Celtics-Pelicans Notebook: A ‘morgue’-like postgame presser, everybody loves Al Horford, 5-second violations

BOSTON — The Celtics escaped with a 120-119 win over the Pelicans, and when the ultimate buzzer sounded, there was a robust sense of aid within the constructing.

A near-disastrous loss in opposition to one of many league’s lowest-ranked groups was prevented — however simply barely. After a sport marked by capturing struggles and expensive errors, the Celtics lastly led by 5 with 22 seconds to play.

From that second on, virtually all the things went fallacious.

Dejounte Murray (26 factors, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) tipped in a missed Trey Murphy three-pointer to chop the deficit to a few, and Jayson Tatum (38 factors, 11 rebounds) — who up till the waning second was an ideal 8-8 from the road — uncharacteristically bricked two free throws that might have put away the sport.

The Celtics deliberately fouled CJ McCollum who sunk two free throws with 7 seconds to play. Then got here probably the most uncharacteristic second of the night time: Derrick White dedicated a 5-second violation inbounding the ball. It appeared he known as for a timeout proper on the cusp of a 5-second violation — and in flip, the Pelicans had an opportunity to win it.

However, McCollum rimmed out a layup try, and the Celtics formally improved to 28-11 on the season.

As tumultuous as issues might have felt in latest weeks, the Celtics’ file remains to be the third-best within the NBA — and it’s simply two video games worse than their 30-9 file by way of 39 video games final season.

Nonetheless, there wasn’t a celebratory feeling after the victory.

“A very powerful factor is profitable the sport and making the mandatory performs, even when issues aren’t going properly, so to talk,” stated Joe Mazzulla after the win. “So, each season brings on completely different challenges, each sport brings on completely different alternatives. And, the state of affairs that we’re in now could be — we acquired to only struggle to win.”

Joe Mazzulla says the post-victory postgame presser looks like a morgue — however he likes the excessive expectations

Postgame, Mazzulla was requested a slew of strongly-worded questions concerning the Celtics struggles of late: concerning the uncharacteristic execution down the stretch, concerning the turnovers, concerning the beginning 5’s abysmal on-court numbers. He accepted the tone of the press convention as respectable affirmation concerning the Celtics’ lofty expectations and excessive requirements.

“I might say the final word praise is that we’re 28-11 — and these are the varieties of conversations that we’re having,” Mazzulla stated. “So, it’s a phenomenal place to be in.”

In a second that mirrored a robust self-awareness of his standard dry sarcasm, Mazzulla added: “I’m severe. I feel it’s nice. It’s an amazing normal and an amazing expectation to have, and we’ve to ship. And so, everyone knows that.”

“What are we, the third-best group within the league proper now?” Mazzulla stated, noting the historic tempo of each the Thunder (32-6) and Cavaliers (33-5) this 12 months. “Which isn’t nice, however take a look at — it appears like a morgue in right here. And that’s the way it must be.”

Mazzulla is true — the discourse across the group’s present play has been extremely vital, and generally, that criticism has been deserving. However Mazzulla’s perspective on the group’s impossibly excessive normal is truthful.

A five-second violation virtually prices the Celtics the win

All of the Celtics needed to do is efficiently inbound the ball and hit their free throws, and they’d have had this one within the bag. However, all through these previous 5 weeks of basketball, seemingly-simple actions — akin to layups and open threes — have proved tough.

And, Derrick White couldn’t discover a gap on a sidelines out-of-bounds play that noticed Kristaps Porzingis, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Payton Pritchard all stand comparatively nonetheless. Brown appeared momentarily open, however because the 5 seconds ticked by, White as an alternative motioned for a timeout. The referees deemed the timeout name was too late, and a five-seconds violation was known as.

Mazzulla was requested concerning the play postgame by Boston Globe columnist Gary Washburn and stayed tight-lipped.

The change was textbook Mazzulla when he’s retaining his playing cards near his chest, and went as follows:

Washburn: Joe, what did you see on the 5-second violation?

Mazzulla: Yep.

Washburn: What did you see on it?

Mazzulla: Sure.

Washburn: You noticed it was 5 seconds?

Mazzulla: Certain.

Washburn: You had a timeout… Ought to Derrick have known as a timeout? What ought to have occurred there?

Mazzulla: Yep.

So, I assume we’ll by no means know precisely how Mazzulla actually felt concerning the reality the timeout wasn’t granted. He did efficiently keep away from any potential tremendous for criticizing officiating, if that’s what he was frightened about.

Willie Inexperienced is the newest (former) teammate to reward Al Horford

On a really completely different be aware, Pelicans head coach Willie Inexperienced was requested about his expertise being teammates with Al Horford greater than a decade in the past on the Atlanta Hawks.

The only-season the 2 shared (2011-2012) was sufficient to spur Inexperienced to mild up when requested about Al Horford.

“Certainly one of my favourite teammates of all time. Certainly one of my favourite folks of all time,” Inexperienced stated resoundingly in his pregame media availability. “What you see is what you get from Al. He’s a execs professional. I feel in every single place he’s gone, folks sing his praises. They communicate extremely of him. He’s a high-character, onerous employee. And there’s a purpose that, you get a man like Al and his group, they’re having success. As a result of, not simply the expertise, however the character that he brings into this constructing. “

Horford scored 11 factors on 4-6 capturing on this one — and shot 3-4 from downtown. That brings him to 47% from three over his final 4 video games, a marked improve from his earlier three video games, through which he shot 18% from three. The 38-year-old veteran discovering a rhythm may present a much-needed enhance for a Celtics group that has seemingly been in a collective capturing hunch.

May Kristaps Porzingis be higher served coming off the bench?

Kristaps Porzingis had one other strong outing for the Celtics, scoring 19 factors on 7-19 capturing, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking 3 pictures (and it felt like greater than 3!).

However, the Celtics beginning lineup of Jaylen Brown, Jrue Vacation, Porzingis, Tatum, and White continues to battle. They’ve solely shared the ground for 138 minutes, however have a -8.9 web ranking in that span. Conversely, that very same lineup with Horford instead of Porzingis has performed 208 minutes with a +21.9 web ranking.

Statistics all the time have their limitations, and Porzingis’s elevated minutes with the beginning group definitely coincides with their struggles — however isn’t essentially their trigger. Nonetheless, seeing him thrive within the bench function throughout the NBA Finals final 12 months — and Horford’s huge expertise sharing the ground with the remainder of the starters — at the least poses the query of whether or not a shakeup would profit the Celtics.

Mazzulla stated postgame that the teams’ offensive and defensive rankings on each ends of the ground had been considerably worse than what their “anticipated” rankings had been, and in addition famous how small the pattern measurement was.

“It’s not an excuse,” Mazzulla stated. “We now have to be higher. However, it’s basically in a practice camp type with this explicit group.”