Boston Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla Faces Flak For Trying To Block Royce O’Neale’s Shot – News18

The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns on Thursday to increase their profitable streak and they’re presently main the Eastern Conference standings. Joe Mazzulla, the coach of the Celtics, made an uncommon in-recreation choice that has gained a number of consideration. Jaylen Brown, a star participant for the Celtics, intercepted a move within the fourth quarter and raced the opposite approach for a spectacular slam.

After the whistle for a timeout on account of a turnover, Suns’ Royce O’Neale tried to shoot the ball. Mazzulla was near O’Neale when he started to stroll onto the ground following Frank Vogel signalled an finish to the proceedings on the other finish with three minutes remaining in Boston’s 127-112 victory over the Suns. The whistle was blown, however the Suns ahead, who had obtained an outlet move, nonetheless wished to get off a shot.

Mazzulla has achieved a sure repute for going viral throughout his stint because the coach of the Boston Celtics, by which he’s but to complete two full seasons. Mazzulla has a number of memorable moments, starting from his unabashed ardour for jiu-jitsu to watching the Boston-based heist film The Town 4 instances per week to provide himself a “Boston mindset.”⁠ Though the incident with O’Neale may high every part else.

“I saw a guy going in to try to get a shot, and he hadn’t made one. And I didn’t want him to feel good about himself going to the bench,” Mazzulla mentioned, as per The Athletic.

“[Boston Globe writer] Gary [Washburn] asked me about that a month ago, and that’s a bench rule. Guys don’t shoot shots in front of our bench to go back to their bench to feel good about themselves. If I’m gonna ask the guys to contest, the staff’s gotta do the same,” he added.

The incident didn’t go down effectively with NBA legend Charles Barkley who said that O’Neale may have been injured. “I would’ve knocked the hell out of him. I’m not gonna lie. I would’ve hit him … I’ll tell you why I don’t like it. What if he stepped on his ankle and hurt himself badly? He can’t do that. Come on, man,” he mentioned on TNT’s ‘NBA on TNT’, as per Sportskeeda.

Jaylen Brown was the star performer of the fixture as he registered a recreation-excessive 37 factors, together with 5 3-pointers. For the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker scored 23 factors within the recreation.