Celtics coach gets real on adapting to referees allowing physical defending during playoffs

Joe Mazulla talked to the media ahead of the head coach's finals debut.

Celtics coach gets real on adapting to referees allowing physical defending during playoffs

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla reflected on the officials allowing more physical defense in the playoffs.

Today’s NBA is well known for being more offensive-driven rather than defensive unlike the 90s and early 2000s. Consequently, the physicality in defense has also decreased by a large margin. This could be due to the immediate foul calls players receive with very little physicality.

However, that is not the case in the playoffs. Stats have shown that the officials call significantly fewer fouls in the postseason than the regular. While talking to the media, Boston Celtics head coach, Joe Mazzulla discussed adapting to the fewer foul calls. The HC admitted that the change in officiating did not affect the team. 

We didn't make any changes. Except for the mindset of not expecting anything. So to expect fouls to be made and at the other end, you gotta be very disciplined during visual defense.
Joe Mazzulla after saturday’s practice

The team has to be careful about visual defense to avoid fouling and aim at getting the details right. Mazzulla further added, with not making any major changes the team also did not address the difference in foul calls much. HC stated that the team has stuck with their strategies regardless of the foul situation.

The strategy is certainly a good idea for the Celtics considering their finals competition, the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have shot more free throws than any other team in these playoffs. The team surely knows how to get fouled and take advantage of the free throws.

Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics are taking advantage of the break before the finals

With their elite offense and well-executed defense, the Celtics were able to defeat the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. The team closed out the series with a sweep ending the matchup in just four games. This allowed the Celtics to catch a break until the finals start on June 6th.

The team’s head coach talked about taking advantage of the break to prepare against their opponents. The Celtics are ‘weaponizing’ their break before heading for the finals. 

Anything can be good or bad for you, depending on how you use it. Time could be good, it could be bad. Everything goes into how you use it, how you weaponize it. So we’re weaponizing our time right now.
Joe Mazzulla after saturday’s practice

The Mavericks have also got a few days to prepare as they ended their series in five games. The players will give their everything on the court as they are well-rested and prepared. The Celtics will have the homecourt advantage for the first game of the finals as it will be held at the TD Garden on Thursday.

In Case You Missed It: