Max Lederman | CSNNE.com

[http://www.csnne.com] Celtics Patriots Red Sox Bruins Revolution Golf Video Podcast Staff Shop Alerts Contests MORE Live TV Listings Channel Finder Rotoworld Golf Channel Comcast SportsNet Search Latest Video 1:56 SportsNet Central Update: Celtics fall to Thunder 3:19 Highlights: Hurricanes defeat Bruins 3-2 in OT 1:05 Is it possible to win a championship without a superstar? 2:09 Highlights: Celtics lose to Thunder 117-112 1:53 Merloni: Indians should be A.L. favorites with Encarnacion 1:55 Curran: Patriots have set ‘shocking trade’ bar so high 0:32 Russ: Isaiah Thomas is aggressive and gets to the basket 1:18 SNC Update: Celtics face the Thunder at TD Garden Max Lederman @CelticsCSN Printable Schedule Follow A. Sherrod Blakely Celtics Talk Podcast Grizzlies are one of NBA's truly 'clutch' teams Grizzlies are one of NBA's truly 'clutch' teams By Max Lederman December 20, 2016 4:45 PM Team identity is often overlooked in the talent-driven NBA, but the league’s top teams generally have unique characteristics that set them apart. There’s the selflessness of the Warriors, the defensive intelligence of the Spurs and the “live by the 3, kill by the 3” Morey-ball played down in Houston. Injuries to key players have prevented the Celtics from finding their own identifiable attribute, but the same cannot be said about tonight’s opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies. Over the last four seasons, the Grizzlies have been one of the “clutchest” teams in the NBA. This isn’t a subjective observation; winning close games is in their DNA. The NBA defines “clutch” as games within five points in the final five minutes of play. Memphis is 102-53 in those games since the start of the 2013-14 season, and is tied for the league lead with 13 clutch wins this season, boasting the fourth-best best record at 13–5. But when you adjust the numbers, their Basketball Acumen in Laborious Late Situations is even more impressive. The Grizzlies have a league-leading nine wins in games in which they’ve trailed by five points or fewer or been tied in the final minute this season, and their 9-2 record in those games leads the league. The Celtics, on the other hand, are just 2-7 in those games. Here’s hoping for a comfortable lead late for the Celtics tonight. clutchgrizz.png Tags: Boston Celtics , CSNNE Newswire , Memphis Grizzlies @CelticsCSN Printable Schedule Follow A. Sherrod Blakely Celtics Talk Podcast Cornering the market: Celtics lead NBA in corner 3-point percentage Cornering the market: Celtics lead NBA in corner 3-point percentage By Max Lederman November 28, 2016 4:20 PM One of the more promising developments for the Celtics this season is their improved efficiency on offense. The C’s are 8th in the NBA with a 51.2 eFG%, a massive improvement over their 48.8 eFG% last season (24th in NBA). eFG% (effective field goal percentage): Measures field goal percentage adjusting for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth one more point than a 2-point field goal. ((FGM + (0.5 * 3PM)) / FGA One of the reasons for the jump in eFG% is their improvement on corner 3-point shots. The Celtics are making 47.3 percent of their corner 3s this season, which leads the NBA. Last season the Celtics hit just 34.4 percent from the corners, which ranked 27th. Corner 3s are one of the most efficient shots in basketball, since they’re the closest 3-point shot (22 feet, compared to 23 feet, 9 inches on above the break 3s). 3s_gif.gif Leading the turnaround is Avery Bradley, who has hit 14 of his team-high 27 corner 3s this season (51.9 percent). Bradley also led the Celtics in corner 3 attempts last season, but hit just 30.2 percent (39-of-129). All four of the Celtics who have attempted at least 10 corner 3s this season are making more than 47 percent: Bradley (14-of-27), Jae Crowder (6-of-12), Marcus Smart (5-of-10) and Isaiah Thomas (9-of-19). It’s still early, but the Celtics' improvement from that area of the court is a positive trend worth monitoring with the season nearly a quarter of the way through. Tags: Boston Celtics , Isaiah Thomas , Jae Crowder , Marcus Smart @CelticsCSN Printable Schedule Follow A. Sherrod Blakely Celtics Talk Podcast Pregame Number: Perimeter pain for the Bulls Pregame Number: Perimeter pain for the Bulls By Max Lederman October 27, 2016 4:41 PM Tonight’s pregame number is 133. That’s the total number of made 3-point field goals made last season by the players starting for the Bulls tonight. Whatever the Bulls reasons for signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade were this offseason, floor spacing was not one of them. Wade’s career mark of 28.4 percent from distance is the third-worst percentage among active players with 600+ career attempts, while Rondo’s 28.9 career 3-pt FG% is seventh worst. And, for what it’s worth, the new-look Bulls shot 31.8 percent from beyond the arc (21st in the NBA) this preseason, while hitting 7.7 3-pointers per game. CELTICS-BULLS PREVIEW: C's quickly turn page to new-look Bulls. Despite allowing 15 3’s last night vs the Nets, perimeter defense should once again be a strength for the Celtics. Last season, the Celtics were fourth in the NBA with an opponent 3-pt FG% of 33.6. They were 38-15 when holding opponents to eight or fewer 3’s. With the NBA continuing to trend towards more 3-point shooting, it will be interesting to see how Fred Hoiberg’s offense looks this season, and especially tonight vs the Celtics. Tags: Boston Celtics , Chicago Bulls , Dwyane Wade , Fred Hoiberg , Max Lederman , Rajon Rondo Load more Grizzlies are one of NBA's truly 'clutch' teams Cornering the market: Celtics lead NBA in corner 3-point percentage Pregame Number: Perimeter pain for the Bulls Pregame number: Al Horford to the rescue FOLLOW US Facebook Twitter Google Plus Instagram ©2016 SportsChannel New England LLC A Division of NBC Universal Jobs Privacy Policy Term of Service Contact Us Advertise Live FAQ Internships Press Releases TV Listings Ad Choices GET NEWSLETTERS & ALERTS SIGN UP