[Saba Sports News] Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan expressed displeasure with the Boston Celtics’ aggressive strategy to enhance their NBA In-Season Tournament prospects. In their final tournament game at TD Garden, Boston led significantly after Al Horford’s three-pointer in the fourth quarter. However, the Celtics required a larger point differential than the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets, who were also competing simultaneously, to secure advancement.
In an unconventional move, the Celtics intentionally fouled Bulls’ Andre Drummond, known for his lower free-throw shooting percentage, during the game’s final stretch. Donovan confronted Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla over this tactic as Drummond was set to take free throws. Postgame, Donovan acknowledged the score’s importance but criticized the strategy for putting Drummond in a difficult position in a game already heavily tilted in Boston’s favor.
“I just thought it was putting Drummond in a tough spot in a 30-point game. I didn’t like that. … I just felt bad for Andre,” said Donovan.
Donovan also suggested that chasing point differentials in such a manner could risk player safety, noting that Celtics players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were still in play to increase the score margin. Ultimately, the Celtics won 124-97, topping their group in the tournament with a point differential surpassing both the Magic and Nets. The issue of point differential in the tournament has been a topic of concern among NBA players, including Tatum.