
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/GettyVon Wafer goes up for a dunk against the Lakers during the 2009 NBA playoffs.
During his 2008-09 season with the Houston Rockets, Wafer averaged nearly as many shots per game at the rim (2.4 per game) as he attempted 3-pointers (2.6). What's more, he converted 60 percent of those shots around the basket, showing he can finish when he beats a defender off the dribble and gets to the rim.
Don't discredit how important that is. One of the knocks on Nate Robinson last season was his inability to finish when driving to the hoop, which encouraged teams to let him drive. The three-time slam dunk champ converted just 32 percent of his shots at the rim, and the Celtics would certainly like to see that spike back to towards his 2009 season with the New York Knicks, where Robinson converted 60 percent of his at-rim attempts, while attempting 4.1 shots per game there.
The Celtics need shooters, but it's indisputable that the closer to the basket you are, the easier it is to score points. Finding guards that can finish at the rim is a huge advantage as Boston looks to inject some offensive punch into its second unit.
PODCASTS
Barry Melrose, NHL
Broussard And Virk On Another Gronkowski Surgery
Russillo And Virk On Bruins Over Leafs
Play Podcast ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melrose talks about big wins for the Bruins and Sharks on Thursday night and compares the end of Wayne Gretzky's career to the end of Michael Jordan's career.
Play Podcast Adnan Virk and Chris Broussard discuss another surgery on Rob Gronkowski's broken forearm and wonder if Gronkowski's inability to heal from this injury is a red flag for the rest of Gronkowski's career.
Play Podcast Ryen Russillo and Adnan Virk discuss the Bruins' incredible comeback against the Leafs, put the game in historical perspective and talk about how crushing the loss is for the people of Toronto.
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Paul Pierce
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | K. Garnett | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | R. Rondo | 11.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | R. Rondo | 1.8 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | K. Garnett | 0.9 | ||||||||||






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