Joe Mazzulla Explains Why the Celtics Leaned Into Speed Against the Heat

After years as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, the Celtics are struggling to find their identity on that end of the floor. Joe Mazzulla’s new-look team is currently ranked 18th in the NBA for defensive rating, allowing 115.1 points per 100 possessions.

Boston’s lack of depth at the center position is playing its part in those defensive struggles. Since the Nov. 23 game against the Orlando Magic, where Neemias Queta got hurt early, Mazzulla has leaned into a small-ball lineup with his second unit. Luka Garza has been completely out of the rotation.

So, when the Celtics secured an impressive 129-116 win over the Miami Heat on Friday, Dec. 19, it was no surprise that the team’s offense and pace stood out.

“It’s easy to see the negative side, but the positive is we just played so much faster on the offensive end, and we created good looks, and we got those,” Mazzulla said during his postgame news conference, via CLNS Media. “… What went well was our offense. They weren’t able to switch us, they weren’t able to steer us, they weren’t able to keep us out of the paint.”

“We were able to create a lot of two-on-ones with our speed,” Mazzulla continued. “So, I thought that was the tale in the second half. Obviously, we have to get better…And there are 20 possessions that we have to get better at… Tonight it was about just kind of the offensive pace and speed that we had that kind of got us good looks against a team that’s one of the best defensive teams in the league.”

As the season progresses, Mazzulla will likely continue to experiment with his lineups and rotations. There’s a chance that Garza could find himself back in the mix, and at that point, Boston’s second unit would have some much-needed size. Or, Brad Stevens could make a trade to add another big man to the rotation.

Until a change to the small-ball lineup occurs, Boston will continue to lean into its offensive upside. After all, they have the scoring talent and athleticism to sustain a high-tempo offense. However, finding a balance between offensive and defensive production must still be the goal, as that’s how championship teams are built.