1/9/12: Celtics vs. Suns Stat Pack

*The Phoenix Suns have lost their last 10 road games.
–Their 10-game road losing streak is the longest active one in the league.
–The longest road losing streak during the 2012-13 NBA season belongs to the Toronto Raptors (11 games: November 17 to December 10).

*The Suns are 0-7 on the 2^nd night of back-to-backs this season.
–They are averaging just 88.4 points per game and 106.3 points allowed in those 7 games.

*Since winning a season-high 4 in a row, the Suns have lost 9 of their last 10 games.

*The Celtics have not won 4 consecutive games since last season.
–Their last streak of at least 4 wins: April 7-11, 2012.

*The Celtics have had fewer turnovers than their opponent in their last 6 games.
–This 6-game streak is the longest current one in the league.
–It is also the longest streak for the Celtics this season. The last time the Celtics had a streak of this sort of at least 6 games: November 2010 (7 games).
–When the Celtics commit fewer turnovers than their opponents, they have a 13-8 record this season (otherwise: 4-9).

*The Celtics have yet to beat a team from the Pacific Division in 2012-13.
–They are 0-3 this season.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Suns
–The Celtics have lost 4 of their last 5 games against the Suns.
–The Celtics are 4-5 against the Suns since 2007-08.
–The Celtics have scored at least 100 points in each of their 4 victories.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Minutes–
29. Mark Jackson 39,121
30. Walt Bellamy 38,940
31. Paul Pierce 38,926            (Pierce needs 15 to move into 30^th place)

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
21. Robert Parish 23,334
22. Ray Allen 23,301
23. Paul Pierce 23,268            (Pierce needs 34 to move into 22^nd place)

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
15. Jerry West 25,192
16. Patrick Ewing 24,815
17. Kevin Garnett 24,775            (Garnett needs 41 to move into 16^th place)

1/7/12: Celtics @ Knicks Stat Pack

*The New York Knicks are on pace to become the first team in NBA history to finish with more three-pointers made than turnovers committed in a single season.
–Coming into tonight, they have 374 made three-pointers and 362 turnovers.

*In the Knicks’ first 23 games this season (team record: 18-5), they made at least 10 three-pointers 17 times (74% of those games).
–In their last 10 games (team record: 5-5), they made at least 10 three-pointers only 5 times (50% of those games).
–Overall, the Knicks are 18-4 (.818) in games this season that they made at least 10 three-pointers.
–The Celtics are giving up a .371 three-point percentage to opponents this season, the 6^th worst in the NBA.
–The Celtics are 1-6 in regulation games this season in which they have given up at least 10 three-pointers. The only such victory was Saturday against the Hawks.

*After a strong defensive start to the 2012-13 season, the Knicks have fallen back to the pack. They now are tied for the 16^th-best defensive efficiency (102.9 points allowed per 100 possessions).
–In their first 23 games of the season, they gave up at least 100 points only 8 times (35% of those games).
–In their last 10 games, they have given up at least 100 points 6 times (60% of those games).

*The Celtics have not won 3 consecutive games since they had their season-long 3-game winning streak almost 2 months ago.
–Their last streak of at least 3 wins: November 10-14, 2012.

*Impressively, Jared Sullinger has tied Kevin Garnett for the team lead in single-player plus/minus this season at +35.
–3^rd best on the Celtics: Jason Terry +10
–4^th best: Avery Bradley +5
–5^th best: Paul Pierce +1

*Since 2007-08…(Celtics vs. Knicks)
–The Celtics’ 20 combined regular season and postseason victories over the Knicks since 2007-08 are tied for the 2^nd-most for the Celtics against any team (1^st: Heat, 24 … T-2^nd: Hawks, 20).
–The Celtics’ 16 regular season victories over the Knicks since 2007-08 are tied for the 3^rd most for the Celtics against any team (1^st: Nets, 18 … 2^nd: Raptors, 17 … T-3^rd: Heat, 16).

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Minutes–
29. Mark Jackson 39,121
30. Walt Bellamy 38,940
31. Paul Pierce 38,898            (Pierce needs 43 to move into 30^th place)

More on the Celtics' Incredible 33-9 Third Quarter Against the Hawks

 

I combed through a few hundred box scores and found some interesting stuff regarding the Celtics’ 33-9 third quarter against the Hawks at Philips Arena on Saturday.

I’m close to 99% sure about this information, but since I didn’t go through every single box score, I can’t be 100% confident.

-The last time a team outscored its opponent by at least 24 points in a quarter: November 26, 2012 (Second Quarter: Oklahoma City Thunder 36, Charlotte Bobcats 12) - http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201211260OKC.html (Final Score: Thunder 114, Bobcats 69)

-The last time a team scored at least 33 points in a quarter while holding its opponent to 9 points or fewer: January 9, 2004 (First Quarter: Los Angeles Lakers 34, Atlanta Hawks 7) - http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200401090LAL.html (Final Score: Lakers 113, Hawks 67)

-The last time the Celtics outscored their opponent by at least 24 points in a quarter: November 28, 2000 (Second Quarter: Boston Celtics 29, Cleveland Cavaliers 4) - http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200011280CLE.html (Final Score: Celtics 87, Cavaliers 72)

-As far as I can tell, that was the first time in Celtics franchise history that the Celtics scored at least 33 points in a quarter while holding their opponent to 9 points or fewer.

For more Celtics coverage, follow Adam Lowenstein on Twitter: @StatsAdam

1/5/12: Celtics @ Hawks Stat Pack

   

*The Atlanta Hawks are an impressive 7-1 this season when playing on the 2^nd night of a back-to-back.

--The Celtics are only 4-5 on no rest in 2012-13.

*This 15-17 Boston Celtics record through their first 32 regular season games sure looks familiar. Well, it is the exact same way they began the 2011-12 season before reeling off 24 wins in their final 34 games.

*The Celtics have not won 2 consecutive games in almost a month.

--Their last streak of at least 2 wins: December 8-12, 2012.

*On Friday, Doc Rivers decided to bring back his most successful 2011-12 starting lineup – Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett

--This five-man unit was one of the top ten plus/minus ones in the league last season.

--With that starting lineup, the Celtics went 11-3 (.786) in the 2011-12 regular season.

*The Celtics are 7-1 this season when Sullinger grabs at least 6 defensive rebounds.

*Rondo’s 64% field goal shooting Friday was tied for his best of the season with a minimum of 10 attempts.

*The Hawks have succeeded when Jeff Teague has scored well.

--When he puts up more than 10 points, the Hawks have a 16-5 record this season (otherwise: 4-6).

*Since 2007-08…(Celtics vs. Hawks)

--Since the Celtics won the first 7 regular season games against the Hawks, the Celtics have been victorious in only 4 of their last 10 regular season meetings.

*The Hawks are not a very good rebounding team, but when they outrebound opponents this season, they are 12-1.

--The Celtics are 5-2 when outrebounding teams in 2012-13.

--When the Celtics have outrebounded the Hawks in the regular season (9 of the 17 meetings), the Celtics have been 8-1.

--When the Hawks have outrebounded the Celtics in the regular season (8 of the 17 meetings), the Hawks have been 5-3.

*Milestone Watch:

--All-Time NBA Minutes--

29. Mark Jackson 39,121

30. Walt Bellamy 38,940

31. Paul Pierce 38,862            (Pierce needs 79 to move into 30^th place)

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)

1/2/12: Celtics vs. Grizzlies Stat Pack

*The 2012-13 Boston Celtics have yet to win a game this season on 2 days of rest.
–Celtics record on zero days of rest: 4-5 (.444).
–On 1 day of rest: 6-6 (.500).
–On 2 days of rest: 0-4 (.000).
–On at least 3 days of rest (excluding opening night vs. Miami): 4-0 (1.000).

*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 the beginning of the 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: 6-18 (.250).

*The Celtics regular season records with and without Bradley are also staggering.
–Regular season with Bradley starting: 20-8 (.714).
–Regular season record with Bradley playing at least 10 minutes: 34-15 (.694).
–Regular season without Bradley playing 10 minutes: 19-28 (.404).

*While the Celtics are 3-7 in their last 10 games and 2-8 in their last 10 road games, they are 7-3 in their last 10 home games.
–After beginning the season 14-3, the Grizzlies are only 5-6 in their last 11 games (2-5 in their last 7 road games).

*The Grizzlies have had a lower field goal percentage than their opponent in each of their last 5 games (record in those games: 2-3).
–It is their longest such streak since the beginning of the 2010-11 season.
–The 2012-13 Grizzlies are 12-2 this season when having a better field goal percentage (7-7 otherwise).
–The 2012-13 Celtics are 11-3 this season when having a better field goal percentage (3-13 otherwise).

*Since 2007-08…(Celtics vs. Grizzlies)
–The Celtics won the first 5 meetings.
–Since then, the Celtics have split the last 4 meetings with the Grizzles. Both of those losses came at the TD Garden.
–The Celtics are 3-2 in meetings at the TD Garden and 4-0 in meetings at FedEx Forum.

*The Celtics this season are starting to become a foregone conclusion at the end of the 3^rd Quarter.
–They are 12-2 when leading at the end of the 3^rd Quarter.
–They are 2-14 when trailing or tied at the end of the 3^rd Quarter.

*The Celtics are 10-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 95 points this season.

*In the New Big Three Era, the Celtics have a 23-16 regular season record without Rajon Rondo playing.
–2012-13 … 1-3
–2011-12 … 8-5
–2010-11 … 9-5
–2009-10 … 1-0
–2008-09 … 0-2
–2007-08 … 4-1

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
13. Mark Jackson 1,296
14. Sam Perkins 1,286
15. Kevin Garnett 1,285            (Garnett ties for 14^th place by playing Wednesday)

Amar'e Stoudemire Will Reportedly Play Tuesday And Come Off The Bench

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Amar'e Stoudemire will return for his first game of the 2012-13 season on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. After having knee surgery during the preseason, Stoudemire will come off the bench no matter what Carmelo Anthony’s status is for the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources.

Interestingly, the New York Knicks have performed extremely well in Stoudemire’s absence. Since the beginning of the 2011-12 NBA season, the Knicks have had a 22-25 (.468) regular season record when Stoudemire has played. When he has not, they have been 35-14 (.714).

However, Stoudemire started all 47 games that he played in last season. If he indeed comes off the bench on Tuesday, it would be the first time he has done so since November 4, 2006 as a member of the Phoenix Suns. It would break his streak of starting 417 consecutive regular season games that he has played. Maybe his bench role is the key to the Knicks’ further success, or they could just flounder like they have when he has played in the past.