Few coaches have higher expectations for their team than Boston Celtics (28-11) head coach Joe Mazzulla.
So when media members began questioning his team’s recent string of inconsistent play following its one-point victory over an abysmal New Orleans Pelicans (8-32) squad Sunday, Boston’s second-year coach happily leaned into the narrative.
Because even though his Celtics are just two wins shy of their record 39 games into last season — which just so happened to end in the team winning its NBA-record 18th championship — the line of questioning was affirmation for Mazzulla that others share his lofty expectations and the idea that his team has room to improve.
“What are we, the third-best team in the league right now?” Mazzulla told reporters following Boston’s 120-119 win, referencing the Eastern Conference leading Cleveland Cavaliers (33-5) and Western Conference leading Oklahoma City Thunder (32-6). “Which isn’t great, but look at — it sounds like a morgue in here. And that’s how it should be.”
Still, Sunday’s win could’ve easily turned out much differently. The Celtics survived a string of late-game turnovers, including a five-second call on an attempted inbounds play with seven seconds remaining. That turnover gave the lowly Pelicans one last chance at stealing a marque road win, but CJ McCollum’s last-second shot rimmed out much to the delight of the TD Garden crowd.
A 38-point, 11-rebound effort from Jayson Tatum led the Celtics, while Kristaps Porzingis (19 points, 11 rebounds) tallied his third straight double-double. Jaylen Brown (16 points, eight rebounds), Al Horford (11 points, seven rebounds) and Payton Prichard (11 points) also finished in double figures for Boston.
“I would say the ultimate compliment is that we’re 28-11 and these are the types of conversations that we’re having,” Mazzulla said when asked about his team’s uncharacteristic execution down the stretch. “So, it’s a beautiful place to be in. I’m serious. I think it’s great. It’s a great standard and a great expectation to have, and we have to deliver. And so, we all know that.”
The Pelicans, meanwhile, looked like a rejuvenated squad out of the gates with the return of All-Star forward Zion Williamson to the lineup, jumping out to a quick 11-point advantage in the opening frame. Williamson, who has played in just eight games for the Pelicans this season, had been suspended one game for being late to team activities after being cleared to play following a hamstring injury.
Williamson finished with 16 points in seven rebounds in 28 minutes of action, but Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with a team-high 30 points. Dejounte Murray (26 points, nine rebounds), McCollum (13 points), and Javonte Green (10 points) also finished in double figures for New Orleans.
The Pelicans will try to right the ship Friday evening when they travel to Chicago to face a Bulls (18-21) team that’s lost two of its last three outings. The Celtics will be back in action Wednesday when they travel north of the border to face a Toronto Raptors team (8-31) fresh off five straight losses.
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