Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Praise Joe Mazzulla for Game 6 Adjustments That Helped Save Their Season
With the Celtics' season on the line, Joe Mazzulla inserted Robert Williams into the starting lineup, returning to the double-big lineup featuring the Time Lord and Al Horford that helped Boston reach the NBA Finals last year.
Between Horford's on-ball defense against Joel Embiid and Williams anchoring the back line, serving as a rim deterrent which helped hold the Sixers to 32 points in the paint, and the visitors limiting Philadelphia to eight second-chance points, the Celtics' defense kept the game close while their offense struggled.
The hosts shot an abysmal 36.1 percent from the field, including 8/34 (23.5 percent) from beyond the arc.
After Boston's 95-86 win, Horford said of Mazzulla's decision to start Williams, "I'm glad that Joe made that adjustment, and we did it -- because -- what a difference."
The Celtics' elder statesman continued, "I was happy that, that happened. We just know the impact that Rob has on the court."
Regarding how having the Time Lord on the floor with him helps Horford against Embiid, the veteran center conveyed, "When Rob's not in there, I kind of have to, I feel like a lot falls on my shoulders, and when he's out there, I know that he's got my back, and I can be a little more aggressive, and I can do different things."
While at the podium, Mazzulla praised Marcus Smart and Robert Williams for quarterbacking Boston's defense, which went from getting carved up in Game 5 on Tuesday to the primary reason its season continues Sunday.
Smart, the Celtics' most consistent player in Game 6, registered 22 points on 8/15 shooting and dished out seven assists, both team-highs. He also grabbed seven rebounds and swiped two steals. And his plus-20 plus-minus rating was the highest in the matchup.
Post-game, Smart discussed Mazzulla's adjustments.
"I was ecstatic about it. To be able to have Rob in there, he changes the game a lot. Being able to have a lob threat, a rim threat, to be able to protect the rim on the other end, he's huge for us, and I was proud to have him on the court."
Boston's starting point guard also addressed the criticism the first-year bench boss receives.
"And that just goes to show Joe's learning, just like all of us. I know he's been killed a lot, rightfully so. He needs to make some adjustments. And he did that. And that's all you can ask for: just continue to be the best he can be. It takes everybody. It's a full-team effort."
Smart also touched on how aiding the NBA's youngest active head coach (34 years old) is helping the group grow.
"It's different. But it helps us as players. Because when you think about it in the grand scheme, we're teaching him as well, and we're teaching ourselves. We get to learn more about ourselves. It allows Jayson (Tatum), it allows Jaylen (Brown), it allows me to be more vocal on the court and to go figure things out, and we're doing it together.
"It's not going to be perfect. Joe's not perfect. He was put in a very tough situation this year, and he's doing the best that he can. And that's all we can ask for. We're going to continue to go out there and work our tails off for him, just like he's going to go out there and continue to work his tail off for us."
Further Reading
Celtics Discuss Jayson Tatum Rising to the Occasion, Forcing a Game 7
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown Earn All-NBA Honors; Here's What That Means for Them and the Celtics
Celtics Share Their Perspective on Failing to Meet the Moment in Game 5 Loss to Sixers
Joe Mazzulla Explains Why He Didn't Take a Timeout in Celtics' Game 4 Loss to Sixers
Film Room: Recalibrating Celtics' Defense for Game 2 Against Sixers
