If the determining factor in this series is a matter of who hits their open shots, then the Celtics are certainly living both ends of the equation.
If the determining factor in this series is a matter of who hits their open shots, then the Celtics are certainly living on both ends of the equation. Over the first two games of their second-round series against Toronto, now tied at 2-2, the Celtics made an average of 16 3-pointers, with a huge boost from Marcus Smart’s five-trey fourth quarter in Game 2. Toronto averaged 10.5 treys on 26% shooting over the same stretch. Over the last two games, both Raptors wins, the Celtics averaged 8.0 makes, including a 20% (7-for-35) showing on Saturday night. Toronto averaged 15.5 makes in Games 3 and 4. Based on the open looks that Jaylen Brown missed in Game 4, when the Celtics wing’s first nine trey attempts went astray before finishing at 2-for-11, they would like many of the same looks for Monday night’s Game 5 at 6:30 p.m. But the Celtics also had an energy drain in Game 4, especially offensively. Kemba Walker took only nine shots, and later admitted he wasn’t aggressive enough. Much has been pinned on Raptors coach Nick Nurse’s rotation of so-called gimmick defenses and zones as the reason the Celtics have slogged their way through the last two games.
