Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla on whether Boston will continue using small ball lineups vs. larger teams

“We have to be ready to answer that call, whether we’re small, or big,” he explained.

It isn’t very often that one might consider a return of your ball club’s best three centers a potential liability, but with the Boston Celtics having seemingly unlocked an answer to the sort of long, physical teams that have given them trouble in the past, head coach Joe Mazzulla downplayed any such concerns ahead of Boston’s rematch with the Orlando Magic Sunday.

“Every game precedes different challenges,” he explained, pointing out that Boston has had success and issues playing larger teams like Orlando both big and small in the recent past. “I think it’s … can you play different identities?”

“So, there are speed challenges in transition, but there’s also physical challenges, so I expect them to double down on their physicality, especially on their drives, especially on their offensive rebounds,” added Mazzulla.

“We have to be ready to answer that call, whether we’re small, or big.”

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