Shooting 59 Percent and Losing

Posted by Zach Lowe on Apr 1, 2010 717122 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F04%2F01%2Fshooting-59-percent-and-losing%2FShooting+59+Percent+and+Losing2010-04-01+14%3A03%3A20Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D7171

The Celtics shot 59.5 percent against Oklahoma City and lost.

How rare a thing is this?

Since the 1987 season (the first season in Basketball Reference’s full database of games), the C’s have hit at least 59 percent of their shots in a game 61 times (including last night’s loss), according to BR. In other words, this sort of hot shooting happens about twice per season.

The C’s record in those 61 games?

Try 57-4.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane and check out the box scores from those three prior losses. Just for kicks.

Game #1: 2/18/90, Boston (110) @ Lakers (116) (NO!)

Boston box score:

And LA:

The Lakers got themselves 15 more field-goal attempts and 11 more free throw attempts than Boston, which explains how you win a game in which the other team shoots 61 percent and you shoot 47 percent.

The Reggie Lewis line makes me sad.

I loved Charles Smith, since I was a Georgetown fan as a kid. Didn’t work out for the kid in the league.

Onto Game #2:

1/7/05: Boston (104) vs Detroit (110)

Boston box score:

Detroit:

What a strange collection of players on that 2005 Celtic team. Look at Ricky Davis! And Al Jefferson!  And Jiri Welsch was randomly instrumental in the C’s acquiring Rajon Rondo!

Again we see the devastating combination of turnovers, opponent free throws and offensive rebounds. What a beast Ben Wallace was in 2005.

Rasheed Wallace attempted one three-pointer in this game. His team won.

Finally:

Game #3: 4/12/06: Boston (112) @ Indiana (116)

Boston box score:

And Indy:

This could very well be the greatest game of Gerald Green’s career, and, fittingly, the Celtics lost. Indy’s 14 offensive rebounds (including five by Jermaine O’Neal, who always seemed to play well against the C’s from around 2002-2006) hurt, as did the fact that Austin Croshere, clinging to relevance, hit 4-of-8 from deep.

Remember how Peja Stojakovic played in Indiana for about five minutes? That was random.