Game 7s are a sports fanatic’s biggest treat, since they give teams and players an opportunity to rise to the highest of occasions.
In the words of Isaiah Thomas:
“That’s where all the great players make their name. … That’s where legends are born.”
On Monday night, TD Garden will host the finale to a memorable Eastern Conference second-round series between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. It’s been one filled with rough plays, ejections, emotions, big shots, and even bigger names.
Game 7s are always unpredictable, and even though that’ll likely be the case once again in tonight’s do-or-die matchup, there are still are a couple stats to be wary of as both teams try to avoid seeing their season come to an end.
Home Court Prevails
Speaking of TD Garden, the Celtics should feel like they have an edge tonight in front of their home crowd. So far this series, teams are 6-0 when playing at home. It’s a privilege the Celtics have been fighting for all season long on their way to the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Now it’s time to see if it’ll all pay off against a Wizards team brimming with confidence after edging their way past the Celtics in Game 6.
Guard Play is Key
Coming into this series, there was a lot of conversation about the guard play. Heading into Game 7, it’s apparent that both teams’ success lies in the hands of their guards – who have also been their most lethal scorers. Throughout the series, the game’s leading scorer has found himself on the winning side. In each instance it’s been a guard who’s cooked the opposing team to give his squad an edge.
Crash the Glass
Rebounding has been a key factor in this series, with teams going 4-1 when winning the battle on the glass. The scratch came in Game 1, when both teams secured 38 rebounds. The only loss came at the hands of Boston’s superstar in Thomas, throwing all logic out the door when he put on a performance for the ages with a 53-point showcase in honour of his late sister in Game 2.
Take Care of the Ball
Taking care of the ball has been vital in this series, with teams going 4-2 when winning the turnover battle. Of course with every stat there are some exceptions. Remembering the point made for hot guard play, the Wizards were still able to overcome their 19 turnovers in Game 4 thanks to a combined 56 points from John Wall and Bradley Beal. The other loss was in Game 6, when both teams combined for their fewest turnovers in the series.
Make Your 3s
In a generation defined by analytics, it comes as no surprise that the three-ball has greatly impacted this series. Teams are once again 4-2 when converting on a higher percentage of their three-point attempts. As mentioned before, there are always exceptions, and ironically they also took place in Games 4 and 6. In the former, both teams shot over 42 per cent from deep, while in the latter both teams were abysmal from distance, going a combined 16-of-59 (27.1 per cent) to successfully cross each other out in both cases.
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