BOSTON (AP) — Despite improbable odds entering Tuesday’s game against the Bulls, the Celtics have advanced to the knockout stages of the in-season tournament. First, they had to outscore the visitors by at least 23 points. Second, the Celtics needed the Nets to defeat the Raptors in order to force a three-way tie at the top of the East Group C standings, where point differential would be used.
So, when the Celtics built a 35-point lead on Tuesday, they kept trying to extend it to give themselves some breathing room. As a result, despite a commanding lead, C’s coach Joe Mazzulla left his starters in the game until late in the fourth quarter. It also resulted in the Celtics employing a Hack-a-Drummond strategy, in which they intentionally fouled Andre Drummond.
All of that extra effort contributed to the Celtics’ 124-97 victory over the Bulls on Tuesday. The Nets went on to defeat the Raptors, advancing the Celtics to the playoffs. They’ll face the Pacers in the quarterfinals next week on the road.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Mazzulla instructed Jrue Holiday to foul Drummond on consecutive possessions to send him to the free throw line. Drummond has had a notoriously difficult time shooting free throws throughout his career. Mazzulla’s strategy paid off, as Drummond missed all four free throw attempts during that stretch, giving the C’s some extra possessions. Still, Mazzulla didn’t seem to like the move, even though it was necessary for the Celtics to advance in the playoffs.
“When the process reaches the point where you say, ‘Okay, you’re 30, what do you want to do?'” “I want stops,” Mazzulla said. “So you do what we did.” And I sincerely apologize to Andre Drummond for doing so. However, given the circumstances, it gave us the best chance.”
Mazzulla and Bulls coach Billy Donovan appeared to have a conversation midway through the fourth quarter, when Drummond was at the free throw line. According to Mazzulla, he explained to Donovan what they needed to do to advance to the tournament’s quarterfinals. This included watching the Nets-Raptors game, which was close until the Nets pulled away at the end to win.
Donovan stated after the game that he had no issues with what Mazzulla did during the game. After all, those are the rules the NBA established, he said, though he didn’t like putting Drummond in such a position during a rout.
“I just thought it was putting Andre in a tough spot in a 30-point game,” Donovan was quoted as saying. “That bothered me. But (Mazzulla) was fantastic when we spoke. I understand what they were attempting. And keep in mind, this is for the league. As a result, I understand. But this is what the league has done by instituting the point differential.”
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