Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics are putting a new stamp on Mazzulla Ball early this season, and it has shown up in the turnover column.
Boston’s offense has long been built around the three-ball, with the idea that a loaded shooting roster could live with the occasional cold night. Over the past year, though, the Celtics have layered in more backup plans for when the shots don’t drop.
Offensive rebounding was one of those answers last season, helping keep the attack elite even without Jayson Tatum for most of the year. The addition of Mitchell Robinson pointed to that approach still mattering, even with his struggles.
Now there’s another wrinkle: forcing turnovers.
That was not a Boston strength last season, when the Celtics averaged just 11.9 forced turnovers per game, better than only Denver. But through three games this year, the emphasis is obvious.
Boston forced 17 turnovers against Detroit, 18 against New York, and 25 against Chicago on Sunday night. That puts the Celtics tied for third in the league in forced turnovers per game, behind only Toronto and Atlanta.
The record is only 2-1, but the message is clear. Boston seems intent on making life harder for opponents by cutting down the number of possessions they get. That kind of pressure can be a major lever for a team trying to reach its ceiling.
The catch is that the Celtics also gave the ball away 25 times last night.
It didn’t end up costing them in the final result, but it is the kind of number that can’t keep showing up if Boston wants to make another deep playoff push. Forcing turnovers only matters if the Celtics win that battle overall. If they can take the ball away while also protecting it on the other end, they can tilt games even when the opponent is scorching from the floor.
The encouraging part is that Boston’s giveaways have not looked like lazy mistakes. They have come from trying to make the right read and execute the right play, even if it hasn’t always come together yet.
Robinson and Paul George have been part of that, and that is not a reason for alarm. They are new pieces, and there is still time for the fit to sharpen.
If that cleanup happens, the Celtics get even harder to deal with.
In Other News...
Baylor Scheierman Is Earning Celtics Trust In A Different Way
Baylor Scheierman is starting to win trust in a way that has nothing to do with his shot. In the Celtics 125-124 overtime win over the Nets, he made his biggest impact with defense, hustle and playmaking, filling the kind of glue-guy role that can change a game even when the box score does not jump off the page.
What stood out most was how he handled Michael Porter Jr., giving Boston a strong, disciplined possession on a night when every detail mattered. Scheierman also kept possessions alive and helped the Celtics create extra chances, a reminder that his value to this group can come from energy and awareness as much as scoring, which is exactly the sort of versatility Boston can keep leaning on. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Just Reframed A Celtics Story Fans Still Debate
Jaylen Brown pushed back on the latest round of Celtics chatter this week, denying reports that he ever tried to force Bostons hand with trade demands or a list of ultimatums. The noise had lingered after former player Brian Scalabrine floated the claim, and it was another reminder of how quickly a Brown storyline can spill into bigger questions about the franchise, even when the player himself has moved on to a different chapter with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown said his focus is on his current role in Philadelphia after the win over the Indiana Pacers, trying to keep the conversation centered on basketball instead of old debates about his standing in Boston. Scalabrine later walked back his original version of events, though he still took aim at Brown, leaving the broader discussion around the Celtics stars past and reputation very much alive. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Guard Depth Suddenly Has A Rotation Question Fans Will Watch
Bostons guard rotation had already been a talking point with Payton Pritchard showing he can create his own offense in isolation and Jayson Tatum back from Achilles rehab with a recent 40-point night, so there has been no shortage of backcourt intrigue around the Celtics. Add in the ongoing chatter about Jaylen Browns future, and the groups depth suddenly feels like one of the more interesting roster stories hanging over the early part of the season.
Devin Carter has now rejoined the Celtics after recovering from mononucleosis, giving the team another familiar name back in the building as he finishes his recovery process. Boston converted his deal to a two-way contract ahead of the season opener, but the real question for now is when he will be ready to factor into the mix and how that timing might affect a guard room that is already carrying plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]