Despite posting the league’s best regular-season record and setting the record for most wins by 25 or more points with an impressive 17 victories, the Boston Celtics failed to secure any finalists for the coveted year-end awards. Coach Joe Mazzulla, when questioned about his reaction to the absence of Celtic representation, responded with a resolute shake of his head, indicating his lack of concern. “I find it rather beautiful,” Mazzulla proclaimed. “Why should one receive an award for past accomplishments?” Mazzulla opted not to discuss the awards situation with his team, deeming it irrelevant during their ongoing playoff series against the Miami Heat, the team that ended the Celtics’ journey in last year’s Eastern Conference finals. “What sets this team apart is our collective appreciation for the individual accolades we’ve earned,” Mazzulla elaborated. “From the player of the month to the staff of the month and the like. But ultimately, the greatest strength of this team lies in their absence of a personal agenda.” “None of the players have raised the issue, and I don’t believe it holds any significance because our focus is solely on what we need to achieve collectively.” In Game 2 of their playoff matchup against the Miami Heat, the Celtics found themselves outmatched by the Heat’s blistering offensive performance. The Heat secured an even 1-1 series standing after emerging victorious with a 111-101 triumph, with the series now shifting to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday night. The Heat showcased their dominance from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 53.5 percent on 23 of 43 three-pointers, while the Celtics managed only 37.5 percent on 12 of 32 attempts from downtown. Caleb Martin, who went 0 for 4 from three-point range in the series opener, redeemed himself in Game 2, making an impressive 5 of 6 attempts. Tyler Herro led the Heat’s scoring, amassing 24 points and making 6 of 11 three-pointers (7 of 13 overall). “They played with great execution,” admitted Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who contributed 33 points to the team’s tally. “That’s what they’re capable of. Tonight was a prime example of that. They made a lot of shots that we would normally feel comfortable defending, but it’s the playoffs. It is what it is. We need to adjust, play better, and respond aggressively.” The Heat outplayed the Celtics at their own game, demonstrating their superiority in outside shooting. In Game 1, four of the five Boston starters shot 50 percent or better from deep (Jayson Tatum was 1 for 8). Defending a team where every player poses a threat from beyond the arc can be extremely challenging for opposing defenses. Part of what makes the Celtics unique is their depth of weapons capable of scoring from outside. “If you want to emerge victorious, you need to embrace the mindset of doing the tough things,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized. “Every opponent in the playoffs presents a different set of challenges. This is one of them. They play a lot of five-out, and they have players who can really get going from there. “They shoot a high volume of three-pointers, and if you just stay at home, they also have a couple of guys who can put up big numbers. That’s the situation we’re in, and our task is to figure it out. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be enough to win the game, and that’s what we’re focused on.” Kristaps Porzingis struggled in Game 2, shooting 1 for 9 from the field (0 for 4 on three-pointers). Mazzulla emphasized the need for the Celtics to improve their spacing and find better ways to get Porzingis the ball in scoring position. Tatum acknowledged that giving Porzingis the ball in more comfortable spots is something Boston will work on as they prepare for Game 3. “We simply have to do a better job of getting him the ball in the right spots and making sure we give him enough space to operate and be the threat that he’s been for us all season,” Tatum said. “We’ll make that happen on Saturday.” For more information, you can reach Khari Thompson at khari.thompson@globe.com.
Celtics Coach Mazzulla Shrugs Off Lack of Year-End Award Finalists
