12/30/12: Celtics @ Kings Stat Pack

*In each of his last 3 games, Paul Pierce has shot worse than 40% overall, shot worse than 40% from three-point and scored less than 15 points. This is the first time in his career that he has a streak like this of at least 3 consecutive games.
–Over his last 3 games, Pierce has shot just 27.9% (12 for 43) from the field and 16.7% (2 for 12) from three-point.
–In his previous 6 games, he had shot 52.4% (55 for 105) overall and 50.0% (18 for 36) from three-point.

*On Saturday against the Warriors, Kevin Garnett had a plus/minus of -25, which was his worst plus/minus in a single game in his Boston Celtics career.
–His 2^nd worst plus/minus as a Celtic: -22 on Jan 4, 2009 at the New York Knicks.
–The last time Garnett had a plus/minus of -25 or worse: Feb 5, 2007 at the Houston Rockets.
–His worst career plus/minus: -42 on Jan 29, 2002 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

*Oddly, the 2012-13 Celtics have the same winning percentage on the 2^nd night of back-to-back as they do when playing on 1 day of rest.
–Celtics record on zero days of rest: 4-4 (.500).
–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 Sacramento Kings have won their last 3 home games, tied for their longest home winning streak over the last 3 seasons.
–The last time the Kings won more than 3 home games in a row: November-December 2009.

*The Celtics are 8-1 against the Kings since the 2007-08 season.
–Boston’s only loss: their last meeting (March 16, 2012 at Sacramento).

*In the New Big Three Era, the Celtics have a 23-16 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

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

*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: 6-17 (.261).

*The Celtics regular season records with and without Bradley are also staggering.
–Regular season with Bradley playing at least 10 minutes: 34-15 (.694).
–Regular season without Bradley playing 10 minutes: 19-27 (.413).


*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
22. Ray Allen 23,244
23. Adrian Dantley 23,177
24. Paul Pierce 23,169            (Pierce needs 9 to move into 23^rd place)

12/29/12: Celtics @ Warriors Stat Pack

*The last time the Golden State Warriors had won 20 of their first 30 games to start a season was 1991-92 when they went 21-9.
--They finished that season 55-27. The 1991-92 season was the last time in franchise history that they won more than 50 games in a season.
--Unfortunately, after finishing 3^rd in Western Conference, that 1991-92 Warriors team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

*The Celtics are 2-8 in their last 10 road games, the worst record among current playoff teams.
--In addition, their 4-6 record in their last 10 games overall is tied for the worst record among current playoff teams.

*In the New Big Three Era, the Celtics have a 23-15 record without Rajon Rondo playing.
--2012-13 … 1-2
--2011-12 … 8-5
--2010-11 … 9-5
--2009-10 … 1-0
--2008-09 … 0-2
--2007-08 … 4-1

*The Warriors are 18-2 (.900) when they outrebound opponents this season (2-8 otherwise).
--The Celtics are 4-2 (.667) when they outrebound opponents this season (10-12 otherwise).

*The Warriors are 12-2 against the Eastern Conference this season (8-8 vs. WC).
--The Warriors are tied for having the 8^th-easiest schedule in 2012-13.

*The Celtics are 5-4 against the Western Conference this season (9-10 vs. EC).
--The Celtics are tied for having the 15^th-easiest schedule in 2012-13.

*Via @LucidSportsFan: “In 4 games starting at center Jason Collins has more turnovers and fouls (22) than PTS, REB, AST, BLK, and STL combined (19).”

*The Warriors are 5-3 on the 2^nd night of back-to-backs this season.

*The Celtics have committed more fouls than their opponent in 6 consecutive games, the second-longest streak by the team since 2007-08.
--Longest streak: 7 games (March to April 2008).

*Boston has given up at least 90 points to Golden State each of the last 18 times that they faced each other with the Warriors being the home team (the last time the Warriors had fewer than 90 points in a meeting: 1993).
--That is the longest current such home streak for any NBA team against the Celtics.
--It is also tied for the 2^nd-longest such streak overall in that span against the Celtics (it is the longest such streak by a Western Conference team).

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

*Jared Sullinger only attempted 2 shots in 18 minutes played against the Clippers.
--The Celtics remain 5-0 when he shoots at least 60% from the field (minimum 3 field goal attempts).
--They remain 6-1 when he plays more than 20 minutes.

*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: 6-16 (.273).

*The Celtics regular season records with and without Bradley are also staggering.
--Regular season with Bradley playing at least 10 minutes: 34-15 (.694).
--Regular season without Bradley playing 10 minutes: 19-26 (.422).


*Milestone Watch:

--All-Time NBA Points Scored--
22. Ray Allen 23,242
23. Adrian Dantley 23,177
24. Paul Pierce 23,156            (Pierce needs 22 to move into 23^rd place)

12/27/12: Celtics @ Clippers Stat Pack

*The Los Angeles Clippers have had more steals than their opponent in their last 18 games, the 3^rd-longest streak in the NBA in the last 25 years.
–1^st: 1993-94 Atlanta Hawks (24 games)
–2^nd: 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics (21)
–3^rd: 2012-13 Los Angeles Clippers (18)

*The Celtics and Clippers are 2 of the best in shooting percentage and ball handling this season. They both rank in the Top 5 in FG% and in the Top 10 in Assist to Turnover Ratio. This game could be determined by which team is better at shooting and ball handling.
–This season, the Celtics are 12-4 when having more assists than their opponent and 11-3 when having a better FG%.
–The Clippers are an impressive 17-1 when they have more assists and 19-1 when having a better FG%.

*The Celtics go as Jared Sullinger goes.
–The Celtics are now 5-0 when he shoots at least 60% from the field (minimum 3 field goal attempts)
–The Celtics are now 6-1 when he plays more than 20 minutes.
–Another note about Sullinger: his plus/minus of +21 on Christmas Day is a career-high for him.

*The Celtics have faced the Clippers on December 27^th five different times in NBA history, all have which been home games for the Clippers.
–The Clippers won the last 2 meetings on December 27^th.
–Before those 2 games, the Celtics had won the previous 3 meetings on December 27^th.

*After the Celtics victory on Tuesday, they are now 4-0 on at least 3 days of rest this season (excluding opening night against the Heat).
–Unfortunately for Boston, the next time the team officially has at least 3 days of rest going into a game will be after the All-Star break in late February.

*Jamal Crawford, who is on his 5^th team in the last 5 seasons, leads the NBA in single-player plus/minus at +245.
–For a bench player, that is an unbelievable accomplishment about one-third the way through a season.
–4 other Clippers players are in the Top 15 in single-player plus/minus this season.
–Kevin Garnett is the Celtics’ best plus/minus player at +84 (48^th overall).

*2012-13 PER Rankings (3 each for Celtics and Clippers in Top 50)
–1^st: LeBron James (29.7)
–3^rd: Chris Paul (26.4)
–9^th: Blake Griffin (23.5)
–26^th: Paul Pierce (20.9)
–27^th: Eric Bledsoe (20.8)
–36^th: Rajon Rondo (20.1)
–44^th: Kevin Garnett (19.2)

*The Celtics are 10-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 95 points this season.
–They held the Nets to 76 points on Christmas Day, the fewest for a team against the C’s this season.

*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 beginning of 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: 6-15 (.286).

*The Celtics regular season records with and without Bradley are also staggering.
–Regular season with Bradley playing at least 10 minutes: 34-15 (.694).
–Regular season without Bradley playing 10 minutes: 19-25 (.432).


*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
23. Adrian Dantley 23,177
24. Elgin Baylor 23,149
25. Paul Pierce 23,144            (Pierce needs 6 to move into 24^th place)

–All-Time NBA Regular Season Games Played–
14. Sam Perkins 1,286
T-15. Charles Oakley 1,282
T-15. Kevin Garnett 1,282            (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 15^th place)

12/25/12: Celtics @ Nets Stat Pack

*Since 2011-12 (including the postseason), the Celtics are 40-19 when Avery Bradley plays at least 10 minutes. When he does not, they are 23-30.
–I guess Rajon Rondo has as much confidence in this statistic as most Celtics fans because he said, “We’re going to be a completely different team, just with one player coming back. [Bradley is] the X Factor. He’s going to be the key to why we win the championship. He brings a lot to the team in terms of intangibles, the way he cuts offensively. His pressure defensively is going to raise everyone else’s pressure. His defense is going to make us a lot better.”

*Coming into Christmas Day, the Celtics have lost 5 straight road games, which is the team’s 2nd longest regular season streak of this type since 2007-08.
–Longest: 7 games (April to December 2011).

*Since the Nets’ last victory over the Celtics (November 28), the Nets have gone 4-8.
–In that span, the Celtics are 5-6.

*The Nets play at the lowest pace in the league this season (90.1 possessions per game).
–The Celtics play at the 17^th highest pace (94.1).

*On Friday, Jason Terry had his worst career FG% (6.7%) when attempting more than 10 shots.
–The Celtics are 6-2 this season when Terry has a FG% of at least 60% (7-11 otherwise).

*Via Zach Lowe: “Jason Terry needs to be more involved in Boston’s offense. Usage rate [is] a career low [and] that of a role player.”
–Although Terry’s usage rate is now only 17.2%, it’s changing for the better. He had a usage rate of over 21% in 3 of the last 5 games. In addition, he’s been deservedly getting more shots.
–Over Terry’s first 15 games with the Celtics, he averaged only 7.7 field goal attempts per game. He had at least 10 shots in only 3 of those games.
–In his last 11 games, he has averaged 10.7 field goal attempts per game. He has had at least 10 shots in 8 of those games.

*Chris Wilcox being out 3-4 weeks is a tough loss for the Celtics.
–Boston is 7-1 this season when Chris Wilcox plays more than 15 minutes (5-10 otherwise).

*The Celtics have been very good on at least 3 days rest this season.
–Excluding opening night against the Heat, the Celtics are 3-0 on at least 3 days of rest this season.
–The Celtics’ small sample statistics are a little skewed by the double overtime game with Dallas, but Boston still averages the team’s best free throw attempts (30.0 free throw attempts per game) and best rebounding (43.7 rebounds per game) on at least 3 days rest.

*Via ESPN: Coming into Tuesday, the Celtics have played 28 Christmas games all-time. Their 29^th in 2012 ties them for the fourth most Christmas games in NBA history.
–1^st: Knicks (48 coming into Tuesday)
–2^nd: Lakers (39)
–3^rd: Pistons (32)

*If the Celtics end up acquiring DeMarcus Cousins (21^st in Hollinger’s Rebound Rate), they would then have 3 of the Top 100 in Hollinger’s Rebound Rate. The Nets currently have 3 players in the Top 26.
–1^st: Anderson Varejao (23.4)
–2^nd: Reggie Evans (23.2)
–10^th: Kris Humphries (19.0)
–23^rd: Jared Sullinger (17.7)
–26^th: Andray Blatche (17.0)
–T-67^th: Kevin Garnett (14.3)

*For the first time in Paul Pierce’s career, he has scored at least 32 points in 3 straight home games.

*Via Elias: Pierce is the 2^nd oldest player in history with at least 35 points in consecutive games. The only older player to do this was Michael Jordan.

*The Celtics are 6-1 this season when Kevin Garnett scores at least 18 points.


*Around the NBA:

–Including the 2012-13 season, the Atlanta Hawks have started 16-9 in each of the last 3 seasons.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Points Scored–
23. Adrian Dantley 23,177
24. Elgin Baylor 23,149
25. Paul Pierce 23,136            (Pierce needs 14 to move into 24^th place)

In Nash’s Return, Lakers Rally From Down 14 To Win Fourth Straight

While it may not have been the prettiest win for the Los Angeles Lakers, it was one of their most impressive ones of the young 2012-13 NBA season. If it not had been for Steve Nash, who played for the first time since October 31, the Lakers would not have been able to win their fourth straight game, a new season-high for the team.

The Lakers entered the fourth quarter trailing by 13 points at Oracle Arena on Saturday night, but made a tremendous comeback against the Warriors. After shooting only 30 for 73 (.411) from the field and 5 for 18 (.278) on three-pointers in the first three quarters, the Lakers bounced back with fantastic shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime. In the final 17 minutes of the game, they shot 19 for 34 (.559) overall and 4 for 9 (.444) from deep.

Kobe Bryant, who spurred the comeback with his 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, credited Nash’s return to lineup as a huge part of the team’s success: “It's easy. It's very easy. It's beyond easy [to play with Nash].”

Mike D'Antoni also complimented the point guard, “The guy is a winner. There was a difference before the game. He changes everything. He changes the whole perspective.”

After missing 24 consecutive games due to a fractured leg, Nash ran the offense exceptionally well and played a remarkably high number of minutes in his return as he set new season-highs with 12 points and 9 assists. “To play 40 minutes after seven weeks was more than I could ask for,” Nash commented. “I know it will be sore and painful, but I'm used to that.”

Nash’s defense remains suspect though as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jarrett Jack combined for 67 of the Warriors’ 115 points. As always, Nash was occasionally beaten off the dribble, but the Lakers understand that Nash’s positive attributes far outweigh his failures on the defensive end.

Nash’s last two buckets highlighted his night in Golden State. His first was a three-pointer with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Lakers a 103-102 lead. Then in overtime, after Curry hit a three-pointer to bring the Warriors within one point of the Lakers, Nash scored on a fadeaway jumper to bring the Lakers’ lead back to three. That important jump shot forced the Warriors into attempting a three-pointer on their final possession of the night. Curry missed it and Los Angeles took the victory.

Nash and the Lakers now have two well-earned days off before their Christmas Day clash with the New York Knicks at the Staples Center. Los Angeles will be looking to get back to .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 about a month ago.

Avery Bradley May Return For Christmas Day

According to Mark Murphy, Doc Rivers said that Boston Celtics injured shooting guard Avery Bradley may return for the first game of the team’s upcoming road trip, Christmas Day at Barclays Center against the Brooklyn Nets. After having multiple shoulder surgeries during the offseason, the Celtics best on ball defender could make a huge impact for the team that struggled out of the gate this year.

It should not be overstated how well the Celtics have performed when Bradley has played. Since the beginning of the 2011-12 NBA season, including the playoffs, the Celtics have a 40-19 record when Bradley plays at least 10 minutes. When he does not, they are 23-30.

Bradley is one of the main reasons that the Celtics had the second-best defensive efficiency in the league last season. The 2012-13 Celtics have struggled to be consistent on defense, so it will be very important to see him return to the team after missing the Celtics’ first 26 games of the season.

Also on Sunday, Jessica Camerato reported that Celtics backup big man Chris Wilcox will miss three to four weeks with a sore right thumb injury. The Celtics need to find frontcourt depth soon via trade, but for the time being, Fab Melo should be called up from the D-League to help.

Steve Nash Will Return After A 24-Game Absence

The 2012-13 season can now begin for the 12-14 Los Angeles Lakers. There are multiple reports that Steve Nash will start Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.

Nash will be returning from his fractured leg injury after missing 24 consecutive games. He has played in only two regular season games as a Laker and put up just 6.5 points and 5.8 assists per 36 minutes. Since it is such a small sample size of about 50 minutes, I am confident that Nash will be a huge help for this Lakers team.

Entering Saturday’s games, the Lakers are the only current non-playoff team to have a positive scoring differential. While the Lakers may struggle a little to bring Nash back into the fold, this team is on the rise. The Lakers look to extend their longest winning streak of the season to four straight games on Saturday. While it may not show tonight, Nash’s strong ball handling, passing, scoring and leadership will greatly benefit the Lakers in the long run.