Boston Celtics the head coach Joe Mazzulla went viral Thursday night after attempting to block Phoenix Suns Before Royce O’Nealewe shot once Frank Vogel had called a timeout with three minutes remaining in the game at TD Garden.
Mazzulla, 35, then explained in his postgame press conference why he decided to challenge O’Neale, who was 0 of 7 from the field. The young head coach had the most Bostonian reasoning possible.
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“I saw a guy come in to try to shoot. He didn’t make one, and I didn’t want him to feel good going to the bench,” Mazzulla said. “Guys don’t shoot in front of our bench to go back to their bench and feel good about themselves. If I’m going to ask guys to compete, the staff has to do the same.”
Mazzulla did not shock Jayson Tatum or any of his players when he decided to play defense against O’Neal. The head coach has a rule that everyone must contest shots.
Celtics players react to Joe Mazzulla’s blocking attempt
“Just Joe being Joe,” Tatum said.
“I mean, he’s locked in. Most coaches would say, ‘Ahh,’ but he’s locked in,” the Celtics center said. Xavier Tillman said, by Athleticism. “He was a player, so he knows the rhythms and he knows that, especially with a shooter, like once they see one go down and what it does, it’s over. So he knows.”
“Late tight, hand high. He was competing. That’s all it is,” Celtics guard Derrick White said jokingly, according to Athleticism.
