Joe Mazzulla explains late-game fouling strategy against Cavs

Celtics

The Celtics and Cavaliers went right into a foul frenzy in the ultimate minute of their game on Sunday night.

The two teams combined for 10 fouls within the last 26 seconds.

According to the coach, the Cavaliers, who ultimately defended their narrow lead, began fouling sooner than usual Kenny Atkinson. Cleveland caused Payton Pritchard to be fouled before taking a shot on two possessions, including a vital one, with five seconds left.

“I think 10 seconds is kind of our thing, but we fouled before that,” Atkinson said. “I was like, 'Fuck it,' we're going to foul. I don't want Payton Pritchard to come down and shoot a stepback three. You just feel it.”

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics' approach in such situations is to maintain the time as little as possible before a catch-and-shoot jumper comes up.

So the Celtics went foul after foul against the Cavs. The Celtics made 18 of their 19 free throws throughout the game, however the Cavs hit enough free throws in crucial time to take care of their lead.

The Cavs also made a defensive showing that Boston didn't expect on the ultimate possession, Mazzulla said.

“That's exactly how we did it, until you try to get in the lowest possible second, make a catch and shoot,” Mazzulla said when asked how he teaches players to handle such situations. “They did a great job, you see it a lot in the plays that start from the half court line, and that was the first time a team did some kind of zone against it, and so they did a good job on defense. “

“It forced us – you know, in this situation you're looking for a catch and a shot,” Mazzulla said. “They did a good job of not getting fouled and got it to the point where we couldn’t catch and shoot the ball and we didn’t have a timeout.”

In those situations, the Celtics search for a niche within the defense where they’ll get the ball to a player who can't be fouled and discover a approach to get out of a catch-and-shoot jumper, Mazzulla said.

There was no such gap on Pritchard's critical possession. Kristaps Porzingis passed for Pritchard, Drew Peterson ran to the other corner to create space, and Jayson Tatum cut behind the sprinting Pritchard.

Jrue Holiday passed the ball to Pritchard, who was immediately double-teamed by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Mobley fouled Pritchard before he could shoot a three-pointer, forcing the guard to make two free throws as a substitute of a potentially game-winning shot.

“It was smart of them to do that,” Porzingis said. “We obviously had some movement and tried to get an open look, but I don't think it was really there. I think Payton made a play and got fouled, and that's how it went. It’s like adjustment against adjustment, and honestly they did a good job tonight.”