Mazzulla underlines the Celtics’ “bench identity” due to injuries in the starting lineup.

Celtics

“Obviously I want to be fully healthy for as long as possible, but the times when that is not the case prepares us for the uncertainties of the rest of the season and the playoffs.”

The Celtics were tested in December.

With Boston playing many games over several weeks and suffering injuries to its starting lineup, Boston often looked to the bench for support this month.

In December alone, Jayson Tatum dealt with a knee issue, Derrick White appeared on the injury report with a hamstring injury, while Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are on the mend with shoulder and ankle injuries, respectively. Holiday and Porzingis both missed Friday’s important game against the Pacers.

Before the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla spoke at length about the importance of the Celtics’ “bench identity” and how that unit must be ready when its name is inevitably called.

“I think that’s a big key,” Mazzulla said, “not the development of the bench, but the identity of the bench, so that when you’re ready to play at any time, ready to face a certain game, get into a certain situation, in which a player can do that. “Fit perfectly in the playoff series and the next day it might be someone completely different.”

Boston’s bench is one of its strengths, which played a role in the team’s championship-winning season earlier this year. Payton Pritchard, for example, has a chance to be named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Since he has played in every game this season as of Friday and has averaged 15.3 points per game with a field goal percentage of 46.7, there is no doubt that he is in the league with most other teams in the league starting eleven would be there.

Neemias Queta is another player who has spent more minutes on the bench this season than last and has made an impact at times. Sam Hauser continues to be a backup to Mazzulla this season, starting Friday in place of Holiday.

Al Horford has not played on the bench since Porzingis was hired last summer. Unsurprisingly, he has excelled in that role in 23 contests this season, averaging nine points and one block per game.

With Porzingis sidelined again, Horford will continue to see more time on the court.

Mazzulla went on to explain that while the bench is a strength now in the first half of the season, he hopes the group continues to improve in the later months.

“It’s very important, I think, over the course of a season to develop the habits and the things that help develop different guys for different identities, because you can’t choose your role, you can’t choose the team, not true? “You can’t choose your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and you have to be ready to face them,” Mazzulla said. “I enjoy these moments. I obviously want to be fully healthy for as long as possible, but the times when we are not fit prepare us for the uncertainties of the rest of the season and the playoffs.”

As the Celtics look to end their first two-game losing streak of the 2024-25 season on Friday, Mazzulla is certainly hoping his team’s “bench identity” isn’t lost, especially as the new year approaches.