Joe Mazzulla explains late-game fouling strategy against Cavs

By Khari A.

Thompson The Celtics and Cavaliers found themselves locked into a fouling frenzy during the closing minute of their matchup on Sunday night.

The two teams combined for 10 fouls over the final 26 seconds.

The Cavaliers, who ultimately held on to their slim lead, began fouling earlier than usual, according to coach Kenny Atkinson .

Cleveland made sure to foul Payton Pritchard before he got a shot off on a pair of posessions, including a crucial one with five seconds remaining.

I think 10 seconds is kind of our thing but we fouled before, Atkinson said.

I was like screw that, were fouling.

I dont want to see Payton Pritchard come down and shoot a stepback three.

You just feel it.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics approach in those situations is trying to get the clock as low as possible before getting a catch and shoot jumper up.

So, the Celtics went foul-for-foul with the Cavs.

The Celtics made 18 of their 19 free throws during the game, but the Cavs knocked down enough crunch time free-throws to preserve their lead.

The Cavs also threw out a defensive look that on the final possession Boston wasnt expecting, Mazzulla said.

Exactly how we did it until you try to get to the lowest possible second and get up a catch and shoot, Mazzulla said when asked how he teaches players to approach such situations.

They did a great job, youll see it a lot in those plays starting from half court and that was the first time a team had kind of gone zone against it and so they did a good job defending it.

It forced us you know, youre looking for a catch and shoot in that situation, Mazzulla said.

So you dont get fouled and they did a good job forcing it into that where we couldnt get a catch and shoot and we didnt have a timeout.

In those situations, the Celtics are look for a gap in the defense where they can get the ball to a player who cant be fouled and find a way to get off a catch and shoot jumper, Mazzulla said.

There was no such gap on the critical Pritchard possession.

Kristaps Porzingis screened for Pritchard, Drew Peterson ran to the opposite corner to space the floor, and Jayson Tatum cut behind the sprinting Pritchard.

Jrue Holiday inbounded the ball to Pritchard, who was immediately double-teamed by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.

Mobley fouled Pritchard before he could heave a 3-pointer, forcing the guard to take two free-throws instead of a potential game-tying shot.

It was smart for them to do that, Porzingis said.

We had some movement obviously and tried to get an open look which I think wasnt there really.

I think Payton made a play and got fouled and thats how it went.

Its like adjustment against adjustment and they did a good job tonight honestly.

Khari A.

Thompson Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com.

Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

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