7 stats explaining why the Celtics aren’t headed to the Finals
As the Celtics sift through the pieces of their 2017-2018 campaign and look ahead to next season, there will be plenty of numbers to analyze.
Some are undoubtably positive, like the 351 total points Jayson Tatum scored in the postseason. That mark is the second-highest point total by a rookie in league history, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 352 points in 1970. Other numbers come complete with shades of grey, like the hefty dollar figure Marcus Smart is reportedly demanding as he enters free agency.
Either way, the only number that matters after Sunday night is 87-79.
Here are some of the stats that explain the Celtics’ defeat in Game 7:
32
The number of three-point attempts the Celtics missed on Sunday night. Terry Rozier went 0-10 from behind the arc.
19
Jaylen Brown and Rozier combined to shoot 19 percent from the floor. They went 3-26 from the three-point line.
235
LeBron James finished the Eastern Conference finals with a total of 235 points, 63 rebounds, 59 assists, eight steals, and eight blocks.
48
The number of minutes James played in Game 7 — his 100th game of the season.
8
James is headed to his eighth straight NBA Finals. He joins Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones and Frank Ramsey (Celtics, all) as the only players to play in at least eight consecutive Finals.
79
The number of points the Celtics scored at home in an elimination game.
15
The Cavaliers turned the ball over 13 times, while the Celtics only turned it over six times. But Cleveland turned Boston’s giveaways into 15 points, 10 more than the Celtics managed off the Cavaliers’ turnovers.
