Celtics-Hornets preview: Offensive adjustments needed

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BOSTON – We have seen two very distinct versions of the Boston Celtics this season.

When the season began, they were all about playing with “pace” and “space” which seemed like a euphemism for shot-chucking.

As we got deeper into the heart of their schedule coupled with lineup changes via trades and injuries, they became a more grind-it-out, defensive group which led to more wins.

But it appears teams have made adjustments and thus, the losing for Boston has picked up significantly of late with five losses in their last seven games.

Now it’s Boston’s turn to make adjustments.

One of the first?

Find more ways to generate points.

Because if they want their season to extend beyond the NBA-minimum 82-game slate, they’re going to have to become a more effective team offensively.

“We’re going to have to make shots to win these games. There’s no question about that,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.

Opportunities to score should be plentiful tonight against the Charlotte Hornets who are making a playoff push of their own for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Celtics (32-41) are currently 9th in the Eastern Conference with a ½ game lead over Indiana (31-41) and Charlotte (31-41).

Boston averages 49.3 assist opportunities per game which is 2nd in the NBA to Golden State (50.6). That means the Celtics are getting a lot of cracks at scoring but just aren’t knocking down enough shots.

Whether it’s just bad luck, mental fatigue or simply getting beat by better talent, Boston has to figure out a way to make more baskets.

Otherwise, their hopes at getting to the playoffs in Year Two of the Brad Stevens regime will be over soon – very soon.  

Here are some other factors to give some thought to as the Celtics prepare for tonight’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.


WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Points generated from turnovers will be a major factor in tonight’s outcome. Since the Celtics became whole following the Feb. 19 trade deadline passing, Boston has averaged 18.2 points off of turnovers which ranks 8th in the NBA. During that same period of time, the Hornets are giving up a league-low 11.1 points off turnovers which means something has to give tonight. Turnovers were certainly a contributing factor in Boston’s lone win over the Hornets this season on Feb. 27 when Boston got 21 points off of Charlotte turnovers in rallying from a 16-point deficit to win, 106-98.


KEY MATCHUP
Avery Bradley vs Kemba Walker

This ought to be a fun matchup to watch considering both players are a bit undersized at their respective positions and are two of the league’s more promising young guards. Bradley’s a great defender but Walker has proven that he can score with the best of them, regardless of how talented or experienced the defender opposite of him may be.
 

KEY PLAYER
Isaiah Thomas

It’s pretty obvious the more he plays the better he becomes at playing his role for Boston. Thomas had 19 points in Sunday’s loss, but is moving better with and without the ball and appears close to regaining the form we saw prior to his lower back injury which sidelined him for eight games. If he continues along this path, the Celtics would get a much-needed win tonight and just as important, keep their playoff hopes alive and well.


BY THE NUMBERS

34.6: That would be the number of points in the paint that Charlotte has averaged since the Feb. 19 trade deadline which ranks dead-last in the NBA. But there’s a very good chance they’ll do better than that against the Celtics interior defense which, since Feb. 19, has allowed 44 points in the paint per game to rank 23rd in the league.

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