The Boston Celtics just wrapped up their third preseason win, clocking in a wild 311 offensive possessions and scoring 381 points in games they’ve won by an average of 23.3 points. That’s a ridiculous 1.22 points per possession, showing this team means business even before the regular season kicks off. Against the Charlotte Hornets, Joe Mazzulla’s crew got a different kind of test, facing high-level rim protection from Naz Reid and Moussa Diabate, who were starting for Charles Lee’s squad. Charlotte played tough, no doubt, but Boston’s strong march toward the regular season just kept rolling.
Mazzulla’s Mad Science Lab Is Open for Business
You gotta expect some weird stuff in preseason, right? Quirky rotations and wild substitution patterns are just part of the deal. So, when Mazzulla threw out a lineup with Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Payton Pritchard, it definitely raised some eyebrows. I was intrigued, and I bet you were, too. That wasn’t the only curveball. Hugo Gonzalez only saw four minutes in the first half, with Sam Hauser taking some of his time even though Hauser went scoreless in his nine minutes. Jordan Walsh, a starter for the second straight game, only got six minutes in the first two quarters. It was more of the same after halftime, with Hauser getting another nine minutes and Gonzalez playing two-thirds of the fourth quarter. It’s clear Mazzulla is out there gathering intel, trying everything under the sun, and getting film to see what sticks, what fails, and what could be huge with a few adjustments. He even told the media, “I have a deep bench, a lot of depth, so I just want to give every look imaginable so that you know we’re able to have a general idea of how we want to attack it defensively and offensively when the season starts.” This dude is serious about leaving no stone unturned.
Offense Gets Creative, Defense Is Locked In
Those curveballs weren’t just for show, either. They actually made the Celtics a nightmare to guard. Imagine trying to cover three shooters, two of whom can attack off the dribble, read the court, and create their own shots or set up others, plus two major lob threats and rebounders in Robinson and Queta. That lineup gave Boston a real presence from all three scoring levels, putting Charlotte’s pick-and-roll defense in some seriously uncomfortable spots. Boston’s willingness to drive to the basket was a welcome sight, especially since they had some forgettable shooting from deep, including not one, but two airballs from Paul George, from what I saw. But honestly, the real difference maker was the Celtics’ ability to impact shots on defense. They were shutting down driving lanes, forcing super tough looks, switching with purpose, and jumping passing lanes like crazy. All of that added up to an absolutely stellar defensive effort, holding Charlotte to just 93 points on 75 shots.
This team is clearly using the preseason to iron out every single detail and test every possible combination. With their final preparations underway, you just know they are looking forward to bringing that intensity and versatility into the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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