The Boston Celtics remain atop the Eastern Conference standings and clinched a spot in the postseason with a win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
However, an unexpected in-game decision by Celtics manager Joe Mazzula has become a hot topic.
In the fourth quarter, Celtics star Jaylen Brown intercepted a pass and sprinted the other way for an impressive dunk. The turnover resulted in a timeout, and Suns forward Royce O’Neal attempted a shot shortly after the whistle.
Players often casually throw shots they know won’t count after the referee blows the whistle, and coaches usually don’t challenge that.
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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Suns on March 14, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston. (Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports)
Mazzulla, a former West Virginia Mountaineers shooting guard, lunged to try to block O’Neal’s 3-point shot, but it ended up bouncing off the rim.
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Mazzula explained his actions in the post-match press conference.
“I saw a player go in to take a shot and he didn’t make it. And I didn’t want him to feel good about going to the bench,” Mazzula said. ”[Boston Globe writer] Gary [Washburn] You asked me about that a month ago, and it’s a bench rule. Players don’t shoot in front of the bench just to feel good about themselves and go back to it. If I ask my players to contest, my staff must do the same. ”
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula walks on the court during the first quarter of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on May 29, 2023 at TD Garden in Boston. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Mazzula suggested his efforts reflected the Celtics’ mindset.
“At the end of the day, it’s a matter of the mindset and the approach that we bring, and it’s within the rules of the game. It’s about setting the tone and that’s it,” Mazzula said.
“One of the biggest annoyances is that players think they can get free shots and that doesn’t work. If you’re going to hold your team to a standard, you’re going to hold your staff to the same thing. Over and over again. “Where did we fail to do that? And I put the blame on the staff for that. And we have to do our best job not to do that.”
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula speaks with Jrue Holiday, 4, and Derrick White, 9, at TD Garden in Boston on January 10, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Celtics star Jayson Tatum seems to appreciate his coach’s positivity.
“That’s Joe,” Tatum said with a smile. “So I wasn’t caught off guard when he did it. I expect him or any of the coaches to do it. You gotta love Joe for Joe. ”
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Celtics players seemed to take note of Mazzula’s belief in defense. The team’s defense ranked second in the NBA this season, allowing 110.4 points per 100 possessions.
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