12/27/12: Celtics @ Clippers Stat Pack

*The Los Angeles Clippers have had more steals than their opponent in their last 18 games, the 3^rd-longest streak in the NBA in the last 25 years.
–1^st: 1993-94 Atlanta Hawks (24 games)
–2^nd: 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics (21)
–3^rd: 2012-13 Los Angeles Clippers (18)

*The Celtics and Clippers are 2 of the best in shooting percentage and ball handling this season. They both rank in the Top 5 in FG% and in the Top 10 in Assist to Turnover Ratio. This game could be determined by which team is better at shooting and ball handling.
–This season, the Celtics are 12-4 when having more assists than their opponent and 11-3 when having a better FG%.
–The Clippers are an impressive 17-1 when they have more assists and 19-1 when having a better FG%.

*The Celtics go as Jared Sullinger goes.
–The Celtics are now 5-0 when he shoots at least 60% from the field (minimum 3 field goal attempts)
–The Celtics are now 6-1 when he plays more than 20 minutes.
–Another note about Sullinger: his plus/minus of +21 on Christmas Day is a career-high for him.

*The Celtics have faced the Clippers on December 27^th five different times in NBA history, all have which been home games for the Clippers.
–The Clippers won the last 2 meetings on December 27^th.
–Before those 2 games, the Celtics had won the previous 3 meetings on December 27^th.

*After the Celtics victory on Tuesday, they are now 4-0 on at least 3 days of rest this season (excluding opening night against the Heat).
–Unfortunately for Boston, the next time the team officially has at least 3 days of rest going into a game will be after the All-Star break in late February.

*Jamal Crawford, who is on his 5^th team in the last 5 seasons, leads the NBA in single-player plus/minus at +245.
–For a bench player, that is an unbelievable accomplishment about one-third the way through a season.
–4 other Clippers players are in the Top 15 in single-player plus/minus this season.
–Kevin Garnett is the Celtics’ best plus/minus player at +84 (48^th overall).

*2012-13 PER Rankings (3 each for Celtics and Clippers in Top 50)
–1^st: LeBron James (29.7)
–3^rd: Chris Paul (26.4)
–9^th: Blake Griffin (23.5)
–26^th: Paul Pierce (20.9)
–27^th: Eric Bledsoe (20.8)
–36^th: Rajon Rondo (20.1)
–44^th: Kevin Garnett (19.2)

*The Celtics are 10-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 95 points this season.
–They held the Nets to 76 points on Christmas Day, the fewest for a team against the C’s this season.

*The Celtics are nearly unbeatable at home when Avery Bradley plays at least 10 minutes. The Celtics are extremely awful without Bradley on the road.
–Since beginning of 2011-12 season, the Celtics’ home regular season record when Bradley plays at least 10 minutes: 20-4 (.833).
–Their road regular season record when Bradley plays less than 10 minutes or not at all: 6-15 (.286).

*The Celtics regular season records with and without Bradley are also staggering.
–Regular season with Bradley playing at least 10 minutes: 34-15 (.694).
–Regular season without Bradley playing 10 minutes: 19-25 (.432).


*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
23. Adrian Dantley 23,177
24. Elgin Baylor 23,149
25. Paul Pierce 23,144            (Pierce needs 6 to move into 24^th place)

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
14. Sam Perkins 1,286
T-15. Charles Oakley 1,282
T-15. Kevin Garnett 1,282            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 15^th place)