1/14/12: Celtics vs. Bobcats Stat Pack

*After beginning the season 7-5, the Charlotte Bobcats have been 2-22 since.

*The Bobcats have the league’s 2^nd worst defensive efficiency (108.3) and the worst points per game allowed (103.6).

*The Bobcats are 4-0 this season when holding opponents under 90 points (5-27 otherwise).
–3 of those games happened before November 15^th.

*Jared Sullinger has been a huge part of the Celtics’ success this season and could be the first player since Al Jefferson and Leon Powe in 2006-07 to play a full season in Boston and finish in the top 20 in rebounding rate.
–19^th in rebounding rate this season: Larry Sanders 18.4
–20^th: Jared Sullinger 18.3
–21^st: Carlos Boozer 18.1

*Courtney Lee is shooting exactly 50% from the field and 50% from three-point in his last 9 games combined. He has scored at least 12 points in 4 of those games.
–Over that 9-game span, Lee is averaging 8.7 points per game after having just 6.3 points per game and 28% three-point shooting in his first 27 games.
–Lee is 1 of 7 players with at least 40% three-point shooting in both 2010-11 and 2011-12 (minimum 150 three-point attempts).

*The Celtics’ free throw defense is the best in the NBA this season. It is obviously random that they are leading the league in this statistic, but it is sure to fun to think about. You can see it does not predicate on a team’s actual defense, especially since the Bobcats are 3^rd.
–1^st: Celtics 71.7%
–2^nd: Lakers 72.6%
–3^rd: Bobcats 73.2%

*The Celtics have yet to win a game on 2 days rest this season (0-5).

*The Celtics have had a better field goal percentage than their opponent in 5 consecutive games (all victories), which is tied for the team’s longest streak this season.
–The Celtics have a 16-3 record this season when they have a better field goal percentage.

*The Celtics have not won 6 consecutive games since 2010.
–Their last streak of at least 6 wins: November 22 to December 22, 2010 (14-game winning streak).
–The longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference this season is 6 games – done by the Nets (current one), Heat, Knicks and Hawks.

*The Celtics are a perfect 2-0 on Mondays this season.
–It is the only day this season that they are undefeated.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Bobcats
–Since 2007-08, the Boston is 13-4 against Charlotte.

*Around the NBA:

–After starting 16-9 for the 3^rd straight season, the Atlanta Hawks are now 21-15 for the 2^nd straight one (4^th best East record in 2011-12).

–The Phoenix Suns beat the Bulls in Chicago by more than 15 points for only the 3^rd time in the last 30 years and for the 1^st time since November 2004.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
15. Jerry West 25,192
16. Patrick Ewing 24,815
17. Kevin Garnett 24,802            (Garnett needs 14 to move into 16^th place)

–All-Time NBA Field Goals Made–
10. John Havlicek 10,513
11. Dominique Wilkins 9,963
12. Kevin Garnett 9,953            (Garnett needs 11 to move into 11^th place)

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
21. Robert Parish 23,334
22. Ray Allen 23,326
23. Paul Pierce 23,298            (Pierce needs 29 to move into 22^nd place)