BOSTON – Stacking wins on top of wins is the mindset of the Boston Celtics right now, so the players who did speak to the media following Friday’s 130-120 win over Phoenix drove that point home emphatically.
But inside the locker room, it was unusually quiet, the kind of silence you expect following a loss.
Considering how the Celtics’ defense was absolutely thrashed by Devin Booker’s franchise record 70 points, there’s no question at a minimum the Celtics’ pride overall was stung.
MORE:
- Highlights: Devin Booker puts up 70 points but Celtics get the win
- Thomas on Suns: 'We’re worried about the playoffs; they’re worried about the lottery'
- Crowder and Booker exchange Instagram barbs following 70-point game
- Watson defends Suns late-game fouls: 'Got a problem with that? Do something'
- Booker on 70 points vs. Celtics: 'I wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammates'
And when Suns coach Earl Watson began calling time-outs and having his team commit fouls at the end of the game, there’s no question it rubbed a few Celtics the wrong way.
“I don’t think anybody has ever seen that; continuing to call time-outs, continuing to foul when we are up 15. But I mean, it was obvious what they were trying to do. They were trying to get him (Booker) the most points possible. Hat off to to him (Booker). He played a hell of a game.”
Boston Celtics
Following the game, Watson defended his late-game decision making.
“Calling time-outs at the end kept the game close,” he said. “It’s basketball; I’m not coming to any arena to be liked. If people don’t like us while we build … so what? Do something about it.”
The Suns (22-51) never came any closer than 10 points, which was the final score margin.
Al Horford acknowledged that there was some aggravation following the game.
“You can be frustrated when somebody is doing that to you,” he said. “It’s not to one guy, it’s to the team so I think we’re probably more aggravated at ourselves, at least personally I feel that way. I probably could have done a little better, maybe done some different things to prevent it. We got to give him credit, 70 points, I don’t care it’s 70, he got 70. It’s impressive.”
But there will be some inside the Celtics locker room and among their fan base, who were bothered by the Suns’ late-game actions which seemed more focused on Booker getting numbers than anything else.
When asked about being disrespected by the Suns’ late-game strategy, Thomas wanted no part of that conversation.
“It is what it is,” Thomas said. “We won the game. We’re worried about the playoffs; they’re worried about the lottery.”
Boom!