The Celtics came into the season with one obvious question hanging over their offense: where were the easy points going to come from at the free-throw line?
That concern made sense. Last season, Boston had a top-5 offense, but it finished dead last in the NBA in free-throw attempts per game at 18.7.
And that number was propped up by Jaylen Brown, who drew 7.5 attempts per game on his own, good for sixth in the league. Brown was moved in the offseason for Paul George, who averaged just 3.4 free-throw attempts per game last season and is far more of a shooter at this stage of his career.
So there were real questions about whether the Celtics would be able to generate enough trips to the stripe this year, especially on nights when the three-pointers weren’t dropping. There wasn’t an obvious answer.
Through five games, though, that worry has flipped into one of Boston’s biggest early strengths. The Celtics are fifth in the NBA in free-throw attempts per game at 28.8, and the early returns suggest rim pressure and foul drawing have not been problems at all.
Jayson Tatum has been a huge part of that shift. He’s back to attacking with force and is getting to the line 8.8 times per game, which ranks third in the NBA. A 22-attempt night against the Nets helped boost that number, but the bigger takeaway is that he’s consistently driving hard and putting pressure on the rim.
Payton Pritchard has also taken a noticeable step forward in that area, averaging four free-throw attempts per game after never reaching 2 per game in any previous season. Neemias Queta has added another layer, making a clear effort to finish around the basket and getting to the line five times per game this season.
Still, this isn’t just about a few individual players. The way Boston is playing offense is driving the change.
The Celtics are screening aggressively, cutting off the ball, and moving it well enough to create cleaner chances at the rim. This is what strong rim pressure looks like when it’s built into the offense, not just handed to one scorer.
The sample is small, and some of these numbers probably won’t last all season. If Boston ends up in the top five in free-throw attempts, that would be a surprise. But even if the pace settles down, staying somewhere closer to the middle of the pack would be a major win - especially if the threes and turnover numbers swing back in the right direction.
In Other News...
Payton Pritchard Is Giving The Celtics More Than Just Scoring
Early in the season, Joe Mazzulla pushed Payton Pritchard to bring more to the Celtics than shot-making, and the guard has clearly taken the message to heart. In Bostons recent NBA Cup game against the Chicago Bulls, Pritchard paired his usual scoring punch with a noticeably sharper edge on the defensive end, showing the kind of activity that can help him stay on the floor in bigger moments.
Pritchard has said he wants to add more on-ball pressure and rebound better, and Mazzulla was encouraged enough by the showing to point to even more room for growth. For a Celtics team that already leans on Pritchards offense, the appeal is obvious if he can keep turning those defensive habits into something steady rather than occasional. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Is Driving A Celtics Change That Could Matter In May
Bostons defense has looked noticeably more disruptive early on, with the ball pressure and activity level showing up in ways that go beyond the usual opening-month noise. The Celtics are getting into passing lanes, swiping at dribbles and turning stops into chances to run, a shift that has given the group a different kind of edge while also cutting down on second-chance looks at the other end.
Paul George has been right at the center of that change, bringing the kind of defensive playmaking that can swing possessions before a set offense ever gets started. His rebounding has helped finish possessions, too, and if this level of aggressiveness holds, it could give Boston a useful wrinkle when the games tighten and the margins shrink later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Hit Another Low After Celtics Loss As Frustration Boils Over
The opening night of the 2026 NBA Cup had no shortage of eye-catching moments around the league, from Stephen Curry leading the Warriors back from a big first-quarter hole against the Lakers to Kevin Durant throwing down a highlight dunk for the Rockets. But from the Celtics' perspective, one of the cleaner results came in Chicago, where Boston handled the Bulls and kept a team already searching for answers mired in the same defensive trouble that has followed them through the start of the season.
For Chicago, the loss only deepened the sense of unease around a team that has struggled to find any traction early. The Bulls have been giving up points in bunches, and the frustration around that slide is starting to show in public. Caleb Wilson did not hide how he feels after the game, underscoring just how raw the mood has become as the Bulls try to stop the bleeding. [Read more 🡒]