Difficult to find avenues for improvement for Celticsafter a crushing 2023-24 year, an 18th NBA title and another solid start to the season (7v-1s).
Yet last year, after a few games, Boston was ranked 20th at address by a wide margin. Joe Mazzulla's players then quickly adjusted their sights to lift the Larry O'Brien trophy. This season and after eight games, the Celtics are already dominating and earlier than last year in this area. In total 3-pointers scored, Boston is first and has 152 successes. The franchise erase the previous record held by the Bucks since 2021 after eight games (141).
Tatum and Pritchard, leaders behind the arc
This dynamic, which among other things allows Boston to currently be the 3rd best team in the league behind the Cavaliers and the Thunder, can be attributed to the skill of Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard. The two Celtics are ranked in the Top 5 in the number of 3-pointers scored per game with 4.1 for the first and 4 for the second.
Author of a sparkling start to the season (16 points on average), Payton Pritchard is also one of the most skillful shooters with 43.2% success. Two record statistics for the former Oregon Duck.
A historic season in sight?
The Celtics average 57 points per game via their address by far, ranking first in this area ahead of the Warriors, Bulls and Hornets by almost 8 points. Unsurprisingly, the franchise is also first in the number of successes per game (19), surpassing these same teams by 2.6 shots.
Ranked 8th in the league behind the arc (37.3%), the Celtics have already taken 407 3-point shots and may be on their way to setting a new franchise record this season, but not only that. Last year, with 1,351 converted shots, the franchise erased its previous record from 2022 (1,315).
By taking around fifty shots per game and if the skill is there throughout the season, Joe Mazzulla's men could probably get closer to the Warriors' record established in 2023 with 1,363 3-point shots scored. .
Irony of the calendar, the reigning champions host Stephen Curry and his Warriors this evening, with an increased risk of showers at TD Garden.
