Used with relative parsimony in the first round against the Nets (34.5 attempts per game), the 3-point shot seems to be the Celtics’ No. 1 weapon against the Bucks. In the first set, the C’s had converted 28 shots overall, including 18 from behind the arc. However, they had to shoot 50 times from distance to reach this total.
« Shooting 3-pointers 50 times is one thing. But many of those shots were contested. So we knew we would have more opportunities to penetrate, to go in the key to get the shots we want », remarque Ime Udokaafter a Game 2 where his team was much more effective.
Faced with the “drop coverage” of Brook Lopez and the Bucks, there are quite a few openings from afar, Milwaukee being the team that concedes the most outside shots in the NBA (40.6 per game this season, at 35.6 % of success). However, this does not mean that you have to draw each time, completely abandoning the attack of the circle.
Last night, the Celtics also shot a little less and converted a little more from afar: 20/43. With Grant Williams (6/9), Jaylen Brown (6/10) and Jayson Tatum (5/10) as chief fireworks, the Celtics have set a new record in this area, in the playoffs.
The Celtics drained 20 3-pointers in tonight’s Game 2 win, the most made threes in franchise playoff history.
Conversely, the Bucks only made 3 threes, the fewest in a postseason game for the team in the last 15 postseasons. pic.twitter.com/Noih67MXrL
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 4, 2022
These 60 points behind the 3-point line contrast terribly with the… 9 points scored from afar by the Bucks. The latter have returned only 3 of their 18 award-winning attempts. Unheard of for them in their last 15 playoff appearances.
Discouraged from shooting?
« We have to be better and maybe get more 3-point shots, be more efficient in scoring », ad Mike Budenholzer, suggesting a better balance between the one-on-one sessions of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday and the fixations for shooters. ” I have all the confidence in the world in both of them. They created opportunities, they just need to find more. We must be better collectively, and we will be. »
We recall that their most greedy player in the field, and one of the most skilful, Khris Middleton is on the sidelines. Behind him, Pat Connaughton, Bobby Portis, Grayson Allen or Wesley Matthews are the most mobilized players behind the arc in normal times. That night, this quartet only shot… six times from afar.
« We have to see where the help is coming from, go into the racket as much as possible to see if they crack or if they make us play one-on-one. We need to try more 3-point shots to have a chance to come back », Jrue Holiday posteronly at 1/6 in this game.
While his team was up to 26 points behind, Mike Budenholzer does not hide the fact that returning a few additional award-winning baskets would have ” certainly was helpful ” to come back. His Bucks preferred to register the majority of their points in the racket, where they largely dominated the debates (54 points against 24 at the Celtics).
« I think we just played our game most of the time.”continues Jrue Holiday, whose team tries its luck 36 times behind the arc in these playoffs. “Obviously the 3-pointers weren’t falling in, which can sometimes put you off shooting. But we were aggressive in trying to get into the racket. We did what we could depending on the opposing defence. »
