The Celtics are heading out on a six-game highway journey that can take them by way of 4 time zones beginning on Saturday. After a feel-good win over the Blazers, it’s an opportunity for the C’s to construct on some success and create momentum at a vital juncture of their season.
But Joe Mazzulla couldn’t care much less about the place they’re taking part in for the following 11 days.
“The road trip doesn’t matter,” the Celtics coach stated after Thursday’s apply. “It doesn’t matter if we’re taking part in at house or on the highway. We should play the video games, we now have to have the habits, we now have to execute. So I don’t actually give a crap in regards to the highway journey.
“What I care about is the carryover and the awareness to the execution, how we manage the game and what that looks like when we do it well, and what it looks like when we don’t do it well.”
Malcolm Brogdon stated earlier this week the objective of the highway journey is to go undefeated. On paper, that’s attainable. Four of the six video games are in opposition to opponents with information at .500 or worse, however they end the journey in opposition to the surging Kings, who’re second within the Western Conference.
With 15 video games remaining within the common season, the Celtics are centered on taking part in with a way of urgency to get in a groove earlier than the playoffs. An extended journey like this with a number of winnable video games might assist.
“Just for the simple fact of it’s not that many regular season games left and this thing is getting ready to start off and get off to the races,” Marcus Smart stated. “So, for us, being able to know that we don’t have any games left in the regular season, that we need to come together, and we need to start acting like this is it for us and every game matters and get into that rhythm. And I think that’s just gonna help us continue to be closer.”
The C’s are two video games behind the Bucks for the No. 1 spot within the Eastern Conference, however they’re conserving the deal with themselves as an alternative of worrying about chasing the highest seed.
“I think the situation that we’re in right now, we can’t really control what seed we get from the standpoint of we can’t get to the No. 1 seed by things that are out of our control,” Mazzulla stated. “I feel it’s extra about the identical habits that had been initially of the yr. We gotta deal with what we do properly after which can we do it for lengthy stretches at a time. I feel there’s such a small separation within the NBA of an excellent workforce to a very good workforce and people come right down to additional time video games, possessions, finish of quarters, all these little issues.
“The more that we just build an awareness to those, manage those, and work through this, I think that’s gonna help us a lot.”
Smart backs VanVleet
Smart was listening when Raptors guard Fred VanVleet blasted NBA official Ben Taylor in addition to officiating throughout the league after Toronto’s loss to the Clippers on Wednesday.
“I thought Ben Taylor was (expletive) terrible tonight,” VanVleet stated. “Most nights, out of the three (officials), there’s one or two that just (expletive) the game up. It’s been like that a couple games in a row. … Most of the refs are trying hard. I like a lot of the refs, they’re trying hard, they’re pretty fair, they communicate well, but then you have the other ones who just want to be (expletive) and it just kind of (expletive) the game up. Nobody’s coming to see that (expletive). They’re coming to see the players. I think we’re losing a little bit of the fabric of what the NBA is and was, and it’s been disappointing this season.”
VanVleet later added: “There’s a fine line, obviously. I understand that. But I think the jurisdiction and the power trip that we’ve been on this year with some of our officials in this league is getting out of hand. I’ll take my fine for speaking on it, but it’s (expletive) ridiculous.”
Smart has run into heavy foul hassle in latest video games and requested Thursday about the way in which he’s been referred to as, he referenced VanVleet.
“I don’t know if you guys have seen Fred VanVleet’s interview,” Smart stated. “That’s all I’m gonna say. Obviously, it lets you know that I’m not speaking out of my butt. And I’m not the only one that feels that way. So I’m gonna let Fred do all the talking.”
Smart stated that in his profession, there have been a number of officers he feels have had private vendettas in opposition to him.
“They have bad days, just like we do,” Smart stated. “So it’s only fair to notice and understand and have empathy in the fact that sometimes they’re gonna let their emotions get the best of them and make calls and judgment calls the way that they officiate. It happens. As players we just want that consistency. Just like for us, we get emotional, too. But, for us, we get in trouble for it. And we just want that consistency around. And that’s it. So I had that in the past but, like I said, I’m going to let Fred do all my talking around that.”
Injury report
Smart stated he “re-tweaked” his proper ankle, the identical one he sprained in January and compelled him to overlook 11 video games, on Wednesday however “everything is good.” … Payton Pritchard, who missed Wednesday’s sport with heel ache, might have an prolonged absence, in line with Mazzulla. The coach isn’t certain what the guard’s timetable is, however stated Pritchard is coping with a whole lot of ache. … Robert Williams (hamstring) is about to affix the Celtics on the highway journey and will return subsequent week.
Source: www.bostonherald.com