What made the Boston Celtics so special this year?

Last week, we saw the Boston Celtics taken out of the playoffs by a red-hot Cleveland team who was not going to be stopped.

The Boston Celtics played tough when Isaiah Thomas went down, and they did not stop until the Cavs put the nails in the coffin in Game 5.

With the Beantown Ballers’ season finally over, it is time to pick through the good moments and find great takeaways from a stellar year.

First Things First

The first thing to point out is that Boston played efficiently and effectively on the offensive side of the basketball.

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Over the regular season, the Celtics averaged 108 ppg, were second in the league in assists per game with 25.2, shot 80.7% from the free throw line, and shot 35.9% from beyond the arc, making them third in that category. They were third in percentage of points per game scored from three with 33.4%. The Celtics had a very efficient season offensively.

Impact Players

As far as personnel goes, everyone made a positive impact in at least a handful of games. A few notable names from this past year: Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, Jaylen Brown, and Avery Bradley. All of these guys played vital roles and contributed significantly to the overall success of the team.

Isaiah Thomas established himself as a top three scorer, showing an expansive offensive game while staying consistent. Al Horford improved Boston defensively and helped with ball distribution. He was a consistent scorer as well, shooting 58.4% on the season, the fifth highest in the NBA.

Marcus Smart showed steady improvement as a two-way player, though his offensive game still needs work. His defense was stellar, pressuring the ball handler and clogging passing lanes. His passing improved dramatically.

Kelly Olynyk came off the bench and contributed greatly on offense. He had games where he would hit 6 three pointers off the bench and score almost thirty points. He also improved his numbers in the rebound department by 2.2 boards.

Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ lottery pick, proved he was a perfect match for Boston. His production off the bench was a huge factor in the bench unit’s success. He played great defense, using his physical abilities to his advantage. He improved his shot throughout the course of the regular season as well. Avery Bradley solidified his place as one of the best two-way guards in the league, playing fantastic on ball defense while shooting and passing the ball effectively on the offensive end.

Related Story: Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown’s Role Growing Rapidly

Game of the Year

The Celtics had many fantastic games, but none of those games showed how dominant the Celtics can be in the groove than against Golden State on March 8th. Boston was playing in the Oracle Arena against a red-hot Warriors team playing well, some would say better, without Kevin Durant.

The Celtics were on the losing end for all of the first half, but once the third quarter started, the Celtics flipped a switch. The third quarter is when the offense really got into a groove, scoring 26 points compared to the Warriors’ 24.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics went on a run that catapulted them to a final 13 point lead. The Celtics scored 27 points that quarter, and the Warriors? Well, they were lucky to get twelve. Boston also held Golden State to 6/30 shooting from beyond the arc. That’s 20%, and it was the lowest mark of the season for the Warriors. The Celtics took that game 99-86. It showed a flash of potential for the team defensively.

Wrapping it up

This year was a special one for Boston. While they did not win a championship, the young team gained some valuable experience for future championship runs to come.

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This team also established an identity as a run and gun, three-point oriented team that likes to spread the floor and find mismatches for their better scorers. They have proved themselves to be a top team in the league, and with the number one overall pick and interest from top free agents, there is nowhere for Boston to go but up.

All of the statistics and scores listed or stated in this article were compiled by nba.com