Celtics reliance on 3-point barrage in post-season is folly

I did the math for you! This season, the Boston Celtics score 1.14 points for every 3-pointer attempted. They score 1.13 points for every 2-pointer taken. They currently hit 3-pointers at a 37.9% clip - and 2-pointers at 56.3%. So that balances out. But those numbers are averages from 63 games in the regular season. Not from a 7-game series in the playoffs.

What happens if those shots from the hinterlands are not falling? Here's the point! Boston ranks 25th in the League (22/game) in free throw attempts, but they rank 3rd in free throw accuracy (82.4%). They don't go to the line often, but when they do - they put points on the board. Few fouls are given past the arc, but many occur when a player takes it into the paint or shoots from mid-range.

Admittedly, the Boys-from-Beantown can hit the long ball, but reliance on that ability in the rigors of the playoffs can prove deadly. Living-and-dieing by the 3-pointer when each-and-every game is critical in the post-season can be folly (per CelticsBlog's Bobby Manning):

"When they settle, they struggle."

Thanks for listening!

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