In a league where rotations are typically fine-tuned and substitution patterns follow a predictable rhythm, Joe Mazzulla broke the mold Monday night. With his Boston Celtics trailing the Indiana Pacers and looking lifeless midway through the game, Mazzulla didn’t just tweak the lineup-he hit the reset button.
Five in, five out. A full-line change, hockey style.
It was a bold move, the kind you don’t often see in today’s NBA. But it worked.
The Celtics, flat and unfocused through the first half, found their spark after Mazzulla swapped out the starters for a full bench unit. That second group brought energy, effort, and a jolt of momentum that shifted the game’s tone. Boston clawed back in the third quarter and took control in the fourth, ultimately grinding out a 103-95 win at TD Garden to notch their 18th victory of the season.
After the game, Mazzulla didn’t shy away from the decision-he leaned into it.
“We always talk about depth,” he said. “We always have 12-13 guys that are able to help us win games at any different moment.”
And that wasn’t just coach-speak. Monday night was a real-time example of what that kind of depth can do when called upon. The bench didn’t just hold the line-they flipped the game.
“I just thought it was a good opportunity to utilize the depth that we have,” Mazzulla continued. “You saw a game where depth comes in many different ways.”
He’s right. Sometimes it’s a spark off the bench.
Sometimes it’s a fresh five-man unit that injects life into a sluggish team. Either way, it’s a luxury not every team has-but the Celtics clearly do.
“At any point in time, everybody on our bench can impact winning,” Mazzulla added. “It’s just a great opportunity to take advantage of the depth that we have.”
That’s exactly what happened. The bench didn’t light up the box score with gaudy numbers, but they changed the pace, brought defensive intensity, and played with a sense of urgency that had been missing.
It was a reminder that in an 82-game season, it’s not just about stars. It’s about who can step up when the energy dips and the rhythm is off. On this night, Boston’s bench answered that call-and Mazzulla wasn’t afraid to trust them with the moment.
Sometimes, coaching is about feel. And on Monday night, Mazzulla felt the moment-and made a move that paid off in a big way.