PHILADELPHIA — With their season on the brink, Joe Mazzulla decided to change things up for the Celtics.
As the Celtics faced elimination on Thursday night, the Celtics went to a starting lineup that’s given them great success in the past. Robert Williams started over Derrick White for their do-or-die Game 6 against the 76ers, giving the Celtics the double-big lineup with Williams and Al Horford that they haven’t used much in the postseason.
“Just give us a different look,” Mazzulla explained. “I think at his best, Rob gives us a lift, especially on the defensive end. So, looking for that.”
The Celtics used a starting five that included Williams and Horford in their run to the NBA Finals last season. But Williams missed the first 29 games of the season after having knee surgery, and White assumed his role in the starting lineup and excelled in it, giving the C’s a five-out look with all shooters on the floor.
Williams had been playing a reduced role in this series against the Sixers, logging just 18.1 minutes per game over the first five games. But White’s play in this series has declined after a strong performance in the Hawks series. The Celtics were minus-10 when White was on the floor and plus-39 when he was off the court in the first five games, and the usual starting lineup produced a minus-6.1 net rating.
Meanwhile, Williams was plus-21 in his limited playing time in this series entering Thursday. Williams and Horford played 332 minutes together in the regular season and posted a plus-104, but had only played seven minutes together in the first five games of this series.
Williams’ last start came on April 7. He only made 20 starts this season.
“I just thought it was best for our personnel and our team, and then tonight, I think it’s what’s best to help us get out to a good start,” Mazzulla said.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers said he expected the Celtics to make this lineup change.
“They haven’t done it much in our series, but we expected it today,” Rivers said. “We worked on it all morning. We expected it a little bit in the last game and didn’t see it. I think their highest plus/minus is with that lineup, if I’m not mistaken. So, it’s not anything that we didn’t expect.”
With the Celtics digging themselves a 3-2 series hole under Mazzulla, there’s been a narrative that Rivers – who has over two decades more head-coaching experience than Mazzulla – is out-coaching him and that the Sixers have a massive advantage on the sidelines. But Rivers pushed back on that idea.
“I just think they’re very prepared,” Rivers said. “I know you get a young coach and everything that doesn’t happen, it’s his fault. Just like if you get an old coach and everything doesn’t happen, it’s his fault. That’s just the way it works. At the end of the day, they look very prepared to me. I think we’re prepared.”
Jayson Tatum was among several athletes and social media influencers who were announced on Thursday as part of team ownership groups for Major League Pickleball. Tatum will join Haley Jones, the top pick in this year’s WNBA draft, and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as part owners of the Los Angeles Mad Drops, which also includes Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees as part of the ownership group.
Pickleball – a paddle sport that blends elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong – has become the fastest growing sports in the United States over the last few years, according to data from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. MLP, which was founded in 2021, has expanded from eight to 24 teams.
Other owners announced by the MLP on Thursday included Chicago Bulls forward Zach Lavine, world chess champion Magnus Carlsen and WNBA champion Jewell Loyd. Tom Brady, LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes and Kevin Durant are among other previously invested owners of the league.
“It is thrilling to add this collection of influential athletes and entertainers to Major League Pickleball’s team ownership groups,” MLP founder Steve Kuhn said. “Their ability to reach young fans will be a key component in helping MLP and the sport of pickleball continue on our current rapid growth track.”