Celtics finding other ways to win
The Celtics have won 9 in a row after their 117-99 win over Philadelphia last night. The Celtics struggled from beyond the arc shooting 23% and making 5 out of 22 shots. According to the Athletic, The Celtics had been 1-6 during the Joe Mazzulla era when making fewer than 10 3-pointers. It was the lowest of the Mazzulla era and the coach seemed to love that they found a new way to win.
“This game was probably one of our best games of the year,” Mazzulla said. “And it really gives us — from the standpoint of we were able to win a different way, and this game showed a template of how teams are going to guard us, and it gives us another thing to practice. I thought our guys did a great job.”
Despite the struggles from the perimeter, the green still won by 18 points. The Sixers made nine more 3s than the Celtics but the green were consistent inside the arc hitting 52.7% of their shots while the Sixers shot 39.4%. But the C’s dominated in other parts of the game: 28-10 fast-break points, 56 vs. 28 in rebounding margin and 37 vs. 12 in free-throw attempts. The Celtics found other ways to dominate when the deep ball wasn’t falling.
The Celtics field goal percentage has improved during their 9 game winning streak.
76ers 53%
NYK 57%
Bulls 54%
Nets 57%
Nets 52%
Heat 51%
Wash 52%
ATL 53%
Memph 49%
For all the talk about the Celtics philosophy not being sustainable, how about shooting 53% from the field over a 9-game winning streak? The Celtics went to the free throw line 37 times against Philadelphia. Kristaps Porzingis played 31 minutes and went 12-12 from the line with 12 rebounds and 23 points. Jaylen Brown had a game high 31 points while Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double adding 29 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The Celtics have struggled in the third quarter this season but last night went on an 11-0 run at one point winning the quarter. The fourth quarter saw the green go on a 16-0 run with Tatum scoring 14 points in the frame. The 76ers went five minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter. The team keeps showing different ways to win and goes for their 10th consecutive win on Friday vs Dallas.
Listen to Joe Murray and Cerrone Battle discuss the Celtics win
