Joe Mazzulla belted at his 19-year-old rookie.
With out lacking a beat, Hugo Gonzalez sprinted over to his head coach and locked in, nodding profusely at Mazzulla’s directions. Whichever pointer or correction Mazzulla wished to share on the sidelines, Gonzalez was desirous to hear, and able to course-correct.
“I simply take pleasure in teaching him,” Mazzulla mentioned. “Due to his persona, how he carries himself.”
In his Celtics preseason debut, Gonzalez tallied 8 factors on 3-4 capturing, 3 rebounds, and three blocks. He had some spectacular moments — most memorably, a steal that led to a throwdown dunk and a surprising chasedown block — but additionally confirmed some anticipated flashes of inexperience.
Every time he “tousled” — whether or not a missed offensive learn or blown defensive protection — he virtually instinctively regarded over at Mazzulla.
And, at any time when Mazzulla referred to as his identify, Hugo was all ears.
“As a 19-year-old taking part in his first recreation within the NBA, I bought a whole lot of issues to appropriate,” Gonzalez mentioned. “He was simply attempting to present me some recommendation, some suggestions — on issues that I want to enhance, some reads that I didn’t do nicely.”
Gonzalez, drafted twenty eighth total in June, has far much less basketball expertise than every other participant on the Celtics. Nevertheless, regardless of being a 19-year-old rookie, as he reminded reporters postgame, he involves the Celtics with expertise from Actual Madrid, among the finest basketball golf equipment in Europe, and a degree of professionalism that was evident since his first media availability.
“He’s been coached by some nice coaches, and he’s been part of a terrific group for a very long time,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, he is aware of easy methods to play. He’s good. He holds himself to a excessive normal. I take pleasure in teaching him as a result of he listens, he desires to get higher, he learns, and he pushes himself.”
And, in his 18 minutes of recreation motion, Gonzalez confirmed flashes of the NBA participant he can change into — and affirmed why the Celtics used their first-round decide on such a comparatively unproven participant.
After drilling pregame three-pointer after pregame three-pointer, Gonzalez sank his first try from past the arc. However much more notable was his success on the defensive finish; Gonzalez tallied 3 blocks and devoured unfastened balls.
That protection helped energy a fast-paced offense that the Celtics will look to keep up all season lengthy.
“It’s all the things,” Gonzalez mentioned. “If you happen to defend, you’re capable of run. Everyone on this crew desires to run…That’s what we’re searching for. So, as quickly as we now have the protection up there, after we are capable of run, we’re gonna be actually, actually harmful.”
On one event, Gonzalez intercepted a go at halfcourt, then zoomed down the courtroom for a ferocious slam. The Celtics’ bench went berserk on the sidelines, seemingly incredulous on the teenager’s hops.
“I believed he made some large performs tonight,” Mazzulla mentioned.
Mazzulla will proceed to teach up Gonzalez all through the preseason, and Gonzalez will proceed to take the suggestions in and take a look at his finest to appropriate errors in actual time. That’s the worth of lower-stakes preseason basketball, and it’s a studying alternative that neither participant nor coach will take with no consideration.
“It’s worthwhile to assume quick,” Gonzalez mentioned. “Attempt to apply no matter they’re telling you, as a result of they’re seeing it from a greater perspective than you.”
Most will bear in mind the rookie’s spotlight performs — notably on the defensive finish — however Gonzalez will bear in mind one factor from his first recreation in a Celtics uniform.
“We bought the win,” Gonzalez mentioned. “That was crucial factor.”
