Joe Mazzulla Sheds Light on Keys to Celtics' Defense Stifling Sixers in Game 3 Win

In the Celtics' victory on Friday, the Sixers barely cracked 100 points, shot under 40 percent, and had 14 turnovers.

Joe Mazzulla's taken a lot of heat after losses this season, especially in the playoffs. Much of that is excessive.

It's also challenging to distribute properly portioned slices of the blame pie between the first-year bench boss, the rest of the coaching staff, and the players. It's a collaborative process.

For instance, James Harden stepping into one open three after another as he torched the Celtics for 45 points in Game 1 falls on everyone.

There are also plenty of instances where a team's process is sound, but they don't get the desired result. Or, above all else, it's about giving credit to the opposition.

And if Mazzulla, the NBA's youngest active head coach (34 years old), is going to take such heavy criticism in defeat, he deserves praise for what he does to help Boston's championship pursuit.

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And after Jaylen Brown set the tone for the Celtics, who delivered a haymaker in Game 2, evening the series, in a pivotal Game 3 on the home floor of one of their arch-rivals, Mazzulla conducted a defensive masterpiece.

The Sixers barely cracked triple-digits, shot under 40 percent from the field, took eight fewer threes than the visitors, and committed 14 turnovers.

With Brown again living in Harden's jersey and Boston challenging him at the rim, the former MVP wilted, often passing up open shots, including when he got into the paint.

Harden went 0/6 and had five points in the second and third quarters combined. He finished with 16 points on 3/14 shooting and committed five turnovers.

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And while Joel Embiid registered 30 points, Mazzulla spun the dial on him, cycling through on-ball defenders ranging from Al Horford to Grant Williams, Marcus Smart, and Brown.

Horford was at the root of limiting Philadelphia's star center to two points on 1/4 shooting in the second frame. And in the fourth, Williams did an outstanding job staying in front, pressuring him, and keeping Embiid from the rim while avoiding fouling him.

Between the work Williams put in, perimeter players containing the newly minted MVP on switches, and effective double teams, the six-time All-Star put only four points on the board in the final frame as the Celtics closed out a 114-102 victory.

"We changed the matchups on Embiid throughout the night, and every guy that guarded him did a great job in their own way of defending him," Mazzulla expressed post-game.

"Grant, Smart, and Al, we were switching at the end, Malcolm (Brogdon), JB, whoever was on him, I thought they did the best they could, and so we defended him as a team."

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Regarding utilizing guards and wings to help slow down the soon-to-be five-time All-NBA member, Boston's head coach conveyed, "With those guys, there's always a pro and a con to a matchup and a situation, and so I think trying to give him different looks, trying to take away different angles, every matchup presents a different angle that he has to fight for to get the ball, so trying to do the best we can with different guys, we have a ton of versatility, and the guys take pride in defense, and so they work to try to make it difficult for them."

And when asked about the balance between constantly changing coverages being predetermined compared to decided by how the game's going, Mazzulla shared the following.

"It's a collaboration between everybody. We have a system that we've had for the last four years. And so we communicate that, and the guys are open-minded. And they have an understanding; they know our versatility. And so it takes buy-in, communication, and so, Grant, Smart, and Al spearhead it, JT and JB execute it, and D. White and Malcolm and Rob and those guys; because of our versatility, it's important that we're able to communicate and do that."

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Malcolm Brogdon, who came off the bench to deliver 15 points, a team-high six assists, and grab three rebounds, stated, "It's starting with Jaylen. Jaylen's picked up Harden (and) made it difficult on him the last two games, and it's really changed the whole series.

"And since Embiid's gotten back, Grant's been huge. Everybody that's guarding him has been huge. I think, also our details, our execution, the plan to guard him, the scouting report that Joe's put together and the coaches, I think has been stellar defensively."

It's why the Celtics have gone from surrendering 116.3 points per contest through their first seven playoff games, including their series-opening loss to the Sixers, the most of any remaining team at that time, to getting back to playing at the level they did during last year's Finals run. Now, it's a matter of sustaining this to achieve their hopes of ending this season as champions.

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 4 Win vs. Sixers: Boston Shows Its Championship-Mettle, Takes 2-1 Series Lead

Joe Mazzulla Shares His Perspective on Balancing What's Working with Need for Adjustments

Celtics Head to Philadelphia Intent on Proving Themselves: 'It Doesn't Mean Anything if There's No Carryover'

Celtics Praise Jaylen Brown for Setting Tone in Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: 'It's as Good of a Game as I've Ever Seen Him Play'

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 2 Win vs. Sixers: Renewed Defensive Commitment, Three-Point Barrage Even the Series

Film Room: Recalibrating Celtics' Defense for Game 2 Against Sixers

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Game Mismanagement Leading to Losing on the Margins and a Series-Opening Defeat to Sixers

Celtics Address Letting Guard Down in Game 1 Loss to Sixers Team Missing Joel Embiid

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss vs. Sixers: The Perplexing Defeats Have Become More Predictable