Inside The Celtics

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Strategy Behind New Wrinkle Helping Celtics Win on the Margins

The Celtics overcame shooting 27.7 percent from beyond the arc in Sunday's win over the Hawks.

Bobby Krivitsky

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
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At 13-4, the Boston Celtics boast the NBA's best record. And while they rank in the top six in three-point percentage (37.7 percent) even though they're hoisting the second-most shots from beyond the arc (42.6), trailing only the Golden State Warriors (43.2), they're more consistently overcoming poor performances from long range.

That wasn't the case in Friday's 113-96 loss to the Orlando Magic, which might cloud one's assessment of how they're faring in that area. But one of the ways Joe Mazzulla's putting more of his imprint on the team in his second year at the helm is dramatically increasing the frequency with which they crash the offensive glass from the corners.

That allows Boston to generate extra possessions, helping the Celtics win within the margins.

It was crucial in Sunday's 113-103 victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks: the C's shot a frigid 13/47 (27.7 percent) from three-point range. When that happens, it has often taken from their focus and physicality defensively and led to a loss.

But in the 2023-24 campaign, they've done a better job staying locked in at the defensive end even when shots aren't falling. They'll need to demonstrate that maturity under pressure in the playoffs if they're to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

But they'll also have to find other avenues to put points on the board. Yes, stops fuel a transition attack that can spark better ball movement, keep everyone involved and in rhythm, and produce scoring from inside the paint and at the free-throw line.

But sometimes, the pace slows. Whether that's Boston's own doing or the opposition controlling the tempo, it places a premium on producing points in the half-court.

That's when those corner crashes referenced earlier are needed most. Against the Hawks, the C's had seven more field goal attempts than Trae Young and Co.

With Neemias Queta leading the way, coming off the bench to grab six offensive rebounds, the most in the matchup, the Celtics extended 18 possessions to Atlanta's 11.

That was crucial to holding on in a second half where they were outscored 50-44 and shot 40 percent from the field, including 5/23 (21.7 percent) from behind the arc.

Monday, Mazzulla conveyed the following to Inside The Celtics about the impact crashing the offensive glass more often has on his team at both ends of the court and how much of them doing so is rooted in what's best for them compared to the personnel they're playing against.

"It's really just about us," the Johnston, Rhode Island native stated. "So, if you take a look at our last two games, it felt like we shot 27 percent from three last night. And if you watch our playoff series against Atlanta, we never beat them on the shot margins. So, the corner crashes are two-fold: one, it gives us extra possessions, it's momentum plays, and then it also starts on transition defense because guys aren't getting stuck in the corner, and we're not in five on four or five on three early in the shot clock. So, it's a huge part of both our offense and our transition defense. So, it's something that we just have to continue to grow at."

Further Reading

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Overcame Poor Second Half vs. Hawks Sunday

Celtics' Loss to Magic Highlights Their Most Concerning Traits

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Best Bucks to Stay atop East at Thanksgiving

Jrue Holiday Shares His Perspective on First Matchup vs. Bucks Since They Traded Him

Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Chemistry with Jaylen Brown: 'I Love Playing with Him'

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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