For the higher a part of the final decade, Golden State, led by Stephen Curry, has been at the forefront of the 3-point revolution in the N.B.A.
But in this N.B.A. postseason, it’s Golden State’s finals opponent, Boston, that has made extra 3-pointers than any workforce in playoff historical past. The Celtics set the file when Jayson Tatum hit a 3 in the second quarter of Game 5 on Monday, marking Boston’s 307th 3-pointer of the postseason.
Highest variety of N.B.A. 3-pointers in every postseason
It was applicable that the Celtics did this in opposition to Golden State, because it held the earlier file (from its 2016 playoff run). In the similar Game 5, the Celtics additionally made eight straight 3s, the longest such streak in an N.B.A. finals recreation. That broke a file they shared after they made seven straight to start out the fourth quarter in the sequence opener.
Entering Game 6 on Thursday, the Celtics have made 317 playoff 3-pointers in contrast with Golden State’s 289. But each groups are averaging 13.8 3-pointers. (Boston has performed two extra postseason video games.)
In some methods, Golden State will be credited — or blamed, if Boston wins this sequence — with the unrelenting jumpshooting barrage the Celtics have launched in opposition to the workforce.
Golden State has been given credit score for altering basketball’s typical knowledge about offense. Instead of working arduous to get photographs close to the rim and utilizing the 3-pointer as a weapon of final resort, the offense can be geared towards elite perimeter taking pictures. Instead of slower huge males clogging the paint and working a methodical offense from the put up, gamers like Curry and Klay Thompson ushered in a brand new N.B.A. period, centered extra on jumpers than layups.
But what’s significantly attention-grabbing about the Celtics is that they’ve modified their fashion since getting into the postseason. During the common season, Boston averaged 37.1 3-point attempts a game. During the playoffs, that quantity is actually down to 37.0.
Wait a minute — didn’t we simply say that it is a change from the common season? This is the place you need to look below the hood.
In the postseason, 3-pointers have accounted for 41 p.c of Boston’s field-goals. In the common season, that determine was simply 32 p.c. So far, that change — a nine-percentage-point shift — is the largest of any N.B.A. finals workforce. (By distinction, Golden State has not modified a lot: 37 p.c in the postseason, and 35 p.c in the common season.)
Highest shifts in playoff 3-pointers as a share of all area targets, amongst N.B.A. finalists
| Team | Reg. season | Playoffs | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston ’21-’22 | 32% | 41% | |
| Miami ’13-’14 | 21% | 26% | |
| Miami ’11-’12 | 15% | 20% | |
| Dallas ’10-’11 | 21% | 25% | |
| Golden State ’14-’15 | 26% | 30% | |
| Cleveland ’14-’15 | 26% | 30% | |
| L.A. Lakers ’19-’20 | 26% | 29% | |
| San Antonio ’04-’05 | 17% | 21% | |
| L.A. Lakers ’03-’04 | 12% | 15% | |
| Toronto ’18-’19 | 29% | 32% | |
| Cleveland ’16-’17 | 33% | 35% | |
| Golden State ’21-’22 | 35% | 37% | |
| L.A. Lakers ’08-’09 | 17% | 19% | |
| Golden State ’15-’16 | 31% | 33% | |
| Cleveland ’15-’16 | 31% | 33% | |
| Miami ’05-’06 | 16% | 18% | |
| Golden State ’16-’17 | 28% | 30% | |
| N.J. Nets ’02-’03 | 12% | 14% | |
| San Antonio ’06-’07 | 20% | 21% | |
| L.A. Lakers ’09-’10 | 17% | 18% | |
| Detroit ’03-’04 | 12% | 13% | |
| San Antonio ’13-’14 | 21% | 22% | |
| L.A. Lakers ’01-’02 | 16% | 17% | |
| Golden State ’17-’18 | 26% | 27% | |
| Boston ’09-’10 | 16% | 17% | |
| Detroit ’04-’05 | 13% | 13% | |
| San Antonio ’02-’03 | 15% | 16% | |
| Cleveland ’06-’07 | 17% | 17% | |
| Miami ’10-’11 | 18% | 18% |
Source: Basketball Reference
This desk exhibits the high 15 will increase in 3-point share of all area targets of N.B.A. finalists since 2002. Figures are rounded.
Some of it is a query of personnel. For instance, in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics performed the Milwaukee Bucks, who gained the championship final season. The Bucks began Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez — two tall, cell rim protectors who make it troublesome for guards to get to the basket. This meant Boston needed to shoot extra 3s to compensate. In Game 1 of that sequence, the Celtics shot a whopping 50 3-pointers, effectively above their common. Games 2 and 6? 43 each. Overall, Boston averaged 41.7 3-point makes an attempt a game against Milwaukee. But in opposition to the Miami Heat, a workforce with out the rim safety of the Bucks, the Celtics averaged 34 3-point makes an attempt a recreation, down from their regular-season average.
Still, Don’t Sleep on Steph
But earlier than we get forward of ourselves, let’s not neglect that Curry and Thompson are generally known as the Splash Brothers for a purpose.
Cumulative 3-pointers in playoff video games
They’re an unparalleled taking pictures tag workforce. Each has extra postseason 3s than anyone else in N.B.A. historical past, even individuals who have performed about twice as many playoff video games as they’ve. And though Curry misplaced a record-breaking streak this week, when he didn’t make a single 3 in Game 5, he and Thompson nonetheless have extra playoff 3s between them than nine franchises.
