1. Starters lump of coal turned to diamonds
On the 9:22 mark and the Celtics down 20, Mazzulla pulled all the starters off the ground out of a timeout, seemingly sending a message as a result of lack of effort. The bench unit of Anfernee Simons-Hugo Gonzalez-Sam Hauser-Baylor Scheierman-Luka Garza would are available in and instantly make an influence. They rattled off a 10-2 run off the bounce and minimize the Pacers result in 8 by the tip of the quarter after Brown and White checked again into the sport on the 1:15 mark. Boston then outscored Indiana 29-13 within the fourth quarter to seal the comeback victory.
When requested about it postgame, Joe Mazzulla talked concerning the benching and praised each the starters and the bench guys. “It’s a credit score to [the starters] of getting an understanding that anyone can influence successful at any time,” he stated. “Like these [bench] guys will help us win, these guys will help us win, we want them they usually want us. And also you maintain the man subsequent to you. I feel it’s only a degree of empowerment amongst the fellows on the group.”
Jaylen Brown was requested his ideas on the benching postgame and echoed an approving sentiment in the direction of Mazzulla’s determination. He stated, “To be trustworthy, I used to be pissed. I used to be able to play. I felt like we had been mailing it in. It was solely 3 minutes in however you recognize we belief our teaching employees so it was the best determination … the 2nd group is the rationale we gained the sport … it was an excellent name by Joe.”
If Mazzulla didn’t bench the starters within the third quarter, I actually don’t assume they arrive again to win this recreation. This recreation as additionally Joe Mazzulla’s 2 hundredth win of his NBA teaching profession and it got here in possibly his greatest recreation.
2. Brown guided the sleigh
Very like Rudolph on that foggy Christmas Eve, Jaylen Brown led the best way for the Celtics victory within the fourth quarter. Brown scored 14 of his 31 factors within the fourth quarter alone and made some unbelievable performs to finish the comeback.
Brown was extremely aggressive when it got here to going downhill and attacking the Pacers protection to start out the quarter. His first basket of the got here on a layup driving on Andrew Nembhard, the second got here on a layup attacking Jay Huff, and the third got here on this drive of Pascal Siakam to provide the Celtics their first lead of the evening since early within the first quarter. Brown was caught within the nook with the shot clock operating down, so he used his shoulders to create house on Siakam and contorted his physique to make this reverse layup.
His greatest play of the evening got here on his final made shot of the sport and gave Pacers followers in all places PTSD from Recreation 1 of the 2024 Japanese Convention Finals. With 4.9 seconds on the shot clock, Derrick White inbounded the ball to Brown within the nook. Brown caught it and instantly hoisted a fadeaway jumper over Nembhard who was proper on prime of him in an nearly actual recreation from his three from the 2024 playoffs.
This recreation was the seventh recreation in a row Brown has scored over 30 factors in a recreation and the MVP chants he obtained on the free throw line tonight ought to let you know how a lot the Celtics devoted is loving it. It doesn’t matter what problem Brown has been thrown in to this 12 months, he has navigated it to nearly perfection. He’s turning into a particular participant and must win Japanese Convention Participant of the Month for December.
I like Hugo Gonzalez. I may finish my ideas with that proper there and I feel it can get the purpose throughout. Gonzalez had one other unbelievable recreation. He performed a profession excessive 37 minutes and it felt like he didn’t play sufficient. Hugo was the principle catalyst behind the Celtics third quarter comeback and was the definition of a spark plug off of the bench.
Earlier than I discuss his second half efficiency, I needed to focus on this play within the second quarter. Derrick White blocked the shot on protection and handed it forward to Gonzalez. Hugo then proceeded to acquired to a different degree of velocity and blow by everybody for a simple layup.
Gonzalez confirmed extra of his offensive bag with this play within the third quarter the place he, in stride, caught the ball, drove to the basket, and hit Pascal Siakam with a imply Eurostep.
On the defensive finish, he turned a pest, giving of shades of Marcus Good. After a made basket, Gonzalez was urgent in opposition to Andrew Nembhard. Nembhard proceeded to elbow Gonzalez within the throat out of frustration and with slightly little bit of embellishment, the Celtics acquired the ball again and Nembhard acquired a technical foul for arguing it. I like this play from Hugo as a result of it exhibits that he’s going to do every part in his energy to win.
Its arduous to not be insanely impressed with the best way Gonzalez has been enjoying. He has proven some elite defensive instincts that almost all rookies simply don’t have and his offense continues to be serviceable, capturing 53% from the sphere and 41% from three thus far. To cite Jayson Tatum, Hugo is a foul “Unhealthy Mom F——r!”
4. Luka Garza’s Workshop
After not enjoying in a recreation since December fifth, Luka Garza had a double-double within the Celtics win over the Raptors of their final matchup, placing on a clinic on the offensive boards. On this recreation, Garza continued to indicate how a lot of a rebounding monster he really is. Garza had 9 rebounds on this recreation in complete and 5 of these being offensive rebounds. Garza was single handedly preserving performs alive along with his effort on the glass.
This play within the fourth quarter highlights his efforts the most effective. White missed a 3, Garza dove after the rebound. Whereas being boxed out by Jay Huff, he was capable of faucet it over to Pritchard who missed the layup, however that shouldn’t take away from Garza laying all of it out on the road to provide the Celtics one other probability at scoring.
5. A Derrick White Christmas
Derrick White had a strong recreation on this one with 19 factors and as soon as once more confirmed up when the Celtics wanted him most within the fourth quarter. After White made a 3 to chop the Celtics deficit to 1 level early within the quarter, he adopted it up with this nasty crossover transfer to get round Ethan Thompson. Then, due to a lovely Gortat display screen by Garza, White had a wide-open lane to dunk it house and provides Boston the lead once more.
When the Celtics benched their starters within the third quarter, it seemed like Joe Mazzulla was giving Anfernee Simons his time to shine and lead the offense. Simmons rewarded his belief by scoring 9 large factors within the quarter to chip away on the Pacers lead. Simons seemed very Damian Lillard-esque on this side-step three, making a lovely transfer whereas having Jay Huff on an island.
Mazzulla gave reward to Simons after the sport, saying, “We discuss depth, we discuss guys sacrificing and all that. There’s nobody that’s accomplished that greater than him.”
7. Rockin’ Across the Rim
Wanting on the field rating, it’s fascinating to take a look at the Celtics shot eating regimen on this recreation. Boston solely tried 37 three pointers and completely dominated the factors within the paint battle. Boston outscored Indiana 52-28, feasting on the Pacers weak inside protection. Behind Luka Garza’s efforts, the Celtics additionally dominated the boards on this recreation, out rebounding the Pacers 49-36.
8. Pacers Heatmiser to Snowmiser capturing
Coming into this recreation, the Pacers had been the worst three level capturing group within the NBA at 32%. Nonetheless, by halftime Indy was capturing an insane 60% (12-20). Their total recreation plan was penetrating the Celtics within the paint and kick out to a large open shooter earlier than Boston may shut out. Fortunately for Boston, Indiana went ice chilly after that scorching begin, capturing solely 1-20 (5%) from three and 12-44 (27%) from the sphere within the second half.
9. Spirit of By no means Giving Up
This recreation confirmed how unbelievable the Celtics will to win actually is. A regular of by no means giving up and combating till the final second has engrained itself into each a part of this group and it’s wonderful to look at. You’ll be able to argue all of it begins with the best way Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum carry themselves as superstars, however you additionally must commend Joe Mazzulla and the remainder of the teaching employees on getting them ready to play in any state of affairs on any given evening.
When requested about how Mazzulla has instilled this mentality and schooling to into the group, Brown gave an excellent reply, calling it “Celtic College.” Brown stated, “The place it’s like, you’re in school and also you’ve acquired to concentrate… It’s like being at school and we’re going by way of breaking down the footage and making an attempt to essentially increase our information for the sport.”
10. No Celtics on Christmas
For the primary time in a decade, the Boston Celtics is not going to play on Christmas Day. This Pacers recreation was their final recreation of the season till after the vacation passes. It’s such a bizarre feeling. To place into context how lengthy it’s been because the Celtics haven’t performed on Christmas, this was the roster of the group:
I’m glad for the gamers who will be capable of spend time at house with their households, however it can undoubtedly really feel like one thing is lacking for Celtics followers in all places. For me, the routine has all the time been, open presents, eat brunch with the household, watch the Celtics at usually the 5 pm time slot, and at last finish the evening by watching Christmas films and consuming dinner.
Now, I’m unsure what to do to fill the void of Celtics basketball however the remainder of the video games ought to hopefully be entertaining. The one plus aspect of the NBA’s slate of video games this 12 months is that it’s higher than the NFL video games which might be on the schedule, which ought to give a degree to the “Christmas is a basketball’s sport” crowd.
Even with no Celtics recreation, I hope everybody has a secure and Merry Christmas and a Completely satisfied Holidays!
