It's only been two regular-season games, but it is obvious the Boston Celtics are struggling to replace the combined 39 points and nine assists produced by Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward last season. Kemba's knee injury and Gordon's departure are taking a toll.
Granted, the sample ( two games) is mighty small, but Boston ranks 23rd in the League in points per game (108.5 PPG) and 26th in field goal percentage (42.7%). Last year's version of The Green had five players scoring in double-digits. This season, there are only three in that category with newly-acquired, Tristan Thompson, barely making the cut at 10.0 points/game. The Jay Team has supplied a combined 55.0 PPG thus far.
On the assist front, last year saw three players (Smart, Walker and Hayward) with 4-or-more dimes per contest. This season shows only one, Marcus Smart, filling in at Kemba's role as distributor with 6.5 assists per game. The dimes are woefully short in supply after that.
Let's face it. It is Kemba who is sorely missed. He creates a lot of The Green's offense, both for himself and his comrades. The Celtics sorely need a third-option point-producer if they wish to seriously compete in the post-season. That player needs to emerge from the current crop or arrive via trade or free agency - but that is another story for later today.
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