Never experiment with your food. That’s something parents tell their children when they’re young, and it applies to sports as well. Even if you’re ahead by a large margin, you never want to slow down. That’s the attitude Joe Mazzulla has when coaching the Boston Celtics, and it was evident against the Toronto Raptors.
The Celtics were on their way to a rout of the Raptors, leading by as many as 30 points at one point. The team’s reserves replaced the team’s usual stars. Mazzulla, on the other hand, was not going to back down. Despite being up by 30, Mazzulla decided to challenge the call after seeing it as questionable.
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The Raptors did not take this lightly. After the game, Dennis Schroder addressed the media and stated that Mazzulla’s actions were disrespectful. After the game, Mazzulla was asked about Schroder’s comments. The Celtics coach declined to discuss the move’s disrespectfulness, but he did explain why he challenged the call, according to Celtics on CLNS.
“Joe Mazzulla says the #Raptors bench thought it was disrespectful to challenge late in Boston’s blowout.”
On the one hand, you can see where the Raptors are coming from. When you’re being blown out, you almost want it to be over with as soon as possible. The Celtics contesting what appears to be a meaningless call may come across as rubbing it in your face. At the same time, however. Mazzulla needs to show the Celtics that he has their back. Even if you’re up by 30, a coach’s challenge shows that you care about your players.
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