Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla expects a lot from his players, however he wouldn’t ask them to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. On Thursday night, at some stage in a primetime matchup between the Celtics and Phoenix Suns, forward Royce O’Neale went to shoot after a timeout late in the fourth quarter.
Mazzulla didn’t let him get the shot off cleanly though, as he definitely went out on the court docket to contest.
O’Neale used to be desperate for any form of make due to the fact he was a brutal 0-for-7 on the evening. But, Mazzulla was determined to now not let him locate his rhythm because that’s the mindset he wishes from his players, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
“I noticed a man going in to attempt and get a shot and he hadn’t made one and I didn’t choose him to experience correct about himself going to the bench,” he said. “If I’m gonna ask the guys to contest, staff’s gotta do the same.”
Mazzulla has been adamant about contesting after stoppages all season, and whilst it appeared to work on O’Neale, the Celtics have been on hearth regardless. Boston shot 52.8% from the subject and stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown mixed for 63 points throughout the 127-112 win.
This used to be the Celtics’ second victory against the Suns in the closing week, and they completed them both except center Kristaps Porzingis. Although Phoenix’s three-headed monster of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker used to be wholesome and had sixty five points altogether, the Suns nevertheless couldn’t cease Boston’s 3-point attack.
With the Celtics’ double-digit win and the Milwaukee Bucks’ 114-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston has officially clinched a playoff berth for the tenth straight season.
A title hasn’t been brought returned to Beantown by means of the C’s in over 15 years, but the 2023-24 Green Team hopes to exchange that. At 52-14 overall, Boston will purpose to shut out the normal season robust and enter the playoffs with momentum and health.
