A late-game call made by Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla during his team’s 117-94 victory over Toronto on Saturday night at TD Garden was criticized by the Raptors.
With 3:39 remaining in the fourth quarter and a 27-point lead over the Raptors, Mazzulla used a coach’s challenge. The Raptors bench burst into flames when a number of players confronted Mazzulla in a furious manner, accusing him of acting disrespectfully amid a lopsided victory.
After the game, Raptors guard Dennis Schröder told Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, “Up 30 you’re not supposed to challenge nothing.” “You’re the winner; three minutes remain. You shouldn’t treat us with such disdain.
The loss reduced Toronto to 4-5 in the early season. Schröder, a former player for the Celtics, finished with 14 points and four assists.
It would be unfair to characterize Mazzulla’s decision to challenge a close possession play as “disrespectful” given that it had no bearing on the outcome of the game.
Mazzulla handled an NBA game like an NBA game, which makes sense. The second-year head coach sees no need to approach the game any differently, whether the starters or reserves are on the court. If Toronto takes offense at that, then improving its 38.5 field goal shooting—compared to Boston’s 54.7—would be a positive start.
As shown on NBC Sports Boston’s postgame coverage, Mazzulla told reporters, “I don’t really agree or disagree.” “I believe that my players are my first priority at the end of the day. And, you know, with all due respect to the game, we have encountered situations in which we failed to make the final shot. We constantly let the clock to run out.
