On Wednesday night, the Boston Celtics fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-112. With the win, the Thunder completed a two-game season sweep, sending a strong message that they are to be taken very seriously in a possible Finals matchup.
Since Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach, the Celtics have embraced an aggressive, predatory offensive style. Last season, Mazzulla compared his team’s approach to a pack of killer whales hunting for seals — relentlessly attacking the weakest defender on opposing teams. In other words, the offense relies on finding mismatches. This strategy has been the foundation of Boston’s dominance, allowing the Celtics to consistently expose some of the league’s best teams.