The Boston Celtics fell short, en route to capturing Banner 18, in the league’s inaugural regular-season tournament now referred to as the NBA Cup.
Formerly known as the “In-Season Tournament,” the Celtics went 3-2 and fell short to the Indiana Pacers in the quarterfinal round. It wasn’t the goal for Boston but that didn’t stop head coach Joe Mazzulla from treating the meaningless — and very entertaining — early-season competition as if it were a life-and-death situation. Mazzulla pulled out a “Hack-a-Shaq” defensive scheme on Andre Drummond and the Chicago Bulls, helping the Celtics increase their point differential to advance from group play.
Unsportsmanlike? That’s up for debate. Effective? Absolutely. In any other instance, without Mazzulla, a Celtics-Bulls November matchup would typically be a snoozefest. But with stakes involved and Mazzulla’s competitive nature incapable of taking a night off, Boston used Chicago for one of the campaign’s most memorable contests.
Now, with a second chance to snag a second title in the past four months, the Celtics can shame the Los Angeles Lakers — last season’s tournament champs — once again. Before the NBA Cup festivities commence on Nov. 12 against the Atlanta Hawks, Boston unveiled its new court design set to debut in less than three weeks.
Here’s a look at the (very) green floor, officially introduced by the Celtics on Thursday.
Story continues below advertisement
“I think (its) been a success, so far,” Jaylen Brown said last season, per CLNS Media. “I think it’s definitely generated the type of competition, the viewership that the league, that the players association was kind of looking for. I think that was the positive. I know the point differential was something that maybe is being talked about, but I think a lot of positives overall from the idea that has emerged now into being the In-Season Tournament. … For the most part, I think everybody was kind of in the same boat; they didn’t hate it but they didn’t love it either.”
Featured image via Bob DeChiara/Imagn Images
