Pregame Post-Ups: C’s Target Effort, Physicality as All-Star Looms

Eight games remain on the Boston Celtics’ schedule before they head to the NBA All-Star Break. Interim head coach Joe Mazzulla knows exactly what his team needs to do to keep their momentum going during the week-long break.

“Just keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Mazzulla said of a Celtics team that recorded a league-best 36 wins. “I think our guys have done a great job consistently doing what we do on both sides of the pitch, so it’s important to stay there. The effort should stay there. The physical must remain there.

If so, Boston should be able to drop another win in their win column tonight. After all, he faces a Brooklyn Nets team that will be missing two of its top three players, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons, and elite bench scorer TJ Warren. The Celtics have a clear talent advantage, especially with the return of starting center Robert Williams, and will be aiming for their second straight win after a three-game losing streak.

Since breaking that streak with a win over Los Angeles on Saturday night, Boston has enjoyed three days off before tonight’s game. The C’s used the first two days to rest, before returning to the training ground for the first time in two weeks to hone Mazzulla’s skills mentioned above.

“There are always areas on both sides of the ball where you can improve,” Mazzulla said, “and so yesterday we were able to highlight an area on each side of the ball that is important for us and we have to keep going. this (improvement).”

Boston’s ability to meet Mazzulla’s expectations not just tonight, but over the next two weeks, will determine the level of momentum it maintains through the break.