Even with all the advancements in analytics and player efficiency, it’s difficult to account for team chemistry. Cutting down on low percentage mid-range shots or forgoing offensive rebounds in favor of transition defense might eke out a few more points and a handful of wins, but over the course of an entire season, there may not be anything more important than a happy locker room. Eighty-two games is not just a marathon of the body and the mind. It’s a eight-month work trip with co-workers.
We’ve seen how a single player can change the DNA and outlook of a team with Boston’s last two championship squads.