Skip to main content

Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum carrying offensive load for Celtics

The Boston Celtics are 20% into the season with a 9-8 record - not what most of us expected. The defense is top-rated in the NBA, but it is the offense that falters. In the last six games, Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum have been carrying the offensive load.


In the last six games, Kyrie has averaged 32.5 MPG, 25.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 7.2 APG and an amazing 2.8 SPG - all while shooting 53% from the field, 33% on treys and only turning the ball over twice per game. If he keeps that production going, he will be rising in the Kia MVP rankings. Do yourself a favor, and take five seconds or so to watch Kyrie in action.


Sophomore Tatum has been doing just fine on the offensive end for the Celtics during the 6-game stretch. He averaged 31.5 MPG, 18.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 1.5 SPG. He is hitting 49% of his field goals and 45% of his 3-pointers during that same period. We are getting used to his drive-and-jams seen below.


For the same 6-game stretch, Jaylen Brown averaged 9.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG and only 1.2 APG on 34% from the field and 24% on threes. Gordon Hayward averaged 9.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 4.7 APG on poor shooting (37 FG%, 19% on treys), but his rebounds and assists were notable

Al Horford fared a bit better with 10.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.8 APG. He shot well on field goals (52%) but poorly on threes (29%). Think about this. Three Celtics starters average 29.0 points/game over the last six games. One starter on the Hornets, Kemba Walker, is averaging more than that (29.6 PPG - tops in the NBA) for the season thus far.

That is a sputtering offense that needs attention. Be assured that Brad Stevens will figure it out, and if by some chance that doesn't happen, expect Danny Ainge to step in with more significant moves.

Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC, @CelticsSentinel and Facebook

Photo via Matt Stone/Boston Herald


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the t...

In defense of Marcus Smart

 Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S...

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion...