The Celtics are getting a much-needed break in their schedule this week with just three games in 10 days after Wednesday’s win over the Grizzlies. The downtime will result in at least three practices for Boston and some potential opportunities for younger players on Boston’s roster. The Celtics all three two-way players have already seen extended time with the Maine Celtics in the G-League since the start of their season.
Some thought Maine would be a place first-round pick Hugo Gonzalez would see some extended run at this year before the preseason began. However, Gonzalez has appeared in 11 of Boston’s first 13 games while averaging 12.4 minutes per night.
The steady play has led Mazzulla to cast aside any suggestion that the team needs to send Gonzalez to Maine for development at this point.
“I haven’t thought about that, no,” Joe Mazzulla said of a potential G-League assignment via CLNS Media. “He just came into the season with an open mind through training camp and preseason, and I think he showed and proved, one through his work ethic, his maturity, but really his defensive instincts, that he could play at this level. And so I think that’s more valuable than anything at this particular time.
“We’ll assess it as it goes on but he’s proven he can play and can impact winning. He’s got to get better at continuing to do that.”
The lack of playing time shouldn’t be a concern for Gonzalez according to All-Star Jaylen Brown. The former No. 3 overall pick found himself out of the rotation at points during his rookie year on a deep Boston team in the 2016-17 season.
“Don’t worry about how many minutes you’re playing versus not playing,” Brown said Saturday. “In the grand scheme of things, when you look back to my rookie year, nobody really pays attention to that. I had like 20 DNPs my rookie year, and I was the third pick. So it doesn’t really matter about that. It matters how much you progress.”
Gonzalez has shown plenty of progress on the defensive end early in the season, providing ball pressure against top scorers like Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey. He’s averaging just three points and two rebounds per game but already looks like a steal for a guy taken with the No. 28 overall pick given his youth.
Gonzalez has faith in the Celtics organization in helping his development in whatever way they see fit.
“We got a lot of people that think and know what is better for each player,” Gonzalez said. “Whatever they got for me, I’ll be happy for it, because I know they want the best for me as a player today and as a player in the future. So anything they got for me, I’ll be prepared for.”
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