancho Hernangómez with the Jays to open the preseason. The Spanish newcomer boasts some shooting pedigree with size at 6'9" -- averaging 35.1% on 641 career threes -- and Stevens acquired him from Memphis in September liking how his cutting could fit with Boston's stars. 

Hernangómez playing the four allowed Horford, who ranked among the better high-volume three shooters among bigs last year, to exclusively play the five behind Williams. Hernangómez and Horford, nonetheless, combined to shoot 1-for-5 from deep and starting a lower-level rotation player probably won't be indicative of what's to come. Horford's screening action did create some incredible looks for others; he's now the x-factor for Boston's spacing after last patrolling a floor full of knock-down threats in 2018-19. 

"We’ve seen Al with Rob quite a bit, and they’re doing a great job ... (Horford) has a contrasting style to some of our other bigs," Udoka said. "So we wanted to stagger that as well and have him be a stretch five when he’s in there as opposed to Enes and Robert. So we’re looking at that as well to see who works in different positions at the five, but when we can slide him to the four, we know what he’s going to do as well. Space the floor, be a post-up threat and be a great initiator of the offense.”

The younger core of the team buoyed Boston's overall percentage on Monday, with Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, Payton Pritchard and Grant Williams finishing 8-for-12 outside. That's encouraging, though came later in the second half against Orlando's deeper units. Udoka expects to mix them into different roles in the final three games, he and Stevens signaling younger players on the roster need to earn their opportunity. 

Pritchard started early, finishing 46.7% on catch-and-shoot threes as a rookie, ranking ninth among players with at least 150 attempts, in the same league as Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. Pritchard followed that by sniping 47% from deep overall on 8.0 threes per game in Summer League, featuring pull-ups and longer shots, while focusing on improving his creation ability. 

The second-year guard can flat-out shoot, and Udoka needs to find ways to squeeze his fellow Portland native into lineups in spite of any size, defensive or playmaking concerns, much the way Boston once did for Isaiah Thomas. The same goes for Nesmith, who the team is drilling to not be a liability defensively. He shot 45% on the final 40 threes of his rookie season. 

Doc Rivers' famous make-miss league comment covers single games like Monday's. Eventually over the course of a season, the averages settle into results, and last year the top-12 three point shooting teams at least made the play-in tournament. Only seven bottom-half ones could say the same, and all exited the playoffs by the end of the first round. 

More than ever, the three carries teams in the aggregate, with the Suns and Bucks both entering the NBA Finals last spring as top-seven shooting teams. Boston almost made it there as a league-average team two years ago. Can they do it with even less shooting personnel this time around? 

"The missing shots was what left a bad taste in your mouth during the game," Udoka said at practice this week. "When you go back and watch the film, the quality of shots was there, guys were moving the ball, being unselfish and we're going to shoot it better when we get those same looks."

The latest from week two of training camp

Atlanta: Clint Capela (Achilles soreness) aims to do live work Monday, with his status for preseason games in doubt. John Collins is dunking on everybody through a 10-for-19 start. Sharife Cooper is sangin'. This could be a must-watch team next year, and a real east contender if everything clicks. 

Boston: Brown tested positive for COVID-19 and entered isolation, a worrisome first major development at Celtics camp on a roster that Kanter told Rolling Stone had several unvaccinated players several weeks ago.

Brooklyn: New York City reportedly cleared Kyrie Irving to practice, in a step for his availability, though his unvaccinated status still ruled him ineligible for the Nets' home preseason opener. With Brooklyn's first real home game two weeks from tomorrow, Irving would need to take the single-dose vaccine now to become eligible in time. We're potentially days from finding out if the team is interested in Irving as a hypothetically part-time player this year. His status coinciding with Ben Simmons' raises a hypothetical, one roundly denounced by Marc Stein this week.

Charlotte: Rookie James Bouknight scored 20 and 17 points, respectively, in his first two preseason games alongside a strong return for Gordon Hayward, spurts of great passing LaMelo Ball flashed as a rookie and Terry Rozier's continually dynamic shooting. This team looks ready to run-and-gun. 

Chicago: The Bulls are optimistic Patrick Williams returns from a sprained left ankle in time for the season. Chicago blew through the Cavaliers and Pelicans with overwhelming victories without him. Former Celtics forward Javonte Green flashed with 20 points and 14 rebounds in his first 35 minutes across the pair of games. He remained with Chicago on a two-year deal this summer after landing there alongside Daniel Theis at last year's trade deadline.

Cleveland: The intrigue around this massive, long front court grew with an impressive win over the Hawks. Rookie Evan Mobley chipped in eight points, 12 rebounds and two assists, impacting shots defensively at the rim. The Cavaliers also got their first dose of Tacko Fall. 

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 9, 2021

Dallas: Forget on-the-court, look what's happening on the court. The Mavericks printed every player in team history on its home hardwood for this season. Even Rajon Rondo, who famously helped derail the 2014-15 Mavs, who were rolling before acquiring him. At least his font size is appropriate. Why isn't Dirk Nowitzki size-72?

Denver: Rookie Bones Hyland broke out for 21 points on 6-for-12 three-point shooting, with 18 in the third quarter alone, making a strong push for playing time in a Nuggets back court that needs help without Jamal Murray. On defense, he's everything warranting that nickname so far.

Detroit: Ben Wallace joined the front office in a basketball operations and team engagement advisor role. Cade Cunningham, Frank Jackson and Killian Hayes all have ankle sprains. Check back in soon. Hayes returned Friday, with Cunningham a few days away, likely out Monday in Memphis.

Golden State: Andrew Wiggins got the vaccine. Jordan Poole seems poised to rocket up most-improved player lists entering the season, starting 26-for-50 from the field in three games, while converting 13-for-26 from three in wins over the Blazers and Lakers. Steph Curry appears to have more help this season, with this team significantly ahead of where I had them one week ago. 

Houston: Jalen Green's 10-for-29 through his first two preseason games, with Kevin Porter Jr. running the show, and Alperen Sengun and Josh Christopher evidently needing time. Be patient with this group, they're fun, but this is the ground floor of this rebuild. 

Indiana: Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert for Ben Simmons? No thanks, says Philadelphia. 

Clippers: Luke Kennard and rookie Brandon Boston Jr. stood out as early successes while Paul George searches for some reliable help through this long regular season ahead. Rookie Jason Preston won't be available, undergoing foot surgery that will knock him out for much of the year.

Lakers: Golden State spoiled Russell Westbrook's LA debut. Fortunately, he gets another one to begin the regular season. LeBron James and Westbrook combined 5-for-19, with eight turnovers between them. The team also lost Trevor Ariza this week for roughly two months, after he underwent right ankle surgery.

"I care about the practice scores then I care about the preseason games," James said Friday. "I don't really put too much into preseason, to be honest." 

Memphis: You've probably heard the Tony Allen news. Grizzlies fans will prefer to think about Steven Adams posting 26 points and 26 rebounds in his first two preseason games. NBA GMs also named Jaren Jackson Jr. (17%) most likely to have a breakout season. Kris Dunn, who spent some time on the Celtics roster earlier this offseason, scored 0 points in his first 17 minutes with the team. The Grizzlies chose to keep him over Carsen Edwards, who's now without a team.

Miami: A scarier thought for Boston to play by the day, Kyle Lowry already has a Heat stat line through two games: seven points, 17 assists, five steals and nine rebounds. 

Milwaukee: Former ACC stars Grayson Allen and Jordan Nwora can put the ball through the hoop. Milwaukee courted two Greeks in a loss to the Nets Friday, neither of them Giannis Antetokounmpo. Catch you on ring night. 

Minnesota: All is stable after the Karl-Anthony Towns "wtf" tweet following the ousting of former GM Gersson Rosas. How long until more Simmons rumors?

New Orleans: Third-year guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker looks solid this preseason, a favorite of mine around the time the Celtics selected Langford in the middle of that first round.

New York: Kemba Walker finished 5-for-10 in his Knicks debut with 12 points on 40% three-point shooting. He dished four assists with no turnovers in a clean first outing, thrilled to be back in New York. Evan Fournier matched him with 12 points in a blowout win over Indiana. 

Oklahoma City: Josh Giddey flashed everything the team could hope for, recording 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists against Charlotte after OKC boldly chose the point guard No. 6 overall.

Orlando: Look out. Mo Bamba is doing some things. The big man hit jumpers, blocked shots and facilitated in a loss at the Celtics Monday. 

Philadelphia: More noise on the Simmons front this week. Philly's rejecting trades, having their offers rejected and Simmons is starting to lose his money. When will we get some real closure here?

Phoenix: For now, there's no indication the Suns will extend Deandre Ayton ahead of the Oct. 18 deadline, after which he becomes a restricted free agent next summer. He's commanding a max, per Woj, which Phoenix is balking at after an NBA Finals run and signing Chris Paul long-term. Stunning.

Portland: The Trail Blazers love CJ McCollum, and mortgaging the future for Simmons by way of draft picks doesn't make sense for where this team is at. It's still hard to imagine a Simmons deal coming together here until one side gets desperate. 

Sacramento: Everyone is going to be talking about Davion Mitchell when the NBA season tips off in a few weeks.

San Antonio: Keldon Johnson looks good. Olympic bump? 

Toronto: Full stadium confirmed. All is back to normal. Wait, where's Lowry?

Utah: Jazz might've needed a shake-up after a few disappointing postseasons and didn't seem to make one. Look out for Elijah Hughes, Trent Forrest and Jared Butler. An underbelly of underrated young talent could propel Utah if those players contribute.

Washington: Deni Avdija is set to return from ankle surgery. After another rough start for a Wizards rookie, he or Corey Kispert could jolt this team by showing something. Anything.