The 3-point shot has become the centerpiece of the modern NBA offense in both the regular season and playoffs, but much of the Boston Celtics’ storied postseason success took place before the adoption of the 3 by the NBA — never mind its ascent to dominance.
And while Larry Bird might have started his career in the very same game a 3 was first recorded, even the Hick From French Lick did not rely much on the shot. So the record book of which Celtics have sunk the most shots from beyond the arc is heavily slanted toward the modern era, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few surprises mixed in.
Can you guess the 10 most prolific 3-point shooters in Boston’s playoff history? Make your guesses and scroll down to see how you did.
There are 36 players who have donned the green and white on the list of NBA icons ranked by the number of seasons they received votes for MVP for at least two seasons. https://t.co/QfKc7eiuu9
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson during the first half of Game 2 of basketball’s NBA Finals in San Francisco, Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Terry Rozier - 77
Terry Rozier (12) of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against the Chicago Bulls at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Danny Ainge - 78
Boston Celtics Danny Ainge, center, goes up for a shot and gets tangled up with Los Angeles Lakers Kareem Abdul Jabbar, left, as Lakers Mitch Kupchak reacts at right in the third quarter of their NBA championship game on Thursday, May 31, 1985, in Boston Garden. AP Photo
Larry Bird - 80
Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird (33) shoots over Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant (54) at the Boston Garden. Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports
Al Horford - 135
May 17, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) shoots against Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the second quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Ray Allen - 206
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen (20) sank a 3-point shot in the closing second of the Celtics’ 118-115 win in a first-round NBA basketball playoff game in Boston on Monday, April 20, 2009. AP Photo/Elise Amendola
Jaylen Brown - 206
May 25, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) shoots against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) in the first half during game five of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Marcus Smart - 208
Apr 21, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Pierce - 219
Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce (34) shoots a 3-point basket as New York Knicks’ Toney Douglas (23) runs out to defend during the second half of Game 3 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Friday, April 22, 2011, in New York. The Celtics won the game 113-96. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Jayson Tatum - 224
May 11, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter during game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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