For over a decade now, there has been a mystery that has flummoxed NBA coaches and analysts alike: How do the Boston Celtics defend three-pointers so well? Since the 2007-08 season, when the Celtics hung Banner 17, Boston has finished no lower than fifth in opponent three-point percentage. This is generally a statistic that fluctuates greatly from year to year. It’s not uncommon for a team to finish top-10 one season and drop to bottom-10 the next. For years, it’s largely been a statistic chalked up to luck, as opposed to an actual skill. If anything, the goal for most coaches has been to limit opponent three-point attempts vs.
Cracking the code: How the Boston Celtics became the NBA’s best at defending three-pointers
