Despite the odds going into tuesday’s match against the bulls, the celtics are now on the knockout stages of the in-season tournament. First and foremost, they needed to defeat the visitors by at least 23 points.
Second, the c’s needed the nets to beat the raptors to break a three-way tie atop the east group c standings, where the point difference would come into play. So when the celtics built up a lead that reached 35 points on tuesday, they continued to add to it to give them some breathing space. That resulted in some unconventional tactics by c’s coach joe mazzulla, who left his starters deep into the fourth quarter despite a commanding lead. It also sparked a hack-a-drummond tactic in which the celtics intentionally fouled andre drummond. All of this extra work led the celtics to a 124-97 victory over the bulls on tuesday, winning by 27 points. The nets then defeated the raptors, pushing the celtics into the knockout stages. As part of the quarterfinals, they will face the pacers on the road next week.
Mazzulla told jrue holiday to foul drummond at the free throw line on back-to-back possessions midway through the fourth quarter. Drummond has had a notoriously difficult time shooting free throws throughout his entire career. Drummond missed all four of his free throw attempts during the game, giving the c’s some extra possessions.
Mazzulla, on the other hand, seemed to hate the move, though it was necessary enough for the celtics to advance in the tourney. “when the process takes you to the point where you’re 30, what do you want to do?” says the author. I want to see stops,’ mazzulla said. “so you do what we did. you do what we did.” – john deacon, a professor at the university of michigan, said. And i have to apologize to andre drummond for doing so. But it gave us the best chance given the circumstances we were in.” mazzulla and bulls coach billy donovan met to chat midway through the fourth quarter when drummond was at the free throw line. Mazzulla said to donovan what they needed to do to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. That involved monitoring the nets vs. raptors game, which was close until the nets pulled away at the end for the victory.
Donovan said he didn’t have any reservations with mazzulla’s conduct during the game, after the game. After all, the nba laid out those rules, he said, though he didn’t like putting drummond in such a bad shape after a blowout loss.
Donovan said, “i just thought it was putting andre in a difficult situation in a 30-point game.” “i didn’t like that,” he said. When we talked, (mazzulla) was awesome. I understand what they were trying to accomplish. And, please, this is for the league. I understand. But the league has done so much to make this point distinct thing.”
Wow