Joe Mazzulla previews Celtics-Knicks playoff matchup and keys to limiting Jalen Brunson

The Celtics are set to face the Knicks within the second spherical of the NBA playoffs, and although the Celtics swept the four-game matchup within the common season, Joe Mazzulla informed reporters that doesn’t essentially put them better off heading into the postseason.

“Each recreation takes on a lifetime of its personal,” Mazzulla stated. “Each collection takes on a lifetime of its personal. Proper now, the collection is 0-0. It’s two good groups on the point of play.”

Derrick White echoed his coach’s sentiments: “The whole lot we did within the common season doesn’t actually imply an entire lot.”

The Celtics head coach made clear that when once more, the playoff collection will come right down to the margins.

“You will have to have the ability to defend with out fouling, rebound, care for the ball, execute, be capable of get to totally different stuff defensively, due to their capability to place stress on the rim and get nice photographs,” he stated.

New York’s greatest offensive weapons

The Knicks’ offense will probably be a change of tempo from the Celtics’ first-round collection towards Orlando. The Knicks had the fifth-best offensive ranking through the common season (117.3) whereas the Magic had the Twenty seventh-best ranking (109.1).

“Their offensive numbers are higher,” Mazzulla stated. “Their capability to alter defenses is sweet. They’ve two guys that may rating in any respect three ranges. They bought position guys that would actually affect the sport.”

The Knicks had 5 gamers common within the double-figures of their six-game first-round playoff collection towards the Detroit Pistons: Jalen Brunson (31.5 factors), Karl Anthony-Cities (19.7 factors), OG Anunoby (17.3 factors), Mikal Bridges (16.2 factors), and Josh Hart (11.8 factors).

“Nice coach, nice depth, nice staff,” Mazzulla stated. “You see what they’ve been in a position to do over the course of the season, and within the playoffs so far, with their two guys — but additionally the way in which that the others are in a position to affect the sport.”

Whereas New York was swept by Boston through the season, they nonetheless had the league’s fifth-best file through the common season, ending the 12 months 51-31.

“It’s the playoffs,” White stated. “They’re right here for a motive. They’re actually good staff, and it’s gonna be a giant problem.”

The problem of limiting Jalen Brunson

Mazzulla acknowledges that limiting Jalen Brunson might be one of many collection’s biggest challenges. Brunson, who was named the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the Yr, has shouldered the offensive load down for the Knicks down the stretch of video games, exploding for 40 factors within the clinching Recreation 6, plus the game-winner.

Brunson averaged 31.5 factors (on 43.6% capturing and 33.3% from three) alongside 8.2 assists and 4 rebounds within the first spherical of the playoffs towards Detroit, and Mazzulla stated that limiting him will probably be a full-team effort.

“You may’t do it with one man, proper?” he stated. “It takes a staff — takes totally different matchups, takes totally different coverages, however there’s bought to be a degree of physicality, a degree of self-discipline, a degree of consideration to element on tendencies on the identical time.”

A few of Brunson’s scoring is controllable, Mazzulla stated, however some, the Celtics will simply need to reside with.

“When you add up all of the factors, there are a variety of factors to which you’ll be able to work to be disciplined and work to regulate,” he stated. “On the identical time, he’s an incredible participant, and he’s going to make performs.”

Jrue Vacation stays day-to-day with hamstring damage

Mazzulla stated that Jrue Vacation, who has missed the final three video games with a hamstring pressure, stays day-to-day.

So a return for Monday’s Recreation 1 towards the Knicks isn’t out of the query.

Within the meantime, Vacation and the remainder of the Celtics are nonetheless utilizing the time to organize for the subsequent spherical, no matter whether or not or not they’re really working towards.

“There’s all the time methods to get higher, whether or not it’s on the apply courtroom, whether or not it’s within the movie room, whether or not it’s on walkthroughs, whether or not it’s getting up and down,” Mazzulla stated. “You simply need to take it, benefit from all of the methods you possibly can study and institute a recreation plan. It’s the playoffs. Nobody’s 100%.”

Because the Celtics put together for the subsequent spherical, the message stays the identical regardless of the altering opponent.

“You continue to need to rebound, you must care for the basketball,” Mazzulla stated. “You will have to have the ability to defend with out fouling. You must execute. You must set good screens. You must dash in transition. You must get to the corners. You must dash again. You must maintain it 5-on-5. You must defend the paint. Should field out. All these particulars are tremendous necessary.”