1/4/12: Celtics vs. Pacers Stat Pack

*The Celtics are currently on a season-worst 4-game losing streak.
–Their last losing streak of 5 or more games: February 2012.
–Their longest losing streak since 2007-08: 5 games.

*It is laughable how people overact to the Celtics’ rebounding numbers on the surface. Rebounding is not the problem for the 2012-13 Celtics.
–The Celtics’ 38.1 rebounds per game are the worst in the league, but that doesn’t matter.
–People do not understand that the Celtics’ pace is tied for the 11^th slowest in the league.
–The Celtics’ 74.2% defensive rebounding percentage ranks as the 7^th-highest in the league.
–This is an improvement from the Celtics’ 72.4% defensive rebounding percentage in 2011-12 (ranked 20^th in the league).

*The reason why the Indiana Pacers have turned around their season: Paul George. The Indiana Pacers are 5-0 this season when Paul George scores at least 25 points.
–George is the Pacers’ 2^nd-best points per game scorer at 16.9 (1^st: David West 17.2).
–Since scoring zero points in Golden State (103-92 Pacers loss) on December 1^st, George has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 15 games, his longest streak of his career.
–George’s per game averages in his last 15 games (Pacers record: 11-4): 38.2 minutes, 20.7 points, 47.3 FG%, 41.0 3P%, 4.1 FTA, 85.5 FT%, 8.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists.
–George’s per game averages in his first 17 games of the season (Pacers record: 8-9): 34.7 minutes, 13.5 points, 38.5 FG%, 36.7 3P%, 1.9 FTA, 78.8 FT%, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists.

*The Celtics have lost their last 4 games by double digits. This is the first time they have done this since December 2006.
–The Celtics have never lost 5 consecutive games by at least 10 points in franchise history.

*Here’s a fun random statistic about the Celtics being lucky this season in one area.
–The Celtics’ opponent free throw percentage is 73.2% this season, the 3^rd-worst against any team this season.
–The Pacers have not been as fortunate. Pacers’ opponents are shooting 77.6%, the 6^th-best against any team in 2012-13.

*Since 2007-08…(Celtics vs. Pacers)
–The Celtics have won 8 of the 9 meetings played at the TD Garden (only loss: 87-74 on January 6, 2012).
–The Celtics are 13-5 overall.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
13. Mark Jackson 1,296
T-14. Sam Perkins 1,286
T-14. Kevin Garnett 1,286            (Garnett moves into sole possession 14^th place Friday)