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A strategic tweak changed everything for Celtics rookie in Knicks win
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- A strategic tweak changed everything for Celtics rookie in Knicks win
The Celtics were facing a seven-point deficit against the Knicks when Hugo Gonzalez got the call to enter the game at the start of the second quarter. For the next 12 minutes, Joe Mazzulla was unable to take him out as Boston turned the game around in part due to the rookie’s defensive spark.
The 19-year-old guarded everyone from Karl-Anthony Towns to Jalen Brunson while helping limit the Knicks to a 20-point second quarter. The Celtics erased a double-digit deficit in the frame and ultimately held on for a 123-117 win against their division rivals.
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Gonzalez had largely been the odd man out of the rotation recently, having not played more than nine minutes in a game since November 9. However, he finished with a career-high 23 minutes against the Knicks, with his defensive versatility and effort standing out in Boston’s biggest comeback win of the year.
The performance left a major impression with teammates along with Joe Mazzulla.
“I thought whenever we put Hugo, he just did a good job of getting underneath him, just kind of being physical with him, and you saw just kind of the depth of our team throughout some of that game, and it started with Hugo and finished with Josh and Jordan.
“I think I just see him being a dog,” Jordan Walsh said. “Every day, everywhere, you just see the way he works out. He’s like zipping. It’s also cool to see—I love when he gets in the game. Last time we played New York he did a great job on Brunson. He obviously did the same thing this time. I thought he did a great job. Him and Josh came in and gave great minutes, were amazing contributors. They made the difference in the game, I feel like.”
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Mazzulla’s shift to playing more small ball lineups should open the door for more minutes for Gonzalez as Josh Minott and Jordan Walsh spend additional time at center. The entire wing trio had their moments in the win as Luka Garza earned his second straight DNP-CD.
“I thought whenever we put Hugo, he just did a good job of getting underneath him,” Mazzulla said. “Just kind of being physical with him, and you saw just kind of the depth of our team throughout some of that game, and it started with Hugo and finished with Josh and Jordan.”
Despite being the youngest player on the roster, Mazzulla also praised Gonzalez’s defensive acumen while facing the Knicks firepower.
“He’s got good defensive instincts, which most younger players don’t have,” Mazzulla said. “I think that just comes from being well coached and playing in a league where you have to play team defense, and you’re constantly in rotations, you’re in 1-on-2s, you’re physical at the point of attack, you have to really understand spaces. I mean, he’s just been well coached and has played high-level basketball for a long time. I think that just gives him his defensive instincts, and he pays attention to detail and has an understanding of tendencies.”
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Mazzulla’s gameplan will certainly change based on the opponent but he’s clearly trending more towards small ball now. Garza has only played five minutes in the last three games and the Celtics continue to find success with smaller looks. Gonzalez has plenty of competition for minutes on the wing, but there may be room for everyone to get a chance now if Mazzulla sticks with his rotation tweak.
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