Explanation for unlikely rotation surprise is why the Celtics are so elite

The Boston Celtics dropped their fourth game of the season on Sunday night, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers and losing their chance to earn the top spot in the Eastern Conference. A late-game surge from Donovan Mitchell was enough to push the Cavs over the top, as the Celtics were short-handed.

Boston was without Jaylen Brown and Derrick White for the contest. Brown was a game-day scratch, while White ended up leaving their game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday due to a foot sprain. In their absence, the Celtics’ offense looked inconsistent for most of the night, but it did open up an opportunity for one guy in particular.

Drew Peterson played a career-high 24:58, and Joe Mazzulla’s explanation for his minutes perfectly exemplifies why the Celtics are such an elite organization.

Joe Mazzulla wanted to reward Drew Peterson

Mazzulla said he wanted to validate Peterson's work, as he likes to do that for everyone on the team. (H/t Bobby Krivitsky of SI Media Group)

“I thought he had some really good defensive possessions, defending without fouling,” Mazzulla said via NBC Sports Boston. “He was physical, he’s smart. He has a knack for the ball, whether it’s offensive rebounding or moving without the basketball to get open, and I think he works really hard.

“So, you try to find moments throughout the season to where you can validate the work that the guys put in, regardless of who it is, Jordan, Drew, Jaden, JD, and those guys. So, I just felt like he’s had really good reps lately, and I thought he put us in a position to help us win.”

Peterson finished the game with eight points, four rebounds, and one steal while shooting 2-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Though he wasn’t very efficient scoring the ball, Peterson’s effort was off the charts. He was battling on the defensive end. His efforts resulted in four fouls, but he was playing good team basketball all night. 

Mazzulla’s desire to spread the love is exactly why the Celtics are such a top-notch team. 

Obviously, guys like Tatum, Brown, and White are the stars of the show. After them, there are guys like Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday. Even Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard.

But on a night like Sunday, with Brown and White sidelined, Mazzulla wanted to reward the work of a guy who barely gets any playing time. Peterson had impressed him in the days leading up to the game, so he earned a shot. And it paid off.

That sort of coaching is what makes Mazzulla a guy players want to play for, and the Celtics a team players want to join.