Ramp to Camp: How can Celtics be even better than last season? initially appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics posted one of the most dominant campaigns in NBA history final season. They set an NBA file for offensive score, completed tied for the third-best internet score of all time and completed top-five all time in scoring differential.
However let’s get grasping. How can the Celtics take one other step ahead through the 2024-25 season? For the twelfth installment of our Ramp to Camp collection, that’s the query we posed to our NBC Sports activities Boston panel: What’s a technique this staff can get even higher?
(Try our full Ramp to Camp series here.)
Right here’s possibly a greater query: The place do you even start to nitpick?
The Celtics posted 17 wins of 25 factors or extra, which means 20 % of their video games have been full blowouts. They completed 14 video games forward of their closest rival within the East. They steamrolled by the playoffs, by no means even seeing a Recreation 6 alongside the way in which.
The Celtics sometimes misplaced their means in opposition to an inferior opponent (that loss to the shorthanded Lakers on February 1 nonetheless nags us) and but they by no means misplaced greater than two video games in a row, and even that solely occurred 4 instances all season.
Our panel leaned closely into Boston’s late-game shot choice, and we’d like to stomp our ft about settling for poor pictures. However Boston posted an absurd +46.9 internet score in 24 minutes of postseason clutch time and was an ideal 6-0 in these video games. This staff seemingly discovered from its regular-season missteps and had a knack for big-time performs in big-time moments (proper, Pacers?)
So right here’s the perfect we are able to give you: There’s one other stage these math-loving Celtics can go to with their late-quarter execution. The Celtics did a superb job in producing 3-for-2 and 2-for-1 possessions over the ultimate minute of quarters, nevertheless it appears like shot high quality was not absolutely maximized.
Perhaps that doesn’t matter. The analytics recommend that simply creating these alternatives is most vital. However having everybody on the identical web page understanding precisely the form of pictures the staff will wish to create over the ultimate 65 seconds of 1 / 4 might go an extended method to making the Celtics offense much more environment friendly.
(That sounds insane contemplating they only posted essentially the most environment friendly season in NBA historical past, however we stated the purpose right here was to be grasping.)
Here is what our panel yearns to see:
I’ve a idea and it is that Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer in Game 1 in opposition to Indy flipped the swap. The Celtics regularly look discombobulated in shut and late conditions, however now they’re the champs. There’s nothing they have not seen, so play prefer it with the sport on the road.
Tom Giles, Multi-platform host
Exhausting to complain about a lot, however possibly complacency? There have been instances the place we noticed the Celtics let their foot off the fuel — and what staff doesn’t? — but when they’ll restrict these moments, they’re going to be an absolute machine.
Higher crunch-time offense. Sure, the Celtics have been 21-12 in “clutch” video games final season (rating inside 5 inside the ultimate 5 minutes) and 6-0 within the playoffs. But when we’ve got to nitpick, we wish to see higher ball motion throughout late-game possessions and fewer contested fadeaways from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Bench scoring. In equity, the Celtics do not want their bench to be prolific offensively as a result of they’ve arguably the perfect beginning 5 within the league. That stated, the C’s ranked twenty sixth in bench scoring final season.
Payton Pritchard is able to taking one other step (or two) ahead in his improvement. Lonnie Walker IV can get sizzling offensively, assuming he’s healthy and makes the team. Rookie Baylor Scheierman is an excellent exterior shooter. There are causes to consider the second unit may give Boston a bit extra scoring this season, which might be useful as a result of the starters should not be taking part in too many minutes.
Much less ISO ball in clutch time. Decide up the tempo and transfer the ball. The Celtics have been excellent in just about each statistical class final season, however their slower tempo late within the fourth quarter and extra time was usually mind-boggling.
Kevin Miller, VP, Content material
I nonetheless assume end-of-clock conditions can enhance. Use the depth of the staff as extra of a bonus in these conditions.
