Joe Mazzulla explains the Boston Celtics' focus on the offensive glass

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics rank seventh in offensive rebounds during the regular season and fourth in the postseason. Head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasizes the importance of securing extra possessions through offensive rebounding to enhance their scoring opportunities.

Key points

Celtics ranked seventh in regular season offensive rebounds
Celtics ranked fourth in postseason offensive rebounds
Joe Mazzulla emphasizes extra possessions from offensive rebounding
Derrick White made clutch offensive boards in playoffs
Payton Pritchard excels at chasing long rebounds

Mentioned in this story

Joe MazzullaDerrick WhitePayton Pritchard

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers

The Boston Celtics have been one of the better offensive rebounding teams in the NBA this season. According to NBA Stats, they ranked seventh during the regular season with 12.5 offensive boards per game and sit fourth in the postseason with 12.7 per game. On Friday, April 24, the Celtics needed two clutch offensive boards from Derrick White to give them a platform to secure the second win of their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston has mastered the art of the long rebound, which, given their perimeter-based offense, is smart work. However, they also have the size and physicality to be a force when crashing the glass. During a recent news conference, head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed Boston's focus on the offensive glass and the value those extra possessions can provide throughout the course of a game. "Yeah, I mean, the key is just getting extra possessions when we can," Mazzulla said. "It doesn’t have to be a three. I think the key is just getting extra possessions, you know, and that’s the most important thing, and you want to do those through ball security, through offensive rebounding, and through trying to force some turnovers. But those are a luxury. Obviously, offensive rebound threes are a luxury, but just getting offensive rebounds in general helps us, and then, you know, when you can convert them, it gives you a chance." Offensive rebounds are primarily about timing and positioning. The Celtics are masters at "boarding up," meaning cutting out of the corners, or from the baseline to chase down long rebounds via missed threes. Payton Pritchard is especially gifted in that specific area. With game four against Philadelphia scheduled for Sunday, April 26, Boston will need to continue carving out extra possession on the offensive glass. After all, the Sixers are a genuine threat in transition, so the more bites of the apple the Celtics can get on offense, the more distance they can build on the scoreboard heading into the clutch. Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Spotify: Apple: Substack: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *

Q&A

What is Joe Mazzulla's strategy for the Celtics' offensive rebounding?

Joe Mazzulla focuses on securing extra possessions through offensive rebounding, emphasizing its importance for enhancing scoring opportunities.

How do the Boston Celtics rank in offensive rebounds this season?

The Celtics ranked seventh in the regular season with 12.5 offensive rebounds per game and fourth in the postseason with 12.7 per game.

Who are key players for the Celtics in securing offensive rebounds?

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard are highlighted as key players, with White contributing crucial offensive boards and Pritchard excelling at chasing long rebounds.