Mazzulla Earns 3rd Coach of the Month After Record-Setting MarchThe Celtics went an East-best 12-4 during March while leading the NBA in several categories on top of their record-setting offensive rating. They were the best scoring team (121.7 points per game) by nearly two full points, and they made nearly four more 3-pointers per game (18.0) than any other squad while posting the best 3-point percentage (41.8 percent) by more than a full percentage point.
Boston also posted the best net rating (15.8), finishing six full points ahead of second-place New York (9.8). There was a larger net-rating gap from first to second than there was from second to 11th (Minnesota – 4.0).The C’s had the best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.77), the best effective field-goal percentage (59.0 percent), allowed the fewest points off turnovers (12.1), and allowed the lowest opponent free-throw rate (0.157).
The Celtics carried an 11-game win streak into March and then had a separate nine-game win streak after that. Those represent the two longest win streaks in the East this season.
Although the players are the ones putting up those numbers, Mazzulla and his staff deserve just as much credit for implementing their schemes and game plans. This goes for the whole season, not just the month of March.
The C’s currently have a 59-16 record, giving them an 11.5-game lead in the East over the second-place Milwaukee Bucks and a 6.5-game lead over the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, who come to Boston Wednesday.If they win Wednesday night’s game, the Celtics would be guaranteed the top overall seed in the playoffs with six games remaining, and it would also give them their first 60-win season since 2008-09.
This brings up another point: Boston’s coach should be an early favorite to earn some more serious hardware at the end of the season in the form of Coach of the Year. He was a finalist for the award last season with a 57-25 record, and he unquestionably deserves to be back among the final three selectees this season with his team on pace to win well over 60 games.
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