Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Celtics vs. Hawks Stat Pack

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*Chris Johnson has shot an NBA-best 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) from the corner 3 this season (minimum 20 corner 3 attempts). Gerald Wallace is 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from the corner 3 this season. The Celtics are the 13th-best team this season in corner 3 percentage (39.7 percent).
–Rodrigue “Roddy Buckets” Beaubois had a career-best 59-percent corner 3 shooting in 2010-11 (4th-best that season; minimum 10 corner 3 attempts). Although he only had 17 corner 3 attempts in 2010-11, he still has shot 44 percent from the corner 3 during his career. The best NBA teams this season from the corner 3: #1 Heat (45 percent) and #2 Pacers (41 percent)

*Although Jeff Green has a double-digit negative plus/minus in each of his last 5 games, he is looking for his 4th consecutive game with at least 20 points on Wednesday.
–If he does so, it would be the first time in Green’s career that he went 4 consecutive games with at least 20 points.

*With their loss on Tuesday against the Bulls, the Hawks have already lost 9 games in February.
–Last time they lost at least 9 games in a month: March 2013 (went 8-10)
–Last time they lost at least 11 games in a month: January 2008 (went 4-11)

*Monday was the first time in Kelly Olynyk’s NBA career that he put up at least 20 points and more than 5 rebounds in the same game.

*Rajon Rondo has made 7 consecutive free throws heading into Wednesday.
–The last time he did that: 10 in a row combined between Games 2 and 3 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals
–The last time in the regular season: 7 in a row from April 10 to 13, 2012
–The last time in the regular season with more than 7 in a row: had 9 in row from March 11 to 19, 2012 (finished that streak in Atlanta)

*Monday was only the 4th time in Rondo’s regular-season career that he attempted at least 6 free throws and made them all (has done it twice in the playoffs).

*The Celtics are 7-5 against the Southeast Division this season, which is their only above-.500 record against a division

*The Celtics have lost all 4 games without Jared Sullinger this season.

*The Celtics have more offensive rebounds than their opponent in each of their last 7 games, which is their longest streak since March 2007 (7 games).
–It is also the longest current streak in the league.
–On Wednesday, the C’s will go for 8 in a row. Last time they had a streak that long: 2001 (8 games)

*The Celtics have given up at least 100 points in each of their last 5 games for the first time since 2010 (6 straight games in March/April 2010).
–On the bright side, the 76ers have given up at least 100 points in each of their last 11 games and are on pace to have the 2nd-worst American professional basketball month in history (in terms of point margin). The worst month in American professional basketball history was the Denver Nuggets in March 1950 (-22.4 PPG). The 76ers in February 2014: -19.7 PPG

*The Celtics have a worse 3-point percentage than their opponent in each of their last 7 games, which is their longest streak since March 2007 (7 games).
–It is also the longest current streak in the league.
–The longest overall one this season: Bucks (9 straight in December/January)
–On Wednesday, the C’s go for 8 in a row. Last time they had a streak that long: 1993 (9 games)

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Hawks
–The Celtics had won the previous 4 home regular-season meetings (and the previous 7 home meetings including the playoffs) before the Hawks won on December 31.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Celtics at Jazz Stat Pack

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*Right before the Celtics-Kings game, Sacramento had the highest strength of schedule this season.
–As of Monday, February 24, Utah now has the highest strength of schedule this season.

*The Jazz’s 19-36 record matched the franchise’s 2nd-worst 55-game start since 1980-81.

*Utah is 16-9 with the Trey Burke/Gordon Hayward/Richard Jefferson/Marvin Williams/Derrick Favors starting lineup (3-27 otherwise).

*The Jazz without Favors this season: 0-9 (19-27 otherwise)
–The Celtics without Jared Sullinger this season: 0-3 (19-35 otherwise)

*The Celtics are 4-2 on Mondays this season, their only day on which they are .500 this season.

*Jeff Green had 18 free throws attempts on Saturday, marking a new career-high.
–Last Celtic with more attempts in a game: Paul Pierce with 19 in Game 5 of 2008 NBA Finals … for just regular-season games: 21 by Pierce on March 23, 2007 vs. Dallas … for just road regular-season games: 22 by Pierce on November 18, 2006 at New York

*Kris Humphries had his new season-high with 19 points on Saturday.
–Only once last season did Humphries score that many points.

*Isaiah Thomas’s double-double on Saturday was his first since January 21 and his first at home since December 27.

*The Celtics have more offensive rebounds than their opponent in each of their last 6 games, which is their longest streak since March 2007 (7 games).
–It is also the longest current streak in the league.

*The Celtics have a worse 3-point percentage than their opponent in each of their last 6 games, matching the team’s longest such streak of the season (from January).
–It is also the longest current streak in the league.
–The longest overall one this season: Bucks (9 straight in December/January)

*The last 17 times that the Celtics have gone to a Western Conference building, they have fallen.
–Via Elias: “That’s the longest current road losing streak in interconference games in the NBA and the longest in Celtics history.”
–The last time the green won a road game against a Western Conference opponent: February 25, 2013 against the Utah Jazz.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Jazz
–The last time the Jazz beat the Celtics was 2010 (6 straight C’s victories).

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Celtics at Kings Stat Pack

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*The Celtics were outscored in a quarter by at least 20 points for the first time since November 19, 2013 (Rockets 40, Celtics 18 after the first quarter).

*Brandon Bass matched a season-high with 20 points on Friday.
–The Celtics had won the previous 8 games (including 1 postseason contest) when Bass had scored at least 20 points.

*Phil Pressey as an NBA starter: 5 games played, 25.6 MPG, 8 PPG (15 points per 100 possessions), 5 APG (9.5 assists per 100 possessions), 53% 3-point percentage (3.1 made 3-pointers [5.7 attempted] per 100 possessions), 50% true shooting percentage, 18% usage percentage
–Reserve: 46 games played, 12.4 MPG, 2 PPG (8 points per 100 possessions), 2 APG (9.2 assists per 100 possessions), 18% 3-point percentage (0.8 made 3-pointers [4.6 attempted] per 100 possessions), 32% true shooting percentage, 13% usage percentage

*The Celtics’ only victory against the Pacific Division this season was against the Sacramento Kings.

*The Kings have a 3-2 record against the Atlantic Division this season, the only above .500 record for Sacramento against a division this season.

*The Kings have had the most difficult schedule thus far this season.

*The Kings are 0-8 this season when scoring fewer than 90 points.
–They are 5-0 this season when holding their opponent to fewer than 90 points.
–They are 1-15 this season when giving up more than 108 points.
–They are 0-10 this season when grabbing more than 15 offensive rebounds.

*The Kings have more free throw attempts than their opponent in each of their last 6 games, the team’s longest streak in over a year.

*The Celtics have more offensive rebounds than their opponent in each of their last 5 games, matching the team’s longest streak of the season.

*The last time the Celtics and Kings faced off, it was Isaiah Thomas’s 25th birthday.
–This time around, it is another point guard’s birthday: Rajon Rondo is 28.

*MarShon Brooks scored a season-high 14 points on 7 field goals made Friday with a game-high plus/minus of +21.
–In 10 games as a Celtic: 31 points on 9 field goals made (7 of which were 2-pointers)
–In 7 games as a Warrior: 13 points on 5 field goals made

*Kent Bazemore, who was averaging 2.3 points per game this season and 2.0 per game in his career before Friday, scored a career-high 15 points against the Celtics.

*The Celtics are 0-11 on the road against Western Conference opponents this season.
–The last 16 times that the Celtics have gone to a Western Conference building, they have fallen.
–The last time the green won a road game against a Western Conference opponent: February 25, 2013 against the Utah Jazz.

*The Celtics have won 2 of their last 3 games on the second night of back-to-backs since starting the season 2-9 in those situations.
–All 4 of the Celtics’ wins on the second night of back-to-backs this season have come on the road, 3 of which were against current playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, 2 of those 3 squads would be far back in the playoff race in the Western Conference.

*The Kings have played just one game in the 9 days before Saturday.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Kings
–Streaks for the Celtics in Sacramento (most recent is first): currently a 2-game losing streak, which was preceded 4-game winning streak and an 11-game losing streak before that

Friday, February 21, 2014

By The Numbers: The First Road Win Against the Western Conference

http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/21/numbers-first-road-win-western-conference/

http://espn.go.com/photo/2012/1114/bos_g_rondo01jr_576.jpg

Celtics at Lakers Stat Pack

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*The Celtics are 0-10 on the road against Western Conference opponents this season.
–The last 15 times that the Celtics have gone to a Western Conference building, they have fallen.
–The last time the green won a road game against a Western Conference opponent: February 25, 2013 against the Utah Jazz: a 110-107 overtime victory on the second night of a back-to-back.

*Rondo’s 22 field goal attempts on Wednesday were his most since Game 7 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals (last time in regular season: February 15, 2012).
–For only the 3rd time in Rondo’s regular-season career, he posted 22 field goal attempts.
–He had a season-high 5 free throw attempts after not attempting any in the previous 4 games.
–He tied his season-best plus/minus with +16 on Wednesday.
–He also had a line of 18 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds for first time in more than a year.

*Gerald Wallace had his 5th game this season with at least 4 steals on Wednesday (he has just 5 games this season when he scored more than 10 points).
–All 5 of those 4-steal games have come when Wallace has scored fewer than 10 points.
–Only Ricky Rubio (7) and Wallace (5) have at least 4 different games of at least 4 steals and fewer than 10 points this season.
–No player in the NBA had more than 4 of those types of games in 2012-13.

*The last time the Celtics won on the first night of a back-to-back was November 29 against the Cavaliers (8 straight losses for C’s on first night of back-to-backs).
–Now a member of the Lakers, MarShon Brooks played in that Cavaliers game on November 29.

*The Celtics have won 2 of their last 3 games on the second night of back-to-backs since starting the season 2-9 in those situations.
–All 4 of the Celtics’ wins on the second night of back-to-backs this season have come on the road, 3 of which were against current playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, 2 of those 3 squads would be far back in the playoff race in the Western Conference.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Lakers
–The Celtics have lost 5 of their last 6 meetings with the Lakers

*For Saturday: the Kings have played just one game in the last 9 days.

*For Monday: Utah is 16-9 with the Trey Burke/Gordon Hayward/Richard Jefferson/Marvin Williams/Derrick Favors starting lineup (3-25 otherwise).

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Celtics at Suns Stat Pack

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*The Celtics are 0-9 on the road against Western Conference opponents this season.

*Chris Johnson’s plus/minus of +57 in February is the best of any Celtic and the 8th-best in the league during this month.
–He is the only player to have a plus/minus of at least +50 this month when playing fewer than 100 minutes.

*When Johnson is on the floor in February, the Celtics have a net effective field goal percentage of +15.6 percent.
–That ranks as the best of any NBA player with at least 75 minutes this month.

*Johnson’s team-best plus/minus of +54 this season is 39 points better than Jared Sullinger’s.

*Johnson’s Celtics-best 2.6 made 3-pointers per 36 minutes is on pace to be the best for a man in green since Eddie House in 2009-10.
–Ray Allen never made that many 3-pointers per 36 minutes in a single season as a Celtic.

*Johnson and Kyle Korver are the only Eastern Conference players to shoot at least 45 percent from 3-point this season (minimum 30 attempts from 3-point).

*If Johnson were to finish this season with at least 2.6 made 3-pointers per 36 minutes and shoot at least 45 percent from 3-point, then he would become the first Celtic to ever accomplish that feat.
–Johnson, Korver and Jimmer Fredette are the only players that have played at least 200 minutes this season and have at least 2.6 made 3-pointers per 36 minutes and have shot at least 45 percent from 3-point.
–Korver and Stephen Curry were the only players to accomplish that feat in the NBA in 2012-13.

*In his brief time with the Celtics, Johnson has made more 3-pointers than he has 2-pointers, he has attempted more 3-pointers than he has 2-pointers and he has shot better from 3-point than he has from 2-point.

*Johnson has played the 5th-most minutes for a Celtic in the last 12 games.

*Kelly Olynyk’s +18 is the best plus/minus in February among Celtics who have played at least 100 minutes.

*In this game against Suns, Olynyk goes for his 3rd straight double-double.
–The only Celtic to accomplish that feat this season was Jared Sullinger (6-game streak that ended right before the All-Star break).

*Olynyk has posted 3 of his 8 double-digit scoring NBA games in his last 4 contests.

*Before February, Olynyk had just one game in which he had a plus/minus better than +10. He already has 2 such performances in just 6 games this month.

*Olynyk is on pace for his best true shooting percentage month in exactly a year.

*Olynyk has played 816 minutes this season after racking up a career-high 845 in his final collegiate season.

*Through 10 games, Rajon Rondo is on pace to have a new career-high in 3-point percentage, but is on pace for his worst 2-point percentage since his rookie year.
–Rondo is shooting just 33 percent (5-of-15) from 3 to 10 feet this season.
–Rondo is shooting an impressive 44 percent (11-of-25) from 16 feet and out on 2-pointers this season.

*On Wednesday against the Spurs, Rondo became just the 2nd Celtic to have at least 3 made 3-pointers in consecutive games this season (Jeff Green: December 10 and 11, 2013).

*Tim Duncan’s 8 made field goals in the 2nd half matched the 2nd-most made against the Celtics in a half this season.
–Most: Kyrie Irving (9 on December 28: 2nd half)
–2nd-most: Kemba Walker (8 on November 25: 2nd half) and Terrence Jones (8 on November 19: 1st half)

*When the Suns outshoot their opponent this season, they are 27-3.
–Otherwise: 4-18 (the 4th win came on Tuesday at Denver)

*The Suns sure like to jack up 3-pointers on no rest.
–On no rest, they have a team-high (compared to other days of rest) 10.5 made 3-pointers per game and 27.4 attempts from 3-point per game this season.

*Surprisingly, the Suns are only 11-8 against the Eastern Conference this season.
–They are one of the worst Western Conference teams in terms of record against the Eastern Conference. The only Western Conference teams with fewer wins against the Eastern Conference this season: Jazz, Lakers and Kings.

*The Celtics have still yet to give up 30 points to a player on the road this season.
–Every other team has already given up at least 2 such performances.

*Happy belated 23rd birthday to Phil Pressey.
–Another Celtics birthday coming up: Rajon Rondo’s 28th on February 22.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Suns
–The last time the Celtics faced the Suns was the first time in almost a decade that the C’s made double-digit 3-pointers against Phoenix.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Celtics vs. Spurs Stat Pack

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*Happy 80th birthday to Bill Russell.

*The Spurs’ 39.1% 3-point shooting is the best in the league this season.
–2nd-best: New Orleans (38.2%)
–The difference between 1st (Spurs) and 2nd (Pelicans) is 0.9%, which is larger than the difference between 2nd (Pelicans) and 7th (Hawks).

*The Spurs are the only team that has yet to lose this season when outrebounding their opponent.

*Monday was Jeff Green’s 3rd game with 1 or fewer rebounds when playing at least 30 minutes this season.
–Before 2013-14, Green had just 3 regular-season games of 1 or fewer rebounds when playing at least 30 minutes in his career.

*Since shooting 7-of-9 against the Kings, Jerryd Bayless has gone 2-of-14 from the field.
–He does have a combined 14 assists in those 2 games (had averaged 3.2 assists as a Celtic before those 2 games).

*The Celtics have yet to beat a team from the Southwest Division (0-7) this season.
–The Celtics are under .500 against each division, except for the Southeast (7-5).

*From Elias: “Jeff Green hit five of his eight field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter, helping the Celtics to a 32-point period that propelled them to a 102-86 victory in Milwaukee. Boston has now won four of its last five games, during which the C’s have connected on 57.3 percent of their fourth-quarter field-goal attempts. Prior to that span, over their first 48 games of the season, Boston had made only 40.8 percent of its fourth-quarter shots from the floor.”

*From Elias: “John Loyer came up a winner in his debut as an NBA head coach, defeating a four-time NBA-champion head coach in Gregg Popovich, as the Pistons topped the Spurs, 109-100. Loyer became just the second individual in NBA history – and the first in more than 55 years – to win his NBA head-coaching debut by defeating an opposite number with four NBA championships under his belt.”

*The Spurs had won their first 4 games this season without Tony Parker, but dropped their last one without the point guard (February 6 at Brooklyn).

*Via ESPN Stats and Info: “Jared Sullinger has 6 straight double-doubles, tied with Kevin Love for the longest active streak in the NBA.”

*Kelly Olynyk’s double-double on Monday was the first in his NBA career.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Spurs
–The Celtics have dropped the last 4 meetings.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Celtics at Bucks Stat Pack

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*Avery Bradley is just 26 minutes away from tying his career-high for minutes played in an NBA season (1,435 in 2012-13).

*Sunday was the first time in Rajon Rondo’s career that he hit 3 shots from downtown.
–The Celtics are 5-9 in the regular season (8-12 including the playoffs) when he makes at least 2 shots from 3-point distance.

*On Sunday, Rondo also became the first player this season with the following stat line: 15 points, 3 made 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, 12 assists and 0 turnovers. In fact, the last player to accomplish a line like that was Jason Kidd on February 26, 2006.

*Jerryd Bayless’ season-high 8 assists on Sunday were his most in a game since February 19, 2013.

*Jeff Green has matched his season-high in steals (3) on Sunday.
–Last time he had 4 steals: December 21, 2012 against the Bucks.

*The last time the Celtics won on the first night of a back-to-back was November 29 against the Cavaliers.
–Sunday was the C’s 8th consecutive loss on the first night of a back-to-back.

*Sunday was the Mavericks’ best defensive field-goal percentage of the season.

*Via Elias: “The Mavericks’ 102-91 triumph over the Celtics was their fifth straight win overall and their fourth by more than 10 points. It’s the first time since March 2008 that Dallas has won four consecutive games, each by at least 11 points. From March 2001 to March 2008 the Mavericks won at least four straight games by more than 10 points seven different times.”

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Bucks
–Before the C’s victory over the Bucks on December 3, the Bucks were victorious in the previous 4 meetings.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Celtics vs. Mavericks Stat Pack

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*Gerald Wallace became only the 8th player this season (and only the 2nd player in 2014 – the other player Kevin Durant) to record 8 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists in the same game.
–Last Celtic to accomplish that feat: Paul Pierce (February 10, 2013)
–Last Celtic not named Pierce or Rondo to do so: Ryan Gomes (November 8, 2006)

*The last time the Celtics won on the first night of a back-to-back was November 29 against the Cavaliers.

*The Celtics (3-0) and Mavericks (3-0) are 2 of 4 teams that are undefeated in February 2014.
–The other 2 teams: Pacers (4-0) and Rockets (3-0)

*The Mavericks’ 457 steals are tied with the 76ers for the most in the league this season.
–Their 9.0 steals per game are tied for the 2nd-most in the NBA (only team with more: Heat 9.1).

*The Celtics are hoping to match their season-long winning streak with a victory on Sunday.

*Jerryd Bayless’ 19 points and 4 made 3-pointers on Friday were his most as a Celtic.

*Jared Sullinger is one of 5 NBA players to have a double-double in each of his last 4 games.

*Rajon Rondo is in search of his 3rd straight double-digit assist game.
–The last time he accomplished that feat: December 2012 (5 consecutive games)

*Rondo is 2 assists away from becoming the 6th Celtic all-time with 4,000 assists.

*Wednesday marked Rondo’s 7th consecutive game with at least 3 turnovers, which marks one of the longest streaks of his career. His longest streak since the beginning of the 2011-12 season is 8 games (done twice).
–He is on pace to have a new career-high in turnover rate this season.

*The Kings’ 12 bench points on Friday matched the fewest bench points for a game against the Celtics this season.
–The Clippers also had 12 on January 8.

*After Friday, the only division that the Celtics are winless against this season is the Southwest Division (0-6).

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Mavericks
–Before the C’s double-overtime victory over the Mavericks, Dallas had won the previous 3 meetings in Boston.

By The Numbers: The Return of Rajon Rondo

http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/09/numbers-return-rajon-rondo/

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0617/nba_g_bos_lal_rondo_b4_576.jpg

Friday, February 7, 2014

Celtics vs. Kings Stat Pack


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*For the first time in the 2014 calendar year, the Celtics are entering a game with a winning streak.
--Last time they won consecutive games before this past week: December 13 and 16, 2013.
--The Celtics’ only winning streak of at least 4 games this season: November 6 to 11, 2013 (they also had only one winning streak of exactly 3 games)

*The Celtics are also one of 6 teams (and one of 3 Eastern-Conference teams) that are undefeated in February 2014.

*The Kings have lost their last 4 road games, the longest current road losing streak in the Western Conference.
--The Kings have had the toughest strength of schedule this season.

*Jared Sullinger has a double-double in each of his last 3 games, marking the first time in his career that he has accomplished that feat.

*On Wednesday, Sullinger matched his career-high with 5 assists.
--It was his first time with 5 assists in an NBA road game.

*Via Elias: “Jared Sullinger registered 19 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots to help lead the Celtics to a victory over the 76ers on Wednesday night. Over the last 24 seasons, only one other Celtic has reached those levels in those four categories in a game. On November 5, 1997, Antoine Walker recorded 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four blocks against the Heat.”

*Rajon Rondo is in search of his 3rd straight double-digit assist game on Friday.
--The last time he accomplished that feat: December 2012 (5 consecutive games)

*Jeff Green now has 3 separate games of at least 5 made 3-pointers this season.
--The last time a Celtic had at least 3 such games in a single regular season: Ray Allen (4 in 2011-12)
--There have been only 2 other such performances by players in green this season: 2 (one each by Jordan Crawford and Phil Pressey)

*3 of Jeff Green’s 4 highest-scoring games in his career have come on the road and on Wednesdays.
--1. Monday, Mar 18, 2013 vs. Miami: 43 with Celtics (Loss)
--2. Wednesday, Jan 22, 2014 at Washington: 39 with Celtics (Win)
--3. Wednesday, Dec 1, 2010 at New Jersey: 37 with Thunder (Win)
--4. Wednesday, Feb 5, 2014 at Philadelphia: 36 with Celtics (Win)

*Happy 25th birthday to Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas, who makes Sacramento 7.4 points better per 100 possessions when he is on the floor this season.

*The Celtics have yet to beat a team from either the Southwest Division (0-6) or the Pacific Division (0-4) this season.

*The 76ers’ 28 fast break points on Wednesday were the most given up by the Celtics this season.

*Rajon Rondo is 2 assists away from 4,000 for his career.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Kings
--The last time Sacramento won in Boston: more than 7 years ago

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

By The Numbers: Jared Sullinger, the Green Rebounding Machine

http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/05/by-the-numbers-sullinger-the-green-rebounding-machine/

http://espn.go.com/photo/2012/0911/bos_g_sullinger_576.jpg

Celtics at 76ers Stat Pack

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*Jared Sullinger is on pace to be the only Celtics player in the last 2 decades to play at least 1,250 minutes in one season and post an offensive rebounding percentage of 13.4 or better.
–The last player to accomplish that feat was Ed Pinckney with a 15.2 offensive rebounding percentage in 1991-92.

*Sully is the only Celtic to have played at least 300 minutes in green with a positive plus/minus in 2013-14.

*The 76ers have lost their last 5 home games, the longest current streak in the league.

*A loss on Wednesday would give Philadelphia its worst 50-game start since 1996-97.
–A win on Wednesday would still be the franchise’s worst 50-game start since 1997-98.

*On Sunday, Brandon Bass grabbed at least 3 offensive rebounds for the 14th time this season.
–The C’s are now 8-6 when he does that (8-27 otherwise).

*Last Wednesday and Sunday marked the first time in Jared Sullinger’s career that he had back-to-back games of at least 15 points and 10 rebounds.

*Sunday was the first time in Rondo’s career that he shot perfectly from 2-point range when attempting at least 4 shots from inside the arc.

*On Sunday, Rondo had season-highs in points (19), assists (10) and steals (3).
–If he did not attempt that shot with 21 seconds remaining on Sunday, he would have gone 9-of-10 from the field, which would have been his career-best field-goal percentage in a game when attempting at least 3 shots.

*For the first time since 2011, Rondo recorded a double-double in fewer than 30 minutes played. The Celtics have won the last 7 times when Rondo has double-doubled in fewer than 30 minutes (7-1 all-time).
–In addition, Sunday was the first time in Rondo’s career that he scored more than 16 points in a game that he recorded a double-double in fewer than 30 minutes.
–Sunday was also the first time in Rondo’s career that he registered at least 3 steals in a game that he recorded a double-double in fewer than 30 minutes.

*On Sunday, Avery Bradley tied his regular-season career-high in free-throw attempts (6).
–Bradley now has 5 different games in which he has put up exactly 6 free-throw attempts and 3 of those performances have come in the 2014 calendar year.

*Jerryd Bayless is 4 assists away from 1,000 for his career.

*The Celtics have still yet to give up 30 points to a player on the road this season.
–Every other team has already given up at least 2 such performances.
–Last player to do that against the Celtics in the regular season: none other than Jerryd Bayless (March 23, 2013).

*For Friday against the Kings: Sacramento is more than 8 points better per 100 possessions with Isaiah Thomas on the floor this season (5.5 on offense, 2.6 on defense).

*Also for Friday: the Celtics have yet to beat a team from either the Southwest Division (0-6) or the Pacific Division (0-4) this season.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. 76ers
–In 2011 and 2012, the Celtics went 0-4 in Philadelphia in the regular season, but Boston won there in 2013.
–Before they hit 2011, the Celtics had won the previous 7 meetings in Philadelphia.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Game 49: Magic (13-35) @ Celtics (15-33) Open Thread

http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/02/game-49-magic-13-35-celtics-15-33-open-thread/

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/1203/nba_g_davis11_576.jpg

Celtics vs. Magic Stat Pack

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*The Celtics are 1 of 3 major North American professional teams to play on each of the last 6 Super Bowl Sundays (all 6 of those C’s games at TD Garden).
–The Montreal Canadiens have played on each of the last 9 Super Bowl Sundays (they were scheduled to play on Super Bowl Sunday in 2005, but there was the lockout).
–The Celtics and Washington Capitals have each played on the last 6 Super Bowl Sundays. This will be the 3rd time the Celtics will have faced the Magic on Super Bowl Sunday in that span.
–The Heat played on 3 consecutive Super Bowl Sundays from 2011 to 2013.

*The Magic’s 3-26 record this season when giving up at least 100 points is the worst in the league.

*Nicola Vucevic has 17 double-doubles in just 30 games played this season, 2 of which came against the Celtics in November.
–Although the Magic dropped both of those contests, Orlando is 9-8 this season when Vucevic records a double-double in comparison to a 2-16 record when he does not play.

*Orlando’s 13-35 record is tied for the franchise’s 2nd-worst 48-game start.
–12-36 in 1991-92 (13-35 in 2003-04)

*The Celtics have lost 4 consecutive home games.
–Last time they lost 5 straight home games: 2006-07 (13 straight home losses)

*The last time the Celtics had multiple players in Rising Starts Challenge: 2005 (Tony Allen and Al Jefferson were both on the rookie team)

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Magic
–The Celtics have won the last 6 games that they have hosted the Magic.