The Boston Celtics never seem to take a night off. They play hard on both ends of the floor every game, giving max effort for a full 48 minutes.
It’s a big reason why they’ve managed to stay so successful this year without Jayson Tatum. They’ve been one of the best teams in NBA, going 29-18 and ranking third in net rating.
Even when they’ve lost, the Celtics have usually managed to keep things close. Only five of their 18 losses have come by double digits, and three of them happened before Veterans’ Day. By comparison, six of their losses have been by one possession.
Despite being shorthanded this year, Boston rarely gets blown out and plays hard until the end.
Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell recently asked Joe Mazzulla why that is. He deflected taking credit for it, praising his players instead.
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“I never thought about that, but I would imagine it’s just, guys play hard,” Mazzulla said. “It’s just a credit to them as players, they take pride in playing. I’ve never put too much thought into that, but I guess it would be because of the players.”
Part of the reason is that Boston has a young, hungry roster this year full of players trying to prove themselves and earn steady playing time. Minutes aren’t guaranteed with Mazzulla, who will bench his starters when necessary and doesn’t allow anyone to get complacent.
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It also helps that they practice hard and are well-conditioned, which helps them persevere through back-to-backs, long road trips and tense fourth quarters.
Mazzulla sets the tone with his intensity, and his players follow suit. Everybody grinds and nothing is taken for granted, as they know they need to fight for every point, rebound and victory. So far, that mentality is paying off.
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Featured image via David Butler II/Imagn Images
