The Boston Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 41-12 this season but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect by any means. In fact, the last four losses have come against the top teams in the league (Bucks, Nuggets, Clippers, and Lakers) and they all have one thing in common, which is poor 3-point shooting.

Against the Bucks, Boston’s starters were 0-of-10 from behind the arc and were benched for the second half by head coach Joe Mazzulla. The second unit finished the game shooting 9-of-25 (36%) from deep. As a team, the Celtics finished 25.7%.

Against the Nuggets, Boston’s starters were 11-of-37 (29.7%) from behind the arc. The second unit finished the game shooting 3-of-7 from deep. As a team, the Celtics finished 31.8%.

Against the Clippers, Boston’s starters were 3-of-21 (14.2%) from behind the arc. The second unit finished the game shooting 7-of-19 from deep (36.8%). As a team, the Celtics finished 25%.

Against the Lakers, Boston’s starters were 7-of-27 (25.9%) from behind the arc. The second unit finished the game shooting 9-of-21 (42.8%) from deep. As a team, the Celtics finished 33.3%.

The Celtics are making 16.2 3-pointers per game while attempting 42.7 per game, which is the most in the NBA this season. But the reliance of their 3-point shooting is starting to impact games, against the top teams in the league.

There are times against the top teams in the NBA that the Celtics revert to old habits of just chucking up 3-pointers rather than getting into the paint and making noice in there. Furthermore, Boston now has the best post-up player in the league on their team in Kristaps Porzingis, as they need to continue feeding him and taking advantage of the mismatches, despite him being a great 3-point shooter.

In these four losses, the common denominator is poor 3-point shooting in each of them. These situations cause Boston to be reactionary, which causes them to shoot so many 3’s at the wrong times. The team needs to acknowledge when they’re not hitting from deep and to do something different in those moments.

In the loss to Milwaukee, Mazzulla elected to bench his starters in the second half due to poor shooting and effort. They were 0-of-10 from deep and 13-of-42 (30.9%) overall in the first half. I guess benching his starters is the way Mazzulla acknowledged they were struggling, but it’s his responsibility as the coach to draw plays and get them back on the right track.

Lastly, in the last four losses against the Bucks, Nuggets, Clippers, and Lakers, Boston totaled 49-of-167 (29.3%) shooting from behind the arc.

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