Joe Mazzulla Makes Key Admission Following Celtics Loss

The Boston Celtics fell to their fifth defeat of the season on Monday. Defensive rebounding doomed the Celtics once again, as Will Hardy’s Utah Jazz secured a 105-103 victory courtesy of a last-gasp offensive rebound and putback.

When addressing the media after the game, Joe Mazzulla provided a blunt assessment of his team’s overall performance. The fourth-year head coach pinpointed the Celtics’ third-quarter performance as the swing point in the contest.

“They got the best of us,” Mazzulla said, via CLNS Media. “I mean, they just played better. They played harder, better than we did during that quarter.”

Utah outscored Boston 38-26 in the third. It dominated on the glass, ending the 12-minute stretch with 13 rebounds compared to the Celtics’ four. And, most importantly, Hardy’s team shot an impressive 72.2% from the field during the third, with the Celtics finding success on 39.1% of their own field goal attempts.

If the Celtics are going to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, their overall effort and execution must improve. They’re not the loaded team of the past two seasons, and therefore, victories will come in the margins, making shot-selection and hustle plays increasingly important.

Still, the missed rebound that cost Boston the game speaks volumes, as that issue has blighted the team over the opening eight games. Mazzulla’s team currently sits 27th in the NBA for defensive rebounds per game.

Boston will have a chance to end its two-game slide on Wednesday when it faces the 1-6 Washington Wizards at the TD Garden.