Celtics Pride? Boston out for Revenge vs Suns

Phoenix Suns (22-50) v Boston Celtics (46-26)

Friday 3/24/2017 4:30pm
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Fox Sports Arizona/Arizona Sports 98.7FM

Season Series – Phoenix leads 1-0
All-Time Series – Boston leads 67-55
Last Matchup – March 5, 2017 Suns won 109-106
Suns’ Last Game – Loss to Brooklyn 126-98
Celtics’ Last Game – Win over Indiana 109-100
Suns’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.0 (10th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 112.7 (29th of 30)
Celtics’ Scoring Averages – PTS/G: 107.4 (8th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 104.9 (14th of 30)

Preview

Need we remind you what happened the last time these two teams met only three short weeks ago?

(I literally did not see that typo until now. Oopsies!)

Coming off of victories over the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Suns had the opportunity to win their third straight game, a feat they had not accomplished to that point this season, and the first of young Head Coach Earl Waston’s career. Off of an inbound pass turnover between Jae Cowder and Isaiah Thomas, Tyler Ulis stole the ball and nailed a three-pointer as time expired giving the Suns their first three-game winning streak in 475 days.

Since that game the Suns, who had already benched Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight, have further benched Eric Bledsoe and have been starting the youngest starting lineups in franchise, and as of yesterday, NBA history. The Suns are 1-8 since the Boston victory as well, with scoring averages of 103.5 – 114.1. (However, the scoring averages over their last seven games are 99.3 – 110.6).

Starting the youngest starting lineup in NBA history last night (breaking the record by about six months, and with an average starting lineup younger than 7 of the 8 Elite Eight teams currently playing in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament) the Suns lost last night to the Brooklyn Nets in arguably their worst loss of the season – considering who they faced. Down by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter to a team with 14 wins, the loss marked their 50th of the season, for the second year in a row. Having not accomplished such a negative feat since 1973-75,  coupled with the 59 losses from last season, the Suns have tied their worst two-year stretch with 109 losses matching the franchise’s first two seasons of 66 and 43 losses. For a complete wrapup and even more spectacular stats from last night, read here.

The Boston Celtics are currently making a push for home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs as they have caught the Cleveland Cavaliers in wins with 46, though have two more losses with 26 to 24. Boston of course features former Suns point guard Isaiah Thomas who averages 29.0 points per game, decimal points below Larry Bird’s franchise record of 29.03 per game set in 1987-88. Thomas does however still own the NBA record of 9.9 points per fourth quarter (although that stat was first kept in 1996-97).

Three Interesting Stats

Phoenix Suns

1. Since quarter stats have been kept in 96-97, three Suns have finished in the top-ten in scoring per fourth quarter: Amar’e Stoudemire (2007-08/6.6p/4th), Stephon Marbury (2002-03/6.6p/6th), and Kevin Johnson (1996-97/5.8p/9th).

2. This season Eric Bledsoe averaged 6.0 points in the fourth leading the Suns, currently 19th in the league. Second highest is Devin Booker with 5.4 points, currently 31st overall. Brandon Knight rounded out the Phoenix top-3 with 3.1 points in the fourth quarter, sitting at 131st overall right now.

3. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash both led the league in assists in the fourth quarter several times while members of the Suns, Steve Nash holding the franchise record with 2.8 in 2004-05.

Boston Celtics

1. Needing four more wins this season to reach 50, it will be the first time that the Celtics have hit that plateau since 2010-11 when they won 56. The Celtics have won at least 50 thirty-one times in their seventh-one year history.

2. The Boston Celtics hold the league-lead in free throw percentage with 81.2%. If they continue to hold that team rank, it would be the first time Boston has led the league in free throw percentage since 1991-92 at 80.8%, and their highest percentage as a team since 1990-91 with 82.4%. Their franchise record was set in 1989-90 with 83.2%.

3. The team is currently averaging 107.4 points per game, fourth best in the league. They are currently on pace to have their highest scoring average since averaging 111.5 per game in 1990-91.