Tatum’s shooting stroke and some good health
Truth be told, the Celtics don’t need much for Christmas this year. But that doesn’t mean the rich can’t get a little richer.
The Celtics have one of the best records in the NBA. They have, statistically, the best starting five in the league, and a second unit that has become deep and reliable. They’re well on their way to a top seed in the playoffs and their best chance at a championship since 2008.
So what could possibly be on the Celtics’ Christmas wish list this year?
1. Good health for Porzingis, Horford
This is paramount for the Celtics’ championship hopes, and was under a microscope in this week leading up to Christmas as the team staggered rest for Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in an effort to ensure their longterm health.
There’s no question that the Celtics are a better team with Porzingis on the floor. Their starting five with him had a plus/minus of plus-102 through 15 games – second-best in the NBA – with a 14-1 record. He has fit perfectly in Boston’s system. But the biggest question mark with Porzingis has always been health, which has shown up with the foot injury he suffered last summer and now the calf strain that has bothered him over the last month. The C’s must protect him at all costs throughout the regular season.
The 37-year-old Horford, too, must be preserved. As good as he was last season, he wore down at the end of the playoffs. He’s averaging 26.7 minutes per game this season – about four minutes fewer than last year – in a new sixth man role and the Celtics have continued to rest him on back-to-backs.
2. Rediscovering Tatum’s shot
The Celtics will wake up on Christmas morning hoping they’ll unwrap Jayson Tatum’s shooting stroke, which has been strangely off the mark to start the season.
Through 26 games, Tatum is shooting a career-low 34.5 percent from 3-point range, continuing a downward trend over the last four seasons. Perhaps his shot selection can improve. It seems that he’s settling for too many pull-up 3-pointers. Even more perplexing? Tatum’s free throw percentage was at 79.5 percent through 26 games, significantly down from the 85.7 percent mark he shot over the previous three seasons.
3. An extra big man
The Celtics don’t really have a critical need as February’s trade deadline approaches, but if Porzingis and/or Horford go down, they’re obviously in a tough spot. Could the Celtics benefit from adding one more big man for insurance’s sake?
Luke Kornet has been serviceable as a backup, but has limitations. Same with Neemias Queta, who has played admirably in spot minutes on a two-way contract, and could certainly end up getting that converted to a standard contract at some point this season. But the C’s might have the means for an upgrade with the 6.2 million traded player exception they generated through the Grant Williams trade. It might not be waiting for them under the Christmas tree on Monday, but it could eventually serve as a belated holiday gift.
4. Home court advantage
The Celtics are still the only remaining undefeated team at home with a 14-0 mark. The key, of course, is sustaining that dominance at TD Garden into the spring, where they are 7-9 in their last 16 postseason games. While Joe Mazzulla has not made an emphasis on winning at home, his players are taking pride in creating a home court advantage. Perhaps they can receive a gift card that will get them the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
5. Some extra All-Star tickets
Don’t blame the Celtics if they want to get a little greedy this holiday season. As All-Star voting gets underway, they have four players – Tatum, Porzingis, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White – who should be worthy of a nod to the All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Tatum and Brown are obvious choices to make their fifth and third appearances, respectively.
Porzingis and White each face challenges in being selected as All-Stars in an Eastern Conference loaded with talent, especially White. His counting numbers don’t jump off the page, but his play certainly warrants consideration. They’ll hope Santa is feeling a little more generous and leaves a few extra tickets for Indy in the Celtics’ stockings.