Celtics' historic Game 1 defeat to the Knicks offers promising signs for Boston's future performance.
Nash time, Celtics fans! Dragging yourselves through the post-Game 1 slump? Well, here's a shot of cold, hard truth to wake you up: the Celtics' 3-point shooting performance was as historic as it was horrendous.
That's right, with a pitiful 15-60 from beyond the arc, the Green Machine set a playoff record for the most 3s missed in a game—a whopping 45, may they rest in pieces. Sure, the Knicks might've played some decent D and exhibited mental fortitude, coming back from a 20-point gap, but let's call this spade a spade: Boston got absolutely buckets.
But hey, don't reach for those panic buttons just yet. The Celtics aren't exactly strangers to nail-biting playoff games, and even with this monumental shooting catastrophe, they somehow managed to keep the Knicks at bay, losing by a mere 3 points.
C'mon, let's hear it for Coach Joe Mazzulla's bunch! According to the NBA.com's tracking data, an astounding 56 out of those 60 hoisted 3s were not just open shots—the defender was at least 4 feet away. A full 24 of them were labeled "wide-open," with nary a Knick Man in sight.
You might be wondering why, despite such advantageous shooting situations, the Celtics' beloved 3-ball kept clanging off the rim like a game of beer pong gone wild. Well, my friend, it happens sometimes—you've got to let it fly in this league.
So, dear readers, fear not! With some matrimonial shots adjustments (or perhaps a homespun remedy involving dreaded diagnosed 3-point shooting ailments), the Celtics will surely find their sweet spot and rekindle their passion for swishing nets. It's only a matter of time before the Knicks find themselves staring at a steep 1-0 deficit and contemplating their own cursed shooting night—one that they sure as hell won't forget anytime soon.
In the meantime, let's pour one out for the 45 missed 3s. RIP, sweet 3s—we had many a glorious victory together. May the next time around, the Boston Celtics continue to light up opponent nets like a Christmas tree on fire.
- Historic Misses: The Celtics' 45 missed 3-point attempts in Game 1 shattered the previous playoff record of 44, previously held by the Oklahoma City Thunder (2017) and the Los Angeles Lakers (1987).
- 3-Point Historical Performance: In the 2021-2022 season, the Celtics set the all-time single-season record for 3-pointers made, hitting 1,374 from beyond the arc. However, they shot just 35.1% overall in Game 1, a stark contrast to their regular season success.
- Beyond the Arc Offense: The Celtics entered the Playoffs with the second-best 3-point shooting offense, averaging 15.6 made 3s and shooting 38.1% from deep during the regular season. They also averaged a league-high 43.1 attempts per game.
- Boston's Offensive Struggles: In addition to the 3-point woes, the Celtics struggled offensively overall, scoring only 105 points, well below their 113.9 points per game average during the regular season. They also committed an anemic 13 turnovers, compared to New York's 18.
Certainly, the Celtics' poor 3-point shooting performance in Game 1 was a clear shortcoming, setting a playoff record of 45 missed 3s. This was despite the fact that an astounding 56 out of their 60 attempted 3s were classified as open shots, with 24 of them being labeled "wide-open."
However, despite this historic misses, the Knicks merely won by a close margin of 3 points, suggesting that the Celtics' offensive prowess in basketball, especially beyond the arc, might not be entirely an NBA average.
In the sports of basketball, particularly in the NBA, improving shooting formulas is always a necessity, even for successful teams like the Boston Celtics. As we move forward, it's essential to understand the root causes of these shooting inconsistencies and work towards enriching their offensive strategy.
Despite this disappointing start, the Boston Celtics have demonstrated mental fortitude and resilience in the past, which certainly bodes well for their future performances in this NBA playoffs.
