You hear “next man up” all the time in sports. It’s become a cliche across all team competitions, but it truly applies to the Boston Celtics. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has been outspoken about how much he trusts the guys on his team and that mentality has embedded itself within the players themselves.
Saturday night’s win against the Charlotte Hornets was a great example of why that trust is there. The team still managed a double-digit win without reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown in the starting lineup because guys like Luke Kornet seamlessly dealt with his inheritance of added responsibility.