Celtics-Pelicans Notebook: A ‘morgue’-like postgame presser, everybody loves Al Horford, 5-second violations

BOSTON — The Celtics escaped with a 120-119 win over the Pelicans, and when the ultimate buzzer sounded, there was a powerful sense of aid within the constructing.

A near-disastrous loss towards one of many league’s lowest-ranked groups was prevented — however simply barely. After a recreation marked by capturing struggles and dear errors, the Celtics lastly led by 5 with 22 seconds to play.

From that second on, virtually all the things went fallacious.

Dejounte Murray (26 factors, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) tipped in a missed Trey Murphy three-pointer to chop the deficit to 3, and Jayson Tatum (38 factors, 11 rebounds) — who up till the waning second was an ideal 8-8 from the road — uncharacteristically bricked two free throws that may have put away the sport.

The Celtics deliberately fouled CJ McCollum who sunk two free throws with 7 seconds to play. Then got here essentially the most uncharacteristic second of the evening: Derrick White dedicated a 5-second violation inbounding the ball. It appeared he known as for a timeout proper on the cusp of a 5-second violation — and in flip, the Pelicans had an opportunity to win it.

However, McCollum rimmed out a layup try, and the Celtics formally improved to 28-11 on the season.

As tumultuous as issues might have felt in current weeks, the Celtics’ document remains to be the third-best within the NBA — and it’s simply two video games worse than their 30-9 document by 39 video games final season.

Nonetheless, there wasn’t a celebratory feeling after the victory.

“A very powerful factor is profitable the sport and making the mandatory performs, even when issues aren’t going effectively, so to talk,” mentioned Joe Mazzulla after the win. “So, each season brings on completely different challenges, each recreation brings on completely different alternatives. And, the scenario that we’re in now’s — we bought to simply combat to win.”

Joe Mazzulla says the post-victory postgame presser appears like a morgue — however he likes the excessive expectations

Postgame, Mazzulla was requested a slew of strongly-worded questions in regards to the Celtics struggles of late: in regards to the uncharacteristic execution down the stretch, in regards to the turnovers, in regards to the beginning 5’s abysmal on-court numbers. He accepted the tone of the press convention as respectable affirmation in regards to the Celtics’ lofty expectations and excessive requirements.

“I might say the final word praise is that we’re 28-11 — and these are the kinds of conversations that we’re having,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, it’s an exquisite place to be in.”

In a second that mirrored a powerful self-awareness of his standard dry sarcasm, Mazzulla added: “I’m severe. I feel it’s nice. It’s an important customary and an important expectation to have, and we have now to ship. And so, everyone knows that.”

“What are we, the third-best staff within the league proper now?” Mazzulla mentioned, noting the historic tempo of each the Thunder (32-6) and Cavaliers (33-5) this yr. “Which isn’t nice, however take a look at — it appears like a morgue in right here. And that’s the way it must be.”

Mazzulla is correct — the discourse across the staff’s present play has been extremely vital, and generally, that criticism has been deserving. However Mazzulla’s perspective on the staff’s impossibly excessive customary is truthful.

A five-second violation virtually prices the Celtics the win

All of the Celtics needed to do is efficiently inbound the ball and hit their free throws, and they’d have had this one within the bag. However, all through these previous 5 weeks of basketball, seemingly-simple actions — comparable to layups and open threes — have proved troublesome.

And, Derrick White couldn’t discover a gap on a sidelines out-of-bounds play that noticed Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard all stand comparatively nonetheless. Brown appeared momentarily open, however because the 5 seconds ticked by, White as an alternative motioned for a timeout. The referees deemed the timeout name was too late, and a five-seconds violation was known as.

Mazzulla was requested in regards to the play postgame by Boston Globe columnist Gary Washburn and stayed tight-lipped.

The change was textbook Mazzulla when he’s maintaining his playing cards near his chest, and went as follows:

Washburn: Joe, what did you see on the 5-second violation?

Mazzulla: Yep.

Washburn: What did you see on it?

Mazzulla: Sure.

Washburn: You noticed it was 5 seconds?

Mazzulla: Certain.

Washburn: You had a timeout… Ought to Derrick have known as a timeout? What ought to have occurred there?

Mazzulla: Yep.

So, I suppose we’ll by no means know precisely how Mazzulla actually felt in regards to the truth the timeout wasn’t granted. He did efficiently keep away from any potential high quality for criticizing officiating, if that’s what he was fearful about.

Willie Inexperienced is the most recent (former) teammate to reward Al Horford

On a really completely different be aware, Pelicans head coach Willie Inexperienced was requested about his expertise being teammates with Al Horford greater than a decade in the past on the Atlanta Hawks.

The only-season the 2 shared (2011-2012) was sufficient to spur Inexperienced to gentle up when requested about Al Horford.

“One among my favourite teammates of all time. One among my favourite individuals of all time,” Inexperienced mentioned resoundingly in his pregame media availability. “What you see is what you get from Al. He’s a professionals professional. I feel in every single place he’s gone, individuals sing his praises. They communicate extremely of him. He’s a high-character, exhausting employee. And there’s a cause that, you get a man like Al and his staff, they’re having success. As a result of, not simply the expertise, however the character that he brings into this constructing. “

Horford scored 11 factors on 4-6 capturing on this one — and shot 3-4 from downtown. That brings him to 47% from three over his final 4 video games, a marked improve from his earlier three video games, during which he shot 18% from three. The 38-year-old veteran discovering a rhythm may present a much-needed increase for a Celtics staff that has seemingly been in a collective capturing hunch.

Might Kristaps Porzingis be higher served coming off the bench?

Kristaps Porzingis had one other stable outing for the Celtics, scoring 19 factors on 7-19 capturing, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking 3 photographs (and it felt like greater than 3!).

However, the Celtics beginning lineup of Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Porzingis, Tatum, and White continues to wrestle. They’ve solely shared the ground for 138 minutes, however have a -8.9 web score in that span. Conversely, that very same lineup with Horford instead of Porzingis has performed 208 minutes with a +21.9 web score.

Statistics all the time have their limitations, and Porzingis’s elevated minutes with the beginning group definitely coincides with their struggles — however isn’t essentially their trigger. Nonetheless, seeing him thrive within the bench position through the NBA Finals final yr — and Horford’s monumental expertise sharing the ground with the remainder of the starters — a minimum of poses the query of whether or not a shakeup would profit the Celtics.

Mazzulla mentioned postgame that the teams’ offensive and defensive rankings on each ends of the ground had been considerably worse than what their “anticipated” rankings had been, and likewise famous how small the pattern measurement was.

“It’s not an excuse,” Mazzulla mentioned. “We’ve to be higher. However, it’s primarily in a prepare camp type with this explicit group.”