Celtics Coach’s Epic Reaction To Derrick White’s Game Winner: ‘Game 7’

Derrick White, Boston Celtics, NBA News
NBA Analysis Network

After the Boston Celtics won Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat on a game-winning tip-in by Derrick White at the buzzer, Joe Mazzulla was asked by NBA reporters what went through his mind during White’s stellar play.

Surprisingly, the Celtics coach didn’t have an emotional response.

“Nothing. Game 7,” Mazzulla said.

The Celtics are looking to become the first team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0. Even though Boston has momentum in the series, though, Mazzulla says the team can’t relax.

“I mean, there is no guarantee,” Mazzulla said. “We just have to understand why we’re still alive. The mindset doesn’t shift. Just can’t relax.”

NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Derrick White, Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics & Miami Heat Updates

Game 7 is in Boston at the TD Garden. The Celtics lost Games 1 and 2 of this series at home but won Game 5. Mazzulla believes his team is one of the best locker rooms he’s ever been a part of.

“Yeah, they’re just resilient,” Mazzulla said. “I’ve said it throughout the year, that’s one of the best locker rooms I’ve ever been a part of. It starts with them. They have a togetherness. They have a connectivity. At their hardest times, they stick by each other and they’ve done that for a long time. So credit to them.

“Faith, love, togetherness, physicality, belief, hope, all those things combined. But it starts with the locker room. Those guys had a choice to make and they chose to believe in each other.”

NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Derrick White, Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics & Miami Heat Updates

At the end of his Game 6 postgame press conference, Mazzulla was asked about Al Horford and Robert Williams and the 34-year-old didn’t mince words about his two big men.

“Those two guys, they don’t probably get enough credit,” Mazzulla said. “They’re just staples for us on both ends of the floor. When they play with a level of physicality and presence for us, we’re a different team. There’s a bunch of guys on our team that have different gifts that they bring to the table outside of basketball and Al and Rob are two guys that bring a sense of joy and just bring a sense of steadiness. We really rely on them for that.”

The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals will face the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

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