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Pregame Post-Ups: C's Look to Stifle Rockets' Record Shooting

Monday, December 5 - Celtics at Rockets

Pregame – C's Look to Stifle Rockets' Record Shooting

HOUSTON – The Boston Celtics have established themselves as one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league, as they rank fifth in total makes (222) and 10th in percentage (36.0) so far this season.

However, Boston’s 3-point prowess – along with that of any other team in the league – pales in comparison to what tonight’s opponent, the Houston Rockets, is accomplishing beyond the arc.

Houston has made a league-high 280 3-pointers though 20 games thus far. If the Rockets can maintain that pace, they would finish the season with 1,148 3-pointers, which would smash Golden State’s NBA-record of 1,077 makes that was set last season.

The Rockets hoist up an average of 37 3-point attempts per game and are making 37.8 percent of them, which is the fifth-best percentage in the league.

Figuring out how to stifle Houston’s efficiency from beyond the arc will be Boston’s No. 1 priority Monday night.

“They put ‘em up, so you have to guard them,” Jae Crowder said ahead of tip-off at Toyota Center. “They make you defend the 3-point line because they’re going to shoot them whether you’re there or not. You just have to disrupt their rhythm a little bit and hopefully get off to a good start.”

The Rockets’ incredible 3-point shooting is allowing them to average 111.4 points per game, which ranks second in the NBA behind the Warriors (119.1 PPG).

C’s coach Brad Stevens says Houston’s offensive prowess is a product of placing the right players into the right system.

“They’ve done a great job of putting guys in that fit with (Mike) D’Antoni’s system,” said Stevens. “They have four shooters on the court at all times. And even guys that haven’t shot as much, over 40 percent of their attempts are from 3, whether it be (Patrick) Beverly, (Sam) Dekker, or other guys that have come off the bench. They just spread you out and make it really difficult.”

Stevens also noted how the additions of guard Eric Gordon and forward Ryan Anderson have impacted Houston’s play.

Gordon ranks second to only Steph Curry in 3-point makes with 63, while Anderson is tied for eighth in the league with 54 makes.

In fact, Houston has four of the NBA’s top eight 3-point shooters, including James Harden (58 makes) and Trevor Ariza (56 makes). If you do the math you’ll find that those four have combined to make 231 3-pointers, which is more than every other team in the league has totaled, with the exceptions of Golden State (244) and Cleveland (240).

Houston is currently riding an NBA-record 19-game streak with at least 10 3-point makes. The Celtics, who allowing an average of just 9.0 3-point makes per game, will try to end that streak tonight.

- Taylor C. Snow