Imagine if I told you before the season started that on March 2nd, the Celtics would be traveling to Milwaukee with a nine-man rotation of Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Nikola Vucevic, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., and Luka Garza to face a fully healthy Bucks team.
Imagine I also told you that one of those teams was coming into the game in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 40-20 record, while the other sits in 11th place at 26-33. And then imagine I told you that the team in second place would smoke the other team to the tune of a 108-81 win.
You would probably have believed me without straining your imagination too much. But what you may not have believed is that the team doing the dominating is the Celtics. But that’s the kind of season it has been, and this matchup on Monday night said everything about both teams.
Celtics taking "next man up" to another level
For the Celtics, you saw how Joe Mazzulla’s system and structure are in place throughout this entire organization. Every single player on the roster is ready to step in and shine in their role on any given night. He believes deeply in every player, he knows what they’re capable of, and he refuses to settle for anything less.
Joe has instilled a beautiful sense of confidence in his players, and he demands the best out of them on every possession. He preaches love and clearly cares deeply about his players, but he also holds them extremely accountable.
The results are a beautiful machine-like operation. The personnel almost hasn’t mattered; they just plug in whichever players are available, and they understand the assignment, execute the gameplan, play within themselves, and stay ready to perform. More often than not, it eventually leads to breaking the opponents’ will, and that’s exactly what happened on Monday night.
Celtics spoil return of Giannis Antetokounmpo
You’d think the Bucks may have gotten a lift, playing at home, getting their MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo back for the first time in months, trying to make a late season push for the play-in tournament, facing a hated conference foe that’s coming to town after playing a game in Boston less than 24 horus ago, playing without Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta, and of course, Jaylen Brown.
And yet, the Celtics looked like the fresher, more inspired team. They smothered Milwaukee from the jump, beating them to every loose ball and relentlessly hounding them until the Bucks basically gave up. They’re not the first team to get Mazzulla’d, and they certainly won’t be the last.
It’s incredible to watch, and it’s an amazing reflection on the coach. The NBA is a players' league, and they obviously deserve all the credit in the world, but this team and this culture aren’t what they are without Joe Mazzulla.