Shoot the Dammmmmmm Ball!

[CaptChris]

We lost to Atlanta and Chicago this week. No surprise. Guess WHY?

We were outshot 161 -- 136. Atlanta game 77 -- 65 = -12. Chicago 84 -- 71 = -13 shots.

We have fallen into the PP & Rondo trap. In one game PP held the ball for long stretches, In the other Rondo dribbled the ball to death. In both games we stopped moving the ball, and went flat. Playing against the 24 second clock.

It takes 5 guys to win games. When we move the ball, and the bodies, we get open, easy shots. When we do the go to guy bit, people end up standing around, and bad things happen. How many T/O's come when "one" guy trys to do it all. PP gets caught in bad situations, when he takes on the whole other team.

We make the extra pass, it looks great. We don't it looks UGLY! :confused:

[CelticSooner]

You mean holding the ball for 20 seconds then taking a wild shot as the shot clock expires isn't part of the plan? I could sworn it was lately.

[CaptChris]

That's exactly the problem. The Celtics are last in the league (30th) in Field Goal Attempts a Game -- 76.5 shots. The Lakers take 85.4 -- almost 9 more shots a game.

You don't win games taking 65 shots.

[Kiss My Arse]

Considering teams alternate possessions, I find something a bit screwy with the hypothesis as it is laid out.

[CaptChris]

Check out http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=teamstatoff&sort=fga&league=nba&season=2010&seasontype=2&avg=pg&order=true&split=0

The Milwaukee Bucks are #1 -- 87.5 shots a game.

Boston Celtics are # 30, (LAST), -- 76.5 shots a game.

[Kiss My Arse]

Check out http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/statistics?stat=teamstatoff&sort=fga&league=nba&season=2010&seasontype=2&avg=pg&order=true&split=0

The Milwaukee Bucks are #1 -- 87.5 shots a game.

Boston Celtics are # 30, (LAST), -- 76.5 shots a game.

You are ignoring a bunch of factors. It is not as simple as "shoot the ball." For instance, there is pace (91.7 possesions per game, 21st), turnovers (16.8% turnover rate, T-26th), offensive rebounding (24.5 OReb%, 25th) and free throws (25.1 FTM/100 FGA, 5th.)

So, in a nutshell, there are less "FGAs" because they are playing at a slower tempo. There are less FGAs because they are turning the ball over 16.8% of their possessions. There are less FGAs because they fail to effectively and consistently rebound on the offensive glass. There are less FGAs because many of their possessions result in trips to the free throw line.

It is not as simple as just shooting the ball.

[CaptChris]

Isn't it funny how all the fancy stats apply to ALL THE TEAMS, yet the Celtics get the fewest shots? You are Right that it takes a lot to be LASTin the league in FGA.

It takes one or two guys dominating the ball, and slowing everthing down. It forces bad shots as the clock runs down.

It males ot veru jard tp WIN!

[Kiss My Arse]

Isn't it funny how all the fancy stats apply to ALL THE TEAMS, yet the Celtics get the fewest shots?

What is so difficult to fathom? There are other teams who are worse in some variables but when all the ingredients are put together, the Celtics average the fewest FGAs.

You are Right that it takes a lot to be LASTin the league in FGA.


It takes one or two guys dominating the ball, and slowing everthing down. It forces bad shots as the clock runs down.

While this may be true, you are only obfuscating your original contention that we are averaging the fewest shots. Doesn't it stand to reason that, assuming all other rates stay the same, on both sides of the ball, our opponents would have an increase of shot attempts in direct proportion to the increase of pace? How will our league leading defense fare once they have to defend more in transition? How about when they are not allowed to dig in on the defensive end because shots will be going up more quickly?

You state that players are taking poor shots. While that may appear to be true, nothing points to that actually being true-- at least not on the whole (but may certainly apply to a SG who often dribbles with no purpose, often sets up lesser shooters for poor shots and is undoubtedly toast as player save for his ability to shoot.) We are 2nd in the league in eFG% (.531) and, as stated previously, 5th in the league in FTM/FGAs. Kevin Garnett covers up a lot of problems on both ends but if you take the ball out of the hands of better playmakers and put it in the hands of extremely limited players like Ray Allen or play hide-and-seek via the pick game with Ray Allen, you are going to have many one-and-dones because offensive rebounders are out of position having to set picks for a fairly useless player who can't create his own shot but needs to be involved on all levels of the offense.

It makes it difficult to win when you have to cover-up for a one-dimensional player on both ends of the floor.