BOSTON – You won’t ever hear an NBA coach or player talk about a defeat as being a good loss.
But considering how the Boston Celtics have played since a decisive 111-93 road defeat to Utah in their first game following the All-Star break, there’s little doubt that loss has been a benefit to Boston going forward.
With wins in three of their last four games since the Utah loss on Feb. 19, the Celtics hope to keep the good times coming with tonight’s rematch with the Jazz.
Meanwhile Utah is at the opposite end of the success spectrum with losses in three of its last four games.
Regardless of what the Jazz have done previously, the Celtics are well-versed on the pitfalls that exists when playing a team with Utah’s across-the-board length which was indeed a problem when the two faced each other earlier this season.
In that Feb. 19 game, Boston was out-rebounded 51-34 with many of those boards being second and third-shot opportunities as well.
Despite being overwhelmed on the boards, Boston only gave up 13 second-chance points while scoring five of their own.
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But they know they have to do better going forward, with tonight’s game providing an ideal opportunity.
Here’s a look at five key areas to pay attention to as the Celtics’ seek win No. 11 at home this season.
FAST BREAK POINTS
Boston has been among the NBA’s best teams when it comes to scoring in transition this season. They come into tonight’s game averaging 15.4 fast break points per game which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Celtics will have some pretty stiff competition in continuing along their fast-break ways tonight against a Jazz defense that allows 11.7 points per game via fast break which is the ninth-best scoring defense against the break.
ASSISTS
When the Celtics haven’t played well, poor ball movement has often been among the key contributors to the defeat. That’s why Boston has to keep all five players on the floor engaged offensively which will inevitably lead to some easy scores. Boston is averaging 24.8 assists per game which is fifth in the NBA. They face a Utah team that doesn’t allow much to happen in the paint, evident by them allowing opponents to average a league-low 18.8 assists per game.
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
Quantity over quality of shots seems to be a common theme for the Celtics under Brad Stevens. The Celtics have been taking more shots than most as they come into tonight’s game with a league-high 89.7 field goal attempts per game. In Utah the Celtics face a team that’s literally at the opposite end of the shot-taking spectrum. The Jazz rank dead last in field goal attempts with 80.3 per game.
FIRST QUARTER SCORING
Boston has every intention of striking first against a Utah Jazz team that tends to get off to a slow start but gains momentum going forward. Utah averages a league-low 22.8 points scored in the first quarter while the Celtics average 26.8 points which is the fifth-highest scoring average in the NBA.
POINTS IN THE PAINT
Look for the Celtics to try and replicate the success they had scoring at the basket against Miami on Saturday, when they host the Utah Jazz tonight. Despite the significant size Utah will have around the basket, the Celtics will keep attacking and attacking the paint until they finally break through or break down trying.
It worked against Miami to the tune of a 101-89 Celtics win, a game in which Boston had its shot swatted 11 times with eight coming from Hassan Whiteside.
Despite Whiteside’s size, Boston still attacked the paint when he was on the floor before finishing with a 101-89 victory.
The Celtics will look to do the same against Utah which will be led by their 7-foot-1 big man Rudy Gobert as well as Gordon Hayward who played collegiately at Butler under Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.
