Joe Mazzulla Gives Reasoning Behind Not Calling Time Out In Celtics Vs 76ers Game 4

Boston lost Game 4 against the 76ers on Sunday, 116-115, and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has come under fire for his expensive choice not to call a timeout during overtime. With 19 seconds left in the game, Mazzulla decided to let the Celtics continue playing despite having two timeouts left to use.

Joe Mazzulla Gives Reasoning Behind Not Calling Time Out In Celtics Vs 76ers Game 4

In the fourth game of the Celtics-76ers series, the outcome was decided by tenths of a second in overtime. Marcus Smart, a Boston guard, launched a possible game-winning 3-pointer that landed in the hoop, but the shot was disallowed because Smart had the ball in his hands when the final buzzer sounded.

After the game, Mazzulla first justified his choice by saying that he had trusted his squad in those circumstances all season. But on Monday, Mazzulla said that it probably would have been wise to call a timeout after it became evident that Boston was having trouble getting a good shot.

“I should have called to assist us get a 2-for-1 or gain a few more possessions, in hindsight is 20/20, he added. “Obviously, with 14 seconds remaining and a one-goal deficit, you want as many opportunities as you can. Therefore, take that lesson to heart.”

“The play was that. We simply needed to play a little bit faster. We were matched up correctly. At the rim, Jayson [Tatum] made the proper move after descending. There, we only needed to play a little bit faster. That, however, was the play.”

Simply make the proper reading, which I believe he did. Tyrese Maxey made the perfect play when we got him in the pick-and-roll. We simply didn’t play quickly enough.

On Sunday, Boston had two chances to win at the very last second, once in regulation and once in overtime, but it was unable to do so despite overturning a 16-point deficit.

Philadelphia outscored the visitors 7-2 in the last two minutes, but the Celtics had three possessions during that time, scored on one, and got solid looks on all three of their shots, including a clear opportunity for Marcus Smart to make the game-winning three.

Jayson Tatum attempted to locate an open shot after James Harden sank a three-pointer in overtime with 19 seconds remaining, but he ultimately passed the ball to Marcus Smart, who was unable to get a shot off in time.

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