Lately the points have come in bunches for the Boston Celtics to the point where they are now ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring (103.6 points per game) and have eclipsed the 100-point mark in each of their last five games.
If they are to make it six in a row, it’ll have to come against a Toronto Raptors team that has been very Grinch-like when it comes to giving up points.
The Raptors are ranked fourth in the NBA in points allowed (96.9), a key to Toronto being the hottest team in the East with victories in their last five games.
“We’re still a defense-first team,” Boston’s Amir Johnson told CSNNE.com recently. “That has to be this team’s identity, if we’re going to have the kind of success this season that we want.”
Here are five other keys to tonight’s game to keep an eye on.
POINTS IN THE PAINT
Boston is a guard-driven team that feeds off of attacking the paint in transition as well as in half-court sets which is why the Celtics have been strong most of this season when it comes to points in the paint. They are currently averaging 43.8 points in the paint per game which ranks 10th in the NBA. Getting those point-blank buckets will be challenging tonight against a Toronto team that’s one of the best at defending at the rim. Teams are scoring just 39.5 points in the paint against the Raptors which is the seventh-lowest average in the NBA this season.
REBOUNDING
Teams have repeatedly talked about Boston being one of the more physical teams this season when it comes to attacking the rim for rebounds. Being gritty on the glass has allowed Boston to average 53.6 rebounds per game which ranks sixth in the NBA. Toronto has strong players with elite athleticism throughout their roster, two key components to teams finding very little success against them when it comes to rebounding. Opponents are averaging just 48.2 rebounds against Toronto, the second-lowest average in the association this season.
FAST-BREAK POINTS
New England Patriots
When Boston fell behind by 15 points early at Dallas on Monday, it was their defense that led to their transition offense that helped spark the comeback and made the game competitive. Celtics coach Brad Stevens wants his guys to play with space and pace, and in doing so this season has led to the Celtics doing well when it comes to fast break points. Boston comes into tonight’s game averaging 14.4 fast break points per game which ranks seventh in the NBA. Raptors head coach Dwayne Casey came into the season wanting to see his team improve defensively. He got his wish, especially when it comes to the Raptors’ transition defense. Opponents are averaging 11.3 fast break points against Toronto which is the seventh-lowest average in the league.
SECOND QUARTER
Bench play will be critical for both teams, especially when most of those guys see their first action of the night in the second quarter. Boston and Toronto are indeed at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of what they do well in this quarter. The Celtics are one of the better teams at limiting points in the second quarter while some of the Raptors’ best play this season has come in the second.
Boston has allowed opponents to score 24.5 points in the second quarter which is the ninth-fewest points allowed in the second. And then there’s the Raptors’ 25.5 points per game average in the second quarter which ranks 10th in the league.
TURNOVERS
This is yet another area in which Boston’s defense will be challenged by Toronto’s efficient offense. The Celtics force 16.9 turnovers per game which is the second-highest average in the NBA thus far this season. In Toronto which is led by all-star point guard Kyle Lowry at the point, mistakes for the most part are made at a minimum. That’s one of the reasons why the Raptors are one of the top teams in the East, and also why they are committing just 13.7 turnovers per game which is the sixth-fewest turnovers committed per game in the NBA this season.