Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned around the series with the Sixers by inserting Robert Williams in the starting lineup alongside Al Horford, but that pairing hasn’t been effective against Miami, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. In the 14 minutes that they’ve played together in the conference finals, Williams and Horford are getting outscored by 51.6 points per 100 possessions, which has made a difference in two close losses.
With the two big men on the floor together, Jimmy Butler has searched for opportunities to draw Williams away from the basket, Himmelsbach adds, and Horford has been outplayed by Bam Adebayo. After Game 1, Mazzulla was hesitant when asked whether he planned to stick with the two-big lineup, but they were both starters again Friday night. However, they played less than five minutes together as Mazzulla didn’t go back to that lineup after the Heat took an early lead.
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Himmelsbach’s recommendation for Game 3 is to put Derrick White in the starting lineup and give him more minutes in general. He notes that White is an All-Defensive Team selection who blocked two shots by Butler in Game 2. He makes Boston a better shooting team as well, hitting 6-of-10 three-point attempts in the series. White played just 23 minutes on Friday and hasn’t topped that figure in the Celtics’ last four games.
- Mazzulla isn’t upset about Grant Williams‘ trash-talking incident with Butler in the fourth quarter Friday, even though Butler responded by leading Miami’s game-winning rally, per Brian Robb of MassLive. The exchange overshadowed a nice bounce-back performance from Williams, who made 4-of-6 shots after not being used in the series opener. “I mean, he didn’t do anything wrong necessarily,” Mazzulla said. “So, I don’t think it’s emotions getting the best of him.”
- The Celtics’ biggest concern is the continued lack of production late in games from Jayson Tatum, observes Matt Vautour of MassLive. Tatum didn’t make a shot from the floor in the fourth quarter of Game 1 or 2, leaving his teammates to try to carry the scoring load.
An hour with zero comments. Not too long ago, there wasn’t a Celtics article thread that wasn’t filled immediately.
Only 2 games in and this is how a Celtics thread looks?
Ha! These blogs are 75% for discontented souls. I used to post in a Celtics only site but I quickly found after a Celtics loss the recrimination, the blame, the frustration, the anger, the name calling was everywhere. But after a win, posts were few. I could suggest why but I’d get my post deleted. Go Celtics!
That’s cause everyone knows the Celtics are front runners without Udoka. Celebrating their wins is pointless, because once adversity hits it’s all over for them.
They weren’t any better at that with Udoka…
You said it lol. Front runners
U stole my thunder.
He out coached Thibs. Now he’s out coaching Mazzulla. Spoelstra is one of best.
Man…stop telling them about the lineups. It’s supposed to be team *123 shhhhh…but noooo, someone had to tell them about playing Grant Williams again…
Well, the Heat finally responded with the only way to beat those lineups with Grant and Horford/Horford at the 5, and that was playing Duncan Robinson, who should have played last year, and the Heat making shots, as they did in game 2
I agree with the Derrick White starting thing, Hauser should play for them in this series, in my opinion, and they should stick Rob Williams In situations with no other bigs on the floor, to maximize him in the matchup, even though that obviously significantly cuts his minutes
TimeLord played only 26 and 23 minutes after starting both losses to Miami. Why? So I’d suggest playing him more, not less, and certainly at the end of games when we need his easy offense and D. And instead of playing him w Al play him more w Grant Williams. But unfortunately for this season Coach just doesn’t trust TimeLord at all. The other starters play 30 to 40 minutes a game.
I do agree though with playing Derrick White more as we need his 3 point shooting. Maybe if Derrick starts Game 3, as I predict, it will free TimeLord up to play more aggressively when he does come in. It’s pretty discouraging to see him start but then lay back worried about getting in foul trouble early. Come on Coach Mazzulla. It’s up to you to win us games!
Go Celtics!
The Heat won the last two games because the got out coached! Game time adjustments are terrible and the lack of a true point guard shows! Celtics need a better coach!
All season the bench played great basketball when starters were hurt. As soon as the playoffs began, Mazzulla went with 7 guys primarily, many playing 35-45 minutes a game. Players like Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, Blake Griffin, Sam Hauser, Luke Cornet played with excitement and played together. Now they sit and watch starters play without the tenacity and teamwork that is needed. I give Miami credit for being the team that the Celtics are not.
I had a feeling more than a month ago that using starters 35-42 minutes a game was going to wear them out. They have a better-than-decent bench, but you’d never know it. It won’t happen, of course, but the Celtics need a better, more experienced coach. No, not Doc.
I have to say you are right.
Luke really came in with excitement and energy as did Payton. And we played like a team. Grant was important on both offense and defense. Seems like both Luke & Grant should have a chance against Bam. And Payton once again a longer chance against Butler. Payton stays in front and that’s what’s needed as Butler gets half his points driving past his guy to the right.
What good is our improved depth if it gets benched? Anyway, come on Coach Mazzulla, we need another miracle! Go Celtics!
You would think it would be pretty obvious that they miss having their best defensive player on the floor and that their offense is mess down the stretch without White. Apparently it’s not obvious to the only guy that matters.
This Celtics team has always felt like a piece away over the years…
It still feels that way…
You’re right. We can’t play mistake free basketball, especially late (when are starters are gassed?) so we can’t hold leads or close out games.
There was a time when teams didn’t care about matching up. They would just attack your weakness in the lineup. Ever since the Warriors started going small. Teams feel a need to match up with smaller lineups. Lakers won series cause they went to the rim against Warriors. Old school (you attack their weakness) ……. You also get to FT line. And get them in foul trouble.
“Down low, the Lakers held a 26-point advantage, scoring 54 points in the paint while the Warriors totaled 28. The biggest difference, however, was at the free-throw line.”
Heat are just out working teams. Pretty simple. But deadly when you have talent working in unison. Blue Collar ……
Embarrassing for Celtics with two All-NBA guys but motivating for the Heat w much of the team un-drafted guys. Chip on their shoulders, not, unfortunately, on ours.
Celtics underestimated Heat. Worse thing you can do in playoffs. Plus an experienced playoff team should never do that.
Anyone see that Celtics fan scissormetimbers?
Seems like he has disappeared since he predicted the Celtics would sweep the Heat.
Interesting that this is the last post he appeared in: link to hoopsrumors.com