Could a trade deadline move shake Celtics from midseason malaise?

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Could a trade deadline move shake Celtics from midseason malaise? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Before we spend a few hundred words pondering what the Boston Celtics might do in advance of next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, let’s make one thing absolutely clear.

Regardless of what Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens does at the deadline — big, or more likely, very very small — the Celtics’ quest to repeat as champs hinges on their current players being, 1) Healthy and, 2) Far more dialed in than they’ve been over the the past five weeks.

You know the numbers by now. The Celtics are 12-10 since December 19, stuck on a hamster wheel in which we all spend one day wondering how in the world they fumbled away a surefire win, then ponder whether this team has found its championship mojo when things look better the next night.

Overshadowed by late-game blunders that cost this team wins over Houston and Atlanta, the Celtics have quietly made some encouraging strides in recent weeks. A handful of note:

Over his past 10 games, Porzingis is averaging 21.6 points while shooting 52.1 percent overall and 53.1 percent from 3-point range on 6.4 attempts per game. That culminated Wednesday with a 34-point outburst, which saw Porzingis erupt for 26 first-half points and knock down eight triples overall. He’s earning with meat.

The quintet of Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown had a minus-11.8 net rating over its first 10 appearances together. That ranked 32nd out of the 33 five-man lineups in the NBA with at least 130 minutes played together.

Over their last five games together, Boston’s preferred starters has a much-glossier +25.5 net rating, including a sizzling 128.7 offensive rating in 75 minutes of court time.

That group is now at a +0.5 net rating overall, which isn’t great, but at least it’s in the positive. Of the 18 five-man lineups in the NBA with at least 200 minutes played, Boston’s preferred five ranks 10th overall.

Ironically, the Celtics’ starting five with Horford in place of Porzingis tops that list with a +20.1 net rating in…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/could-trade-deadline-move-shake-122523287.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2025-01-30 12:25:00

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