The Celtics (9-8) have gotten off to a rocky start this season. Looking for one particular place for improvements? Close games.
The Celtics, who have made a habit of backing themselves against the wall with slow starts and relying on big comebacks over the last few seasons, are just 4-6 in games decided by six points or fewer.
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That comes down to execution, both offensively and defensively, late in games. The offensive end has been an area of concern.
In the NBA, it's common practice for a team's best players to get the ball in isolation situations late in games. Still, the Celtics have been playing a whole lot of isolation ball - and not just in the final few possessions.
In Boston's 10 close games so far this season, Kyrie Irving has taken over 50 percent of Boston's shots in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Irving's usage percentage in the fourth quarter is 33.3 percent. The next closest? Jayson Tatum, at 21.2 percent.
The problem isn't that he's missing - Irving is making over 48 percent of his late-game shots - it's that the offense is stagnating. What happens when Kyrie misses and he's not there to bail you out?
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Now, part of the reasoning behind this is Irving is this team's closer. Taking big shots late in games is what he's paid to do. He's got the "Mamba Mentality." But 50 percent?! On Irving's old Cavs' teams, pre-LeBron's return to Cleveland, that high of a number makes sense. On this team, with three All-Stars, plus Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier (a proven clutch-time shot maker) and Marcus Morris (a proven clutch-time shot maker), Boston's offense shouldn't transform into "watch Kyrie Irving for the final four minutes of every close game."
Boston Celtics
Irving's highest shot totals late in close games this season are five (against the Pacers) and six (against the Blazers and Hornets). The Celtics have lost all three games.
This is not a condemnation of Irving as a ball hog or anything like that. Quite the opposite, in fact. He needs help. Uncle Drew can't do this alone, but he'll be damned if he doesn't try.
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