Inside The Celtics

Celtics Discuss Their Supporting Cast Taking Center Stage in Win vs. Grizzlies

The Celtics have the NBA's deepest roster and it's helped them build the league's best record at 41-16.

Bobby Krivitsky

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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In the Celtics' 119-109 win against the Grizzlies on Super Bowl Sunday, the hosts' supporting cast strengthened its case for why Boston has the deepest team in the NBA this season.

Derrick White led the Celtics with 23 points. He was the only player to register double-digit assists (10). White's production in both categories reflects his frequently getting downhill while orchestrating the pick-and-roll, creating and capitalizing on the numbers advantage that came from doing so.

He also did an outstanding job guarding Ja Morant and Desmond Bane in the pick-and-roll. Morant was excellent in transition on Sunday, often making Boston pay for its 11 turnovers, which Memphis converted into 17 points.

However, the visitors' struggles to score when operating in the half-court are at the center of why they produced under 30 points in three of four quarters, including getting held to 20 in the second frame.

As for Bane, while he scored 18 on Sunday, the more the Grizzlies had to play against a set defense, the more invisible he felt.

After the game, Joe Mazzulla said of White's performance, "his ability to execute different pick-and-roll coverages for us. (He) did a great job on both Morant and Bane. And when he’s the ball-handler, we can attack different matchups," adding, "he was well-rounded today."

While the focus of this story is to shine a light on the supporting cast, this is also an appropriate time to point out that even though Jayson Tatum scored 16, almost half his season average of 30.8, the four-time All-Star grabbed seven rebounds and was a critical part of the Celtics' success defensively.

That included swiping two steals and swatting as many shots, one of those being a block on Morant in transition.

Boston also got 20 points from Sam Hauser, who drilled 7/12 shots, including 6/11 threes.

The second-year forward has worked through a shooting slump to reemerge as a long-range threat. Hauser's sharp shooting to begin the campaign helped the Celtics' offense start this season at a historic pace.

Don't expect them to replicate that production, where a decent chunk of the roster was shooting above their career averages. But after adjusting to the struggles they dealt with after that, remaining a top-five scoring offense with less than 30 games left in the campaign, Hauser delivering performances like Sunday's makes Boston that much more formidable.

Hauser contributes in other areas and holds up defensively, but his shooting is what warrants opportunities for him in the playoffs. The better he does from beyond the arc, the harder it gets for Mazzulla to take him out of a game.

Hauser also started in Friday's 127-116 win over the Hornets, knocking down 4/9 threes.

While his head coach doesn't think a starting role is where Hauser's drawing confidence from, Mazzulla detailed how valuable the former Virginia Cavalier is to the Celtics.

"I don't think he's getting the confidence from starting, I think he's getting the confidence just because that's what young players go through in the league is navigating the ups and downs. For him, why I was comfortable going back to him is his work ethic that he brings every day, and the second piece is he gives our other guys confidence because his ability to move without the basketball; his ability to generate cross-matches; his ability to put two on the ball and allow others to play, so he brings an intangible dynamic to our offense, and he's continuing to grow on defense."

Hauser also conveyed the keys to his weathering the shooting slump he went through.

"Sticking to my routine and staying confident and trying to take advantage of opportunities when they're there out on the court, and I think I've done a pretty good job of that, and obviously, with some guys out right now, my minutes have increased. So, I think when you're out there a little bit more, you get a better rhythm within the game, and through that, your shot feels a little bit better."

And even with Boston shorthanded, its bench matched Memphis for 34 points on Sunday.

Payton Pritchard led the way with 12 points on 4/7 shooting, all from beyond the arc.

Mazzulla said the following of the third-year guard, who, searching for more playing time, was candid about his desire to find a new home at the trade deadline.

"I love Payton. I'm happy Payton is expressing himself," stating, "I trust him completely, and regardless of his circumstances, he's always ready to play."

Grant Williams chipped in ten points, scoring six in a final frame where his two-way performance resulted in Mazzulla keeping him on the floor nearly the entire fourth quarter (9:10).

He also grabbed nine rebounds, including beating Jaren Jackson Jr. to an offensive board in the fourth quarter, fouling out the latter, who, at the time, tied for the second-most points on the Grizzlies (15) and led his team in rebounding with seven. Williams also dished out four assists in Sunday's victory.

The Celtics also got ten points from Mike Muscala, who went 4/7 from the field. Moose showed off the complementary aspects of his offensive profile, calmly swishing a mid-range jumper after getting run off the three-point line and capitalizing on a floater off a cut.

Mazzulla shared that he told Muscala upon the latter's arrival after the trade deadline, "cherish this because it might be one of the best locker rooms you have. The group of guys that we have and basketball players, their ability to be a professional regardless of the circumstances is special."

Hauser expressed the following of a supporting cast that's helped Boston build the NBA's best record at 41-16.

"We have a couple of our top dogs out right now, and it's just opportunities for guys to showcase more of what they can do and try to fill that void of the guys who are out. They bring a lot to the table, so we just try to dour best to do whatever we can to help the team win, and we've been doing that pretty well, and the guys who don't play as much, we get to play more in these type of games and try to showcase us as a player."

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Grizzlies

Danny Green's Reportedly Made a Decision About Where He'll Sign

The Latest on the Health Front for the Celtics Ahead of Hosting the Grizzlies

Front Runner Emerges for Potential Celtics Buyout Acquisition

Mike Muscala on Celtics Debut: 'a Blessing, it was Fun'

Derrick White Discusses His Career Night and Matching a Celtics Franchise Record

Brad Stevens Discusses What Mike Muscala Brings to the Celtics

Celtics Reportedly 'Engaged' with Several Potential Buyout Candidates

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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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