As expected, between the transfers of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and the injury of Jayson Tatum, the start of the season Celtics is less successful than in past years. If we compare with old passing times, during the last three seasons, the 2024 NBA champions had always won 14 or 15 matches after 18 meetings. This season, they have 10 successes.
But the last one is remarkable since they ended the series of the Pistons, who remained on 13 successes in a row. He was snatched away at the end of a meeting that was far from perfect, but with Derrick White valuable in “money time”. However, Joe Mazzulla wanted to focus on an action from the first period to illustrate his player’s match.
A simple interception on Jaden Ivey, where the former Spurs follows him all over the field before stealing the ball from behind, at the free throw line. “When Derrick did this action, I knew he was going to transform”said the Celtics coach. “These actions are what I am, what I have always been”simply commented the principal concerned.
“This victory is explained not by our execution but more by our state of mind, by our repeated efforts”insists Joe Mazzulla. “If we look closely, they took more offensive rebounds, had more free throws… But we were tough, tenacious to seek, by all means, success. We have to try to fight for that every night. »
“The city and the Garden appreciate all of this, regardless of our record. They like our state of mind and our efforts”
Another action to highlight for the coach, still in the first period, a moment when Baylor Scheierman throws himself to recover a ball, passing it to Josh Minott, who will then go up for the dunk and be blocked. Certainly, Boston did not score in this sequence, but the effort was there, appreciated by the public. And that matters a lot.
“If we are at 10-8 as a result, it is to the credit of the city and the TD Garden. We’re not playing as well as we’d like, but Baylor throws himself to save a ball, Derrick sprints to steal a ball, and the whole energy in the room changes.” analyze with Joe Mazzu. “The city and the Garden appreciate all of this, regardless of our record. They like our state of mind and our efforts. »
In detail, the Celts started the season with three defeats in four matches in their home. Since then, they have scored five wins in six matches, including the last two against teams in form, Orlando and Detroit.
“We must thank the Garden for the state of mind, the physical impact and the toughness of the players. The fans love great basketball and I told the players that we have to try to do that every night. The result obviously counts, but we are in a situation where they like our efforts”concludes the Boston coach.
