BOSTON — The Celtics continued their home-court dominance Monday night at TD Garden, and Tyler Zeller again was the one leading the offensive charge.
The Boston big man poured in a career-high 26 points in a 108-89 blowout of the Philadelphia 76ers, pacing the Celtics in scoring for the second time in as many games.
“I don’t know,” Zeller said after the game. “The shots fell down. The jump shots felt really good, and then they kept leaving me open, so I just kept shooting it. But once again, teammates do a great job of giving you the ball on time, and it makes it a lot easier.”
Zeller has 44 points on superb 19-of-25 shooting from the floor over his last two games — a throwback to when the big man began his first season in Boston by making 25 of his first 29 shots. The vast majority of those early-season field-goal attempts came from directly below the basket, though. With teams now beginning to crowd the lane against him, Zeller is doing much more of his work outside of the paint.
Of his eight makes against the Sixers, four came on mid-range jumpers.
“I think it’s just opportunity,” Zeller said. “Especially against people like (Indiana Pacers center Roy) Hibbert who want do play down the floor, play against the basket, you can stretch the floor. I used it some my first two years in Cleveland, and now the opportunity’s there with being able to pick-and-pop in the middle. My teammates are realizing, and I’m showing them that I can shoot that, so they’re getting the ball to me.”
The development of Zeller’s mid-range game wasn’t spurred by any directives from the coaching staff, he said, though he’d sometimes get an earful if he passed up an open look.
“They yelled at me a couple of times when nobody was within five feet of me and I didn’t shoot it,” Zeller said with a smile, “but I don’t know if there was really any point where they made that (clear).”
Few expected Zeller to enjoy the level of success he is in his debut campaign with the Celtics. The third-year big is on pace to surpass or equal his career highs in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage, and the C’s are making an unforecasted push for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“I knew it was a great opportunity,” Zeller said. “I didn’t realize how great of an opportunity it was. I didn’t realize that I’d be this comfortable or fit in this well or enjoy playing with teammates like this as much as I do. It’s a great atmosphere to be around. It’s fun to play. We all look out for each other, we all push each other to play hard, to be in the right places. It’s a fun way to play.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
