Joe Mazzulla Details Growth Vital to Celtics Title Hopes

Thursday night's return from the All-Star break was a bit of a tune-up for the Boston Celtics.

Not only was it their first game back from vacation, but they're also about to start a challenging stretch that begins Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

After their rivalry clash against the New York Knicks, the C's will face the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns.

So, it's a positive that the visitors were sharp in Thursday's trip to the Windy City. However, there was a dip in play, starting near the end of the first frame and continuing throughout the second.

At the root of that was a defensive letdown, five turnovers that the Chicago Bulls parlayed into seven points, and rushed shots that further fueled the hosts' transition attack.

But after trailing 62-59 at halftime, Boston regained its focus, increased its activity defensively, and played with more physicality. They stifled Chicago's offense, limiting the Bulls to 21 points in the third quarter.

At the other end of the floor, Jayson Tatum's aggressive approach got the Celtics back on track. The five-time All-Star, who spoke candidly about sacrificing as a scorer to help his team win, generated 15 of his 25 points in the period. He also dished out three of his five assists, matching Jrue Holiday for the most in the first 12 minutes after intermission.

After Boston's 129-112 win, head coach Joe Mazzulla detailed what changed from the second quarter to the third.

"We changed our pick-and-roll coverage a little bit to start the third, which I thought allowed us to be a little more physical at the point of attack, and I thought our shift activity was a little more active in that third quarter."

The second-year bench boss also praised the Celtics for their intellect, communication, and ability to quickly course-correct when necessary, as captured by CLNS Media.

"Their basketball IQ as a team is really growing amongst each other. The internal communication between the guys. And then they have an understanding of why things aren't going well and when they are, and they can quickly get back to that with really good execution."

The team atop the NBA standings, boasting a 44-12 record, has done an excellent job of not deviating from what's working. That was a real issue for the Celtics in years past. And while teams must adjust constantly, even from one play to the next, they're staying within the framework of what's fueling their runs. That makes them really tough to beat.

There's been even more growth regarding quickly countering runs to limit the damage. Both are paramount to playoff success and Boston's championship aspirations.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Jaylen Brown Praises All-Star Snub: 'Excelling His Game at a Rapid Pace'

Jayson Tatum Addresses Discourse Around His MVP Candidacy

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Win Dunk Contest but Delivers Most Poignant Moment

Kristaps Porzingis Shares How First Season with Celtics Compares to His Expectations: 'Haven't Stopped Smiling'

Jayson Tatum's Approach vs. Nets Tale of Two Halves and Steadfast Commitment

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Brad Stevens Sheds Light on Celtics' Motivations for Xavier Tillman Trade

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'