Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
There has been no greater transformation for this Celtics team this season than its sudden ability to convert in clutch situations. Much of that can be traced to Stevens tasking his charges with simple but effective play-calling that doesn’t overwhelm his players and strives to put them in position to succeed.
Smart’s crunch-time lob play propelled Boston to a 95-92 triumph over Memphis, one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Consider this: Since Jan. 22, the night Turner hit a late 3-pointer to beat the Portland Trail Blazers and seemingly lit the fuse on the Celtics’ recent turnaround, Boston is averaging 0.947 points per play in after-timeout situations, according to Synergy Sports play-type data. If maintained, that number would rank the team third in the league behind only the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers (led by Boston’s former Czar of the Whiteboard, Doc Rivers).
For the season, the Celtics rank seventh overall in ATO efficiency at 0.901 points per play, according to Synergy data. The six teams in front of Boston all currently project as playoff squads, which speaks to the value of crisp execution coming out of timeouts (especially when you consider that 16.1 percent of the Celtics’ total plays this season have come in those situations).
Boston is 14-10 in its past 24 games, and 7-3 in its past 10. What’s more, 16 of those previous 24 games have seen the Celtics within five points of their opponents in the final five minutes, and Boston owns a 9-7 mark in those games. (That .563 winning percentage ranks the Celtics in the top 10 among all NBA teams in clutch games during that span.)
How the hell is Brad Stevens doing this?
If you add up all the roster moves and injuries, he’s essentially coached two different teams this season.
Somehow, someway, it’s working.
Of course, working is a relative term. The Celtics are still 9 games under .500 and capable of mind-numbing performances.
But if Stevens can work magic with this squad, imagine what he’ll be capable of when Danny Ainge hands him some real studs.
Chris Mannix was flat-out gushing over Stevens’ coaching ability on CSNNE’s post-game show last night.
Not only is Stevens drawing up the right plays, he has the guys playing hard and confident. If Tony Allen believes, then so should you:
“They just played harder than us,” Allen said, adding without prompt, “And as far as their future, they’re going to be pretty good, man. Danny Ainge knows what he’s doing. He’s a wizard. He knows what he’s doing.
I hope you all are enjoying these early years. Because teams grow up so fast.
On Page 2, Stevens wants fans to shout at Kelly Olynyk.
Brad Stevens admitted last night that he needs some help from the Garden crowd. If Kelly Olynyk can’t be convinced to shoot when he’s open, perhaps the crowd can shame him into it.
“I’m saying, ‘Shoot it,’ ” the Celtics coach said after last night’s 95-92 win over Memphis. “We’re going to get the whole crowd to start saying. ‘Shoot it” if he doesn’t shoot it. Not before he shoots it or during the shot, but if he doesn’t shoot it we all have to say, ‘Shoot it.’
“The most important thing for me is assertiveness in the offensive end. I got mad at him in the first half because he passed up a shot in front of me and then traveled.”
Olynyk, who appears to have recovered from an ankle sprain that forced him to miss 18 games, had several big shots, including a big 3-pointer mid-way through the fourth, as part of his 15-point performance against the Grizzlies.
Marc Gasol is one of the best centers in the NBA, but Kelly Olynyk is a nightmare match-up for him. Gasol wanted no-part of Olynyk on the perimeter.
That 26-footer with 4 minutes remaining was HUGE. He never hesitated and it kept the Celtics alive when I thought Memphis was on the verge of pulling away.
Keep shooting, Kelly. Because you sure as hell ain’t on this roster because of your defense.
Gasol and Zach Randolph combined for 23 points on 8-18 shooting. Who saw that coming?
Related links: Globe – Olynyk’s fire needs to burn brightest | CSNNE – KO finding his game by shooting more
And finally, can’t we all just get along?
Deadspin has video and a witness account of the stabbing that occurred last night in the final seconds of the Celtics game.
The melee involved two guys in Rondo gear who were probably arguing over Rondo’s value on the free agent market.
I joke because the victim has non-life threatening injuries. But we’ll all be better off once that knife-wielding hoodlum is arrested.
The rest of the links:
Globe – Celtics pull away from Grizzlies | Herald – Celtics net impressive comeback win | Celtics set bar higher | CSNNE – Jeff Green makes quiet return | Celtics stun Grizz | CSNNE – Without Thomas, Bradley aided Celtics
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