By The Numbers: The Current Six-Game Winning Streak

The 2012-13 Boston Celtics have been as unpredictable as any team in the league this season. Since they defeated the Nets in Brooklyn on Christmas Day, the Celtics have gone on a four-game losing streak, six-game winning streak, six-game losing streak and another six-game winning streak. However, the reason that the most recent win streak is more impressive than the previous one is that each of those victories have come without Rajon Rondo.

As evidenced by their fantastic play over the last couple weeks, the Celtics have performed very well without their floor general. In fact, they are approximately 6.0 points better without Rondo per 100 possessions. On Sunday against the Nuggets, the Celtics will surpass 1,000 minutes played with their starting point guard off the floor this season, so this is no small sample size.

One of the reasons the Celtics have been succeeding without Rondo is their improvement in winning the turnover game with opponents. Since their ball dominator has been out of the lineup, the Celtics have yet to lose the turnover battle in any of the six contests. The Celtics with Rondo at the helm were unable to achieve such a six-game streak this season. His frequent ball control on offense led to more turnovers and his poor on-ball defense led to less forced turnovers. Replacing Rondo’s point duties with the mix of mostly Courtney Lee, Avery Bradley and Paul Pierce benefitted the Celtics. Doc Rivers has even admitted that he has no idea who is bringing the ball down the floor on a random possession.

The bench has also come alive with their scoring in this recent stretch. Over the last few weeks, Jason Terry, Leandro Barbosa and Jeff Green have all set new season-long streaks in double-digit scoring. They are more comfortable now than they had been at any point this season. In addition, the bench as a whole has contributed at its highest level in a long time. Since New Year’s Day 2013, the Celtics have had at least three reserves score 12 or more points in five different contests. According to Elias Sports Bureau, in the previous four calendar years (2009-12), that happened only once (January 12, 2011 vs. Sacramento).

Let us not forget all of the captain’s statistical contributions. Not only has Pierce averaged 17.5 points per game during the winning streak, but he also has 9.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in that span. He is truly the team’s point forward and has succeeded thus far in that role. His career-bests for a season are 7.3 rebounds in 2002-03 and 5.1 assists in 2003-04. Moreover, Pierce has recorded at least five rebounds in 12 consecutive games for the first time since 2005.

All of these factors as well as Kevin Garnett scoring in double digits in each of the last six games have contributed to the Celtics’ great play. They now have three victories by more than 12 points in their last six games. In the first 43 games of 2012-13, the Celtics had just five such wins. While the Celtics might not be title contenders for this season, they sure believe they have a chance. Boston’s depth is much more useful than most thought after the first half of the season and many of those main players feeling reborn since the Rondo ACL injury.

Podcast: Bobby and Adam on Pierce and KG Staying in Boston

Bobby and Adam answer Nicola Bogani’s question about why it is important for the Celtics to keep Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Boston for the rest of their careers. Click on the following link or the one below to listen to their podcast.

2013 Feb 9: Bobby and Adam on Pierce and KG Staying in Boston

(Podcast Recorded on Saturday, February 9th, 2013)

2/7/12: Celtics vs. Lakers Stat Pack

*On Thursday, February 10^th, 2011, Ray Allen set the 3-point record against the Lakers at TD Garden.
–The Lakers won that game, 92-86.
–On Thursday, February 7^th, 2013, Kevin Garnett hopes to become the NBA’s 16^th player all-time with 25,000 points.

*Neither the Celtics (0-3) nor the Lakers (0-2) have won a Thursday TNT game this season.

*The Lakers have had fewer steals than their opponent in their last 11 games, the longest streak for any team since the Suns went 11 straight games in January/February 2011.
–Last time a team went for 12 consecutive games with fewer steals: February/March 2010.

*The Celtics’ 5-game winning streak is tied for the longest current one in the Eastern Conference (Pacers).
–The Lakers’ 3-game winning streak coming into Thursday is the 3^rd-longest current one in the Western Conference.

*Leandro Barbosa has scored at least 12 points in 3 consecutive games.
–This is his longest streak of scoring double-digit points this season.

*Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 27 points on Wednesday.
–Garnett scored at least 27 points 4 times in the 2012 playoffs (all Celtics victories).
–The Celtics are now 10-2 in games in which he has scored at least 18 points.

*The Celtics are now 29-6 in regular season games since 2007-08 when Paul Pierce has had a double-double.

*Pierce has recorded at least 5 rebounds in 11 consecutive games, his longest such streak since November/December 2005 (16 straight games).
–The only Celtic with a longer streak this season of at least 5 rebounds: Jared Sullinger (13 games).

*The Celtics are 3-0 this season when using the starting lineup of Courtney Lee, Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett.
–They have used it their last three games.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Lakers
–The Lakers have won 4 straight and are 4-1 overall in regular season meetings at TD Garden against the Celtics since 2007-08.
–Their 80% regular season winning percentage at TD Garden is the best for any team against the Celtics in that span.
–The Lakers are 6-4 in regular season meetings against the Celtics since 2007-08.
–Their 60% regular season winning percentage is the best for any team against the Celtics in that span.

*Milestone Watch:

–Kevin Garnett is 6 points away from 25,000 for his career–

–Celtics History: All-Time Blocked Shots–
7. Reggie Lewis 417
T-8. Cedric Maxwell 378
T-8. Kevin Garnett 378            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 8^th place)

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
11. Buck Williams 1,307
T-12. Elvin Hayes 1,303
T-12. Kevin Garnett 1,303            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 12^th place)

–All-Time NBA Steals–
16. Magic Johnson 1,724
T-17. Ron Harper 1,716
T-17. Kevin Garnett 1,716            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 17^th place)

2/6/12: Celtics @ Raptors Stat Pack

*Early this season (November 17, 2012), the Celtics beat the Raptors, 107-89.
–The Raptors are 1-23 this season when allowing at least 100 points (16-8 otherwise).
–Andrea Bargnani had a game-worst -22 in that game.

*Surprisingly, the Raptors are 4-17 when Andrea Bargnani has played this season.
–They are 13-14 without him in 2012-13.

*Paul Pierce is 7-3 in career meetings vs. Rudy Gay.
–In 35 minutes per game, Pierce has scored 18.9 points, 48% from the field, 44% from three-point and 2.7 turnovers per game.
–In 38 minutes per game, Gay has scored 19.6 points, 44% from the field, 28% from three-point and 1.7 turnovers per game.

*In just two games in Toronto, Gay already has attempted 39 field goals and scored 49 points, both team-highs.

*DeMar DeRozan has been 15-for-15 from the free throw line since Gay has started playing for the Raptors.

*Coming into Wednesday, Pierce has recorded at least 5 rebounds in 10 consecutive games for only the 2^nd time since 2007-08.
–The only Celtic with a longer streak this season of at least 5 rebounds: Jared Sullinger (13 games).
–The last time Pierce has had more than 10 games in a row with at least 5 rebounds: November/December 2005 (16 straight games).

*On Sunday, 3 Celtics came off the bench to score at least 12 points for the 5^th time since New Year’s Day.
–Via Elias: In the previous 4 calendar years (2009-12), that happened only once (January 12, 2011 vs. Sacramento).

*Jason Terry has scored at least 12 points in each of his last 5 games.
–This is his longest streak of scoring double-digit points this season.

*The Celtics have attempted fewer 3-pointers than their opponents in 6 consecutive games, their longest streak since March 2011.
–The Celtics are 19-13 when attempting fewer 3’s this season.
–They are 5-10 when attempting more 3’s.

*The Celtics are 2-0 this season when using the starting lineup of Courtney Lee, Avery Bradley, Paul Pierce, Brandon Bass and Kevin Garnett.
–They have used it their last two games.

*The Celtics 2-5 this season on 2 days rest.
–5-6 on 0 days.
–13-11 on 1 day.
–4-0 on 3+ days (not including opening night against Miami).

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Raptors
–Boston is 17-4 since 2007-08 against Toronto.
–The Celtics’ 81% winning percentage against the Raptors coming into tonight is their 2^nd best among teams that they have faced at least 12 times since 2007-08 (1^st: Nets 18-4 [82%]).

*Milestone Watch:

–Kevin Garnett is 33 points away from 25,000 for his career–

–Celtics History: All-Time Blocked Shots–
7. Reggie Lewis 417
T-8. Cedric Maxwell 378
T-8. Kevin Garnett 378            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 8^th place)

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
11. Buck Williams 1,307
12. Elvin Hayes 1,303
13. Kevin Garnett 1,302            (Garnett need 1 to tie Hayes for 12^th place)

–All-Time NBA Steals–
16. Magic Johnson 1,724
T-17. Ron Harper 1,716
T-17. Kevin Garnett 1,716            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 17^th place)

2/3/12: Celtics vs. Clippers Stat Pack

*The Celtics have a margin of victory of 4.12 points per game this season at home.
–However, on the road, opponents are outscoring them by 6.24 points per game.

*Coming into Sunday, Paul Pierce has recorded double-digit rebounds in 3 consecutive games for only the 5^th time in his regular season career.
–Pierce has tied Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo for the longest streak of at least 10 rebounds by a Celtic this season.
–Pierce hopes to make it 4 consecutive games, which would tie his longest career run of double-digit rebounds when he did it in 2002.
–Via Elias: In each of Pierce’s 3 games with at least 10 rebounds, not one came on the offensive end. Since the NBA began recording offensive rebounds in 1973, the only other player to do this in 3 consecutive games was Troy Murphy of the Pacers in March 2009.

*Via Elias: 3 Celtics came off the bench to score at least 12 points in Boston’s 97-84 victory over Orlando (Jeff Green 17, Jason Terry 12 and Leandro Barbosa 12).
–It was the 4^th time since New Year’s Day that 3 Celtics substitutes scored at least 12 in a game.
–In the previous 4 calendar years (2009-12), that happened only once (January 12, 2011 vs. Sacramento).

*The Los Angeles Clippers are 2-5 in their last 7 games, 6 of which were without Chris Paul, and are 5-4 overall this season without him.
–Chris Paul will miss his 7^th straight game Sunday.

*During the 2012-13 season, the Clippers are an astounding 11.8 points worse per 100 offensive possessions without Chris Paul on the court. The Clippers’ defense is 3.9 points per 100 possessions better without Paul.
–Chris Paul: 1306 minutes played this season.
–The Clippers have played 1003 minutes without him in 2012-13.

*The Spurs and Clippers are the only 2 teams in the NBA to be in the Top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season.

*In the absence of Chris Paul on Friday against the Raptors, Eric Bledsoe shot 4-for-14 overall (0-for-3 from 3-point), Willie Green shot 1-for-5 overall (0-for-4 from 3-point) and Jamal Crawford, who broke his nose, shot 5-for-17 overall (1-for-7 from 3-point).
–Crawford’s 29% field goal shooting on Friday was his worst for any game this season when attempting at least 15 shots.
–Via @ESPNStatsInfo: Clippers guards Bledsoe and Green were a combined 0-for-8 from the field and scored 0 points in the 1^st half on Friday vs. Raptors.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Clippers
–Even without Chris Paul, the Clippers have been a tough foe for the Celtics in the Kevin Garnett era.
–The Celtics are only 6-4 against the Clippers since 2007-08. Chris Paul has played in only 2 of those games (1-1 record).

*Milestone Watch:

–Celtics History: All-Time Blocked Shots–
7. Reggie Lewis 417
T-8. Cedric Maxwell 378
T-8. Kevin Garnett 378                        (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 8^th place)

–All-Time NBA Three-Pointers Made–
5. Chauncey Billups 1,787
6. Peja Stojakovic 1,760
7. Paul Pierce 1,757                        (Pierce needs 4 to move into 6^th place)

–All-Time NBA Steals–
16. Magic Johnson 1,724
17. Ron Harper 1,716
18. Kevin Garnett 1,715            (Garnett needs 1 to tie Harper for 17^th place)

Podcast: Bobby and Adam on Jared Sullinger and Rudy Gay

Bobby Krivitsky and Adam Lowenstein react to the announcement of the Jared Sullinger season-ending back surgery. In addition, they discussed the winners and losers of the Rudy Gay trade. Click on the following link or the one below to listen to their podcast.

2013 Feb 1: Sullinger’s Back and the Rudy Gay Trade

(Podcast Recorded on February 1st, 2013)

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

*The Orlando Magic: on a 7-game losing streak, the longest current one in the league.

*The absence of Glen Davis, who is undergoing foot surgery on Friday, will make a major impact on the Magic.
–In 2012-13, they are 1-16 when he plays fewer than 25 minutes or does not play at all.
–When Davis has played at least 25 minutes this season, the Magic are 13-15.
(On January 16^th, he played 24 minutes, 42 seconds – along with Basketball-Reference and ESPN, I round this to 25 minutes. Therefore, I included it in the 25 minutes or more category.)

*Coming into Friday’s contest, the Celtics have played 892 minutes with Jared Sullinger on the floor and 1,323 minutes with him off the court.

*Here are some statistics on how the Celtics will suffer without Sullinger.
–Overall, the Celtics’ “point differential” (offensive efficiency – defensive efficiency) is 6.7 points worse with Sullinger off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ offensive efficiency is 4.2 points worse with Sullinger off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ defensive efficiency is 2.4 points worse with Sullinger off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ total rebounding percentage is 5.2% worse with Sullinger off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ offensive rebounding percentage is 8.9% worse with Sullinger off the floor this season.

*Coming into Friday’s contest, the Celtics have played 1,422 minutes with Rajon Rondo on the floor and 793 minutes with him off the court.

*Here are some statistics on how the Celtics have succeeded without Rondo on the court as opposed to having him on the court.
–Overall, the Celtics’ “point differential” (offensive efficiency – defensive efficiency) is 4.0 points better with Rondo off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ offensive efficiency is 2.7 points better with Rondo off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ defensive efficiency is 1.3 points better with Rondo off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ turnover percentage is 1.4% better with Rondo off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ total rebounding percentage is 2.2% better with Rondo off the floor this season.
–The Celtics’ offensive rebounding percentage is 4.2% better with Rondo off the floor this season.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Magic
–The Celtics have won the last 6 meetings with the Magic.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Minutes–
27. Hal Greer 39,788
28. Charles Barkley 39,330
29. Paul Pierce 39,306            (Pierce needs 25 to move into 28^th place)

–Celtics History: All-Time Blocked Shots–
7. Reggie Lewis 417
8. Cedric Maxwell 378
9. Kevin Garnett 377                        (Garnett needs 2 to move into 8^th place)

–Most NBA Double-Doubles Since 1990–
1. Tim Duncan 751
T-2. Shaquille O’Neal 727
T-2. Kevin Garnett 727            (Garnett needs 1 to pass O’Neal for 2^nd place)

–All-Time NBA Three-Pointers Made–
5. Chauncey Billups 1,787
6. Peja Stojakovic 1,760
7. Paul Pierce 1,756                        (Pierce needs 5 to move into 6^th place)