The Celtics Final Shot
The Celtics are the best team in the NBA and have clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs. 60 wins is a milestone that should be celebrated but it has not been an indicator of late on who wins the NBA Championship. Since 2014, only three teams have won 60 games and taken home the Larry O’Brien trophy. The last team to do it were the Golden State Warriors seven years ago. Boston has steam rolled through teams this season, the biggest question surrounding the team is their late game situations. When they play at their pace they can beat any team in the NBA.
The final shot discussion has popped back up again. It’s hard not to think back at the Celtics last 4 losses and how they executed at the end of the games. No player has come under more scrutiny that Jayson Tatum. The number will tell you he has the lowest percentage of making shots in late game situations. I still want Tatum taking the shot with the game on the line. Many will bring up Denver and how they play late in games. In the recent loss to the Clippers, Michael Malone set up a play for Nikola Jokic to get the ball in the back court and force up the final shot. Jimmy Butler did the same thing at the end of the game in Miami’s loss to the 76ers. The common theme is the start took the final shot for both losing teams, and both games ended by two points.
I find it some people who knock analytics in sports, go immediately to the stats to fit their agenda. The highest percentage shot may not be the right shot, it also doesn’t mean the lowest percentage shot is the wrong one. All this talk about who will take the final shot, if the Celtics don’t make it the finals this season it may be the final shot for this group of Celtics.
