Mazzulla was asked six questions after the 98-96 defeat in Indianapolis, and to each one, his answer was the same: "Illegal screen." Question: Take us through the last couple of possessions? Mazzulla: Illegal screen. Question: What'd you say? Mazzulla: Illegal screen. Question: Illegal screen? Mazzulla: Illegal screen. Question: What fell apart to get you guys behind? Mazzulla: Illegal screen. Question: What do you want people to know about that? Mazzulla: Illegal screen. Question: Is there anything else you would like to say? Mazzulla: Illegal screen.
While Gafford could be a useful addition to Boston's frontcourt, Stevens and his staff will have their work cut out for them when it comes to pulling off a trade with Dallas. The asking price for Gafford would presumably lower than the cost to pry Zubac out of Los Angeles. But, Dallas also can't take much money back in a trade with Boston due to being hard-capped at the second apron of the NBA's current luxury-tax structure.
"Ultimately it was kind of between here and Boston," Kornet said. "I feel like after a lot of conversations with my wife and just feeling like, honestly, a lot of prayer and realization of where we are in life."
So, every game has been an exhibit, mostly, of the Raptors forwards trying to power them through to a victory, with maybe one or two role players managing to hit shots alongside them. It's usually a player elevated into the starting lineup. If Sandro Mamukelashvili starts? Open looks, and points. Ja'Kobe Walter? Usually the same. If Agbaji starts? Just the looks, maybe.
As a team, the Celtics finished 10-for-39 (25.6 percent) and went 1-for-18 from deep in the second and third as the Pistons built a four-point advantage going into the fourth. The overall shooting numbers were actually bailed out a bit by three tough makes in the fourth-two by Derrick White, one by Jaylen Brown-but the game ended with an appropriately disappointing thud: On a make-or-break possession down five with 45 seconds left, Payton Pritchard airballed a 3-pointer, and the Pistons held on for the win.
I went to Minnesota when I was young. Straight out of high school, I brought all my friends that I could. Through that whole process of being there, we just grew up as young guys into, you know, young adults. So Minnesota, with the dope lakes and the more simplistic things you can do, it's like a big small city.
While the Celtics continue to improve as the season goes on, Minott believes there's one area in the NBA that hasn't been improving, officiating. "I could list them off, there's a lot," Minott told reporters before Thursday's game, referring to missed calls by referees on him this season. "I could make you a mixtape of all the times."
Hugo González was drafted in the first round the summer, after playing three seasons with Real Madrid in Spain. González has yet to make his mark on the season, as he's averaged just 11.7 minutes per game this year. Against the Knicks, however, he played 22 minutes and was a key piece in helping the Celtics improve to 12-9. González only put up four points, but he garnered praise from his coaches and teammates for his defense.
This trend continued into the regular season, with Boston being out-rebounded by a combined 31 boards during their first three games, on their way to an 0-3 start. However, after 15 games, it seems like Mazzulla has found his "five guys that rebound," and then some. Although they still can't be described as an elite rebounding team, the Celtics have gradually been improving. They now average 45 boards a night, which ranks 12th in the league.
Payton Pritchard hit five 3-pointers, scored 24 points and had nine assists and the Boston Celtics used a big second half to run past the Memphis Grizzlies 131-95 on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies played without Ja Morant, the star guard who sat out because of a right ankle injury sustained Tuesday night in a loss at New York. Derrick White added 20 points for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown had 19.
