The 2023-24 The Boston Celtics have dominated the NBA this season, with a league-best 43-12 record through the All-Star break, thanks to a strong emphasis on selfless basketball from start to finish. With a team-first mentality at the center of their success, the Cs have seen its finest players sacrifice individual scoring and usage rates for the benefit of the team.
Starting point guard Derrick White has perhaps benefited the most from Boston’s selfless approach. White has had a breakout season, posting career-high averages in points, field goals, 3-pointers, blocks, steals, rebounds, and free throw %. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have both cut their usage rate and shooting volume, but White has reaped the most benefits.
White, who has become a fan favorite among Celtics fans, discussed Boston’s selfless season on The Greg Hill Show.
“Joe (Mazzulla) has obviously stated it, but as players, we must buy in. JT has likely been the most vocal about it… A guy in his position who is prepared to make that sacrifice certainly means a lot. JB has done the same thing. There are a lot of tiny things we talk about every day that aren’t on the stat sheet, but they all contribute to our success.”
– Derrick Whire
White’s unwavering confidence has given fans with a dramatic contrast to the cautious stretches he showed during his first few months in Boston. The Jays’ sacrifice has helped White develop into one of the league’s most improved players.
Boston Celtics are making individual sacrifices across the lineup.
Tatum and Brown aren’t the only Celtics making personal sacrifices. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have similarly reduced their usage.
As the leading scorer for the Washington Wizards in the previous campaign, Porzingis boasted a usage rate of 27.3%. KP has a 24.6% usage rate so far this year. Even while he hasn’t attempted as many field goals per game as he did in his rookie campaign, he has nevertheless put together one of the best post-up seasons in basketball history, averaging a league-high 1.4 points per post-up.
Holiday’s usage percentage during his last stint with Milwaukee was 25.1%. The 2021 NBA champion has used less with the Cs—nearly 10% less. Despite having a lower usage percentage this season—16.8%—Holiday has nevertheless made the most of his chances to play in one of the most effective offenses of his career. As a Celtic, Holiday is leading the Atlantic Division in 3-point accuracy with a 44.0% clip from downtown, good for No. 11 in the league. He has also made a league-high 62.7% of his corner threes.
Though many Celtics supporters feel that this season is a positive variation from previous ones, the team has gone dangerously close to winning an 18th championship since White arrived in Beantown. White recognized Boston’s progress from the previous year.
It’s a little bit of everything, in my opinion. Just attempting to teach the joy of basketball that we talk about all the time has been Joe’s tremendous effort. You want to move the ball and play the correct method. We’re a pretty good team when we’re all having fun and moving the ball. Naturally, having KP and Jrue adds a ton of options to our repertoire. These days, there are a plethora of strategies to win games. We’re simply going to keep improving and finish up playing our best basketball at the conclusion of the year, and it has been a lot of fun.”
– Derrick White
This season, head coach Joe Mazzulla has found inspiration in a variety of places. Luke Kornet, a reserve big man for The Athletic, discussed how the C’s may learn from the magnanimity of Manchester City in an interview with Jay King from October.
We saw some Man City footage, which was really interesting to see because of how well-connected, ball-moving, and sharing they are. They play with a vitality and enthusiasm that, when you watch them put it together, I believe is quite contagious.”
– Luke Kornet
Mazzulla’s message to the players and their shared dedication to playing for each other has made Boston into an altruistic powerhouse. With the highest offensive rating in the NBA, the Celtics are focused on winning Banner 18.
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