Through 8 games, Jayson Tatum is shooting 35.5% from 3-point range.
Last season, the Boston Celtics dealt with some criticism for their lack of 3-point shooting in the 2023-24 season. Yet, the team defied expectations and clinched the NBA title. As the new season unfolds, the team has adopted a different strategy.
Not only are the Celtics dominating opponents with their shooting from beyond the arc, but they’re also doing it at a historically good pace. The numbers don’t lie, and Boston is on pace to destroy every 3-point record in the league from a collective perspective.
Through the first eight games of the 2024-25 season, the Celtics have made 152 3-pointers — good for first in the league. To put things into perspective, the previous record in the league was 141, which was achieved by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020-21. Regarding 3-point attempts, the Celtics have taken 407 — also shattering the previous record.
Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard have been the Celtics’ top performers in terms of scoring and efficiency. Entering Wednesday’s games, both players rank in the top 5 in 3-pointers made per game — 4.1 for Tatum and 4.0 for Pritchard, who is having a breakout start to the 2024-25 campaign. Pritchard is averaging 16 points coming off the bench while shooting 43.2% from beyond the arc. Both are career-high marks for him.
Boston ranks first in the NBA in total points out of 3-pointers per game, with 57, edging the second-placed teams (Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets) by a 7.7-point margin. Unsurprisingly, the Celtics also rank first in the league in 3-pointers made per game with 19.0, edging Golden State, Chicago and Charlotte by 2.6 threes. Meaning the Celtics are outscoring other teams by eight points from three-point range.
The Celtics’ 3-point shooting percentage is also impressive, ranking eighth in the league at 37.3%.
Just when you thought the Celtics couldn’t get any better, they have found a way to separate themselves from the competition. And if they can sustain this historical 3-point scoring barrage, very few — if any — teams will be able to slow them down as the season progresses.
