Joe Mazzulla: How the Celtics replaced Marcus Smart’s toughness
On Wednesday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla broke down how the Celtics have replaced Marcus Smart’s toughness.
I don’t know if we have nasty…
Phil Perry: I’m wondering how you’ve made up for what you’ve lost in Marcus Smart when it comes to the toughness quotient on your team? Do you feel like you’re still trying to find that out?
Joe Mazzulla: No. I mean, I think we have it. I think one, you know, toughness looks different for different players. I think that’s something that you try to highlight with the the addition of Jrue (Holiday) and Kristaps (Porzingis) and Derrick’s (White) role and what Jayson (Tatum) and Jaylen (Brown) have done over the years and Peyton (Pritchard) and Sam (Hauser). It’s really our entire team, like toughness just looks different and sometimes it speaks loudy if it’s loose balls or if it’s taking charges, if it’s hustle plays, if it’s fighting through screens.
But it also can just be like, playing every single night or making a right play over and over again. So I think on both ends of the floor, toughness just looks different. And, it’s more just highlighting the strengths, the players that we have now and, yeah, I kind of said that before when, you know, when when Marcus was not here. We’re not going to be able to replace him, but it’s gonna look different. You know, but we want to maintain that identity of toughness and I think all of our guys have done a good job of that.
Marc Bertrand: So I’m about to use an adjective that I think has a negative connotation. and that is Marcus Smart could be nasty. I mean that in a good way, right? The guy with real edge and could be nasty and could get in the face of an opposing player and, you know, had that sort of thing to him. Who’s that guy on this team now? Because you see guys in private moments, you know, in a practice that’s a tough practice that might get heated. Who is that person?
Joe Mazzulla: I don’t know if we have like nasty, but I think it looks different. So I think, you know, Jaylen’s ability to just lock in on a player and pick up full court, like that’s big time. You know, Jrue’s ability to fight through screens and guard different players like that’s different. Derrick’s ability to like, block shots, and dive on loose balls and get back tips. Jayson’s ability in the game with a game winning block.
Kristaps, his ability on the offensive line to just bury guys in the post and his block shots, you saw like kind of really glimpses of that against Houston at home in the third quarter. I think Payton’s changed games with his offensive rebounding, and his hustle plays. I think Luke’s (Kornet) has played at a different level of his physicality. It’s more about how you perceive our guys and I think we have a very tough team and each guy represents that differently, you know.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 19: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on November 19, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
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Celtics linked to multiple centers ahead of NBA trade deadline
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 25: Andre Drummond #3 of the Chicago Bulls reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at the United Center on October 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The NBA trade deadline is just a few days away. Teams have until Thursday, February 8 at 3 p.m. to get any last deals in.
This year’s Boston Celtics roster feels as complete as any has at the deadline in recent memory. On top of that the C’s have a nice cushion in the standings, entering Tuesday a full five games up on the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t moves to be made.
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One spot in particular the Celtics could look to add is in the front court with depth thin at that spot. According to a new report, that’s an option they’re exploring.
On Monday, NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype published a list of NBA trade deadline rumors. That included three players he says the Celtics have “expressed interest in.”
Of those three players, two are big men – Andre Drummond from the Chicago Bulls and former Celtic Kelly Olynyk, who is currently with the Utah Jazz. Scotto also included Washington Wizards guard Delon Wright as a player the Celtics have shown interest in.
Which of the three would be the best fit in Boston at the deadline? Here’s a look at each…
Andre Drummond
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 11: Andre Drummond #3 of the Chicago Bulls works against Bobby Portis #9 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on December 11, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Drummond, 30, has played in 50 games for Chicago this year making seven starts. He’s averaging 7.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game. At 6-foot-11, 279 pounds he’d add a serious physical presence at the rim on both ends of the floor for the Celtics. Drummond is in the final year of his contract, which was worth a total of $3.36 million for the 2023-2024 season.
Kelly Olynyk
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 05: Kelly Olynyk #41 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 05, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Originally drafted by the Celtics in 2013, Olynyk spent his first five NBA seasons as a role player in Boston. Since then, he’s played for four teams in eight years, and is currently reunited with Danny Ainge in Utah. Would Ainge do a deal with Brad Stevens to send Olynyk, 32, back to Boston? Olynyk’s ability to play on the perimeter at 6-foot-11, 240 pounds would certainly work with the Celtics’ current play style.
In 49 games this year Olynyk is averaging 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while shooting 56 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from three. He’s on an expiring contract that is worth $12.1 million for this season, which would make a deal difficult with the Celtics’ current financial outlook.
Delon Wright
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Delon Wright #55 of the Washington Wizards dribbles to the hoop against Tre Jones #33 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
The lone guard on this list, Wright has played in 28 games for the Wizards this year averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 assists in 15.2 minutes per game. The 31-year-old would help strengthen a Celtics backcourt that includes Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Payton Pritchard. Wright’s expiring contract is worth just over $8 million, which would be a challenge for the Celtics to take on.
