It was supposed to be a rough night for the Boston Celtics. No Jayson Tatum, no Jaylen Brown. No clear go-to guy to carry the offense. The Brooklyn Nets saw an opening and came in ready to take advantage.
And then Baylor Scheierman happened. Scheierman was not much more than a name buried on the Celtics’ bench for most of his rookie season. Not enough time to find any kind of rhythm, just a few minutes here and there. Two months later, in front of a full TD Garden, he had his moment, and he didn’t just have it; he owned it.
A career-high 20 points. Seven of eight from the field. Six of seven from deep. And then, when he needed to most, he became a shooting clinic in the fourth quarter.
But let’s be real—this wasn’t some lucky, one-off fluke. Scheierman didn’t just wake up and decide to become a sniper out of nowhere. This moment had been in the making for months. Behind the scenes, Joe Mazzulla and his coaching staff had been preparing for exactly this.
Most thought it was going to be a disaster once Tatum’s injury forced the Celtics to change. Losing your two biggest stars on the heels of a playoff push? Not exactly an ideal situation. But Joe Mazzulla? He never panicked. He knew his guys were ready.
Mar 18, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after making a three point shot during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
And the reason? His coaching staff. Specifically, Craig Luschenat and the player development crew. These guys had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that Scheierman and others like him were always locked in—always ready for their moment.
“I think he’s just a tough kid that continues to work,” Mazzulla said after the game. “I think it’s the culture of our player development staff—they do a great job. Craig and the guys do a great job just creating an environment of learning, an environment of work ethic regardless of what’s going on and keeping those guys ready.“
This wasn’t just about one player. This was about the Celtics’ culture. Mazzulla and his staff never let the young guys mentally check out, even when minutes were scarce. Because in the NBA, things change fast. And when the Celtics needed someone to step up, Scheierman didn’t just show up—he delivered.
Joe Mazzulla’s Message to Frustrated Players
However, it isn’t easy to be waiting for a shot like this. Scheierman barely saw the floor for most of the season. The frustration would’ve been easy to have felt, to have lost confidence, to no longer believe that he would ever actually get a real chance.
Joe Mazzulla knows how tough that is. That’s why, after Scheierman’s breakout performance, he made sure to announce something—namely, to Scheierman and other young players working their way through the system, waiting for their opportunity.
Feb 10, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on from the sideline against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
“He’s got high-level toughness to him. He’s got a good basketball IQ,” Mazzulla said. “To me, it’s just the consistency and the patience. You know, you can’t get discouraged. You’re not defined by one day, two days. It’s really just a process. And, you know, the small moments that you have, you got to take advantage of.“
That wasn’t just about Scheierman—it was about every young player grinding for a spot in the rotation. The reality? You won’t always get minutes. Some nights, you’ll feel like a background piece. You might even wonder, Does anyone notice what I bring to the table?
But when your moment comes? Be. Ready. Kristaps Porzingis answered the call, dropping 25 points and 13 rebounds while carrying the load with Tatum and Brown sidelined. Derrick White chipped in 18, while Jrue Holiday contributed 12 points and eight assists, proving once again why depth matters in this league.
But in the fourth quarter? Baylor Scheierman belonged to TD Garden. A three pointer by the Boston guard with 3 seconds left on the third quarter clock gave the Celtics a 71-70 lead. In the fourth, he went absolutely off for three more threes and put the game away.
You could see it: this isn’t just a career night. This was a confidence shift.
And for a Celtics team that just completed a season sweep of the Nets without its stars, this win sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the league: Boston’s depth is real.
Joe Mazzulla’s coaching philosophy is simple—stay ready, trust the process, and when your time comes, make it count. Tonight, Baylor Scheierman did exactly that.
The post Joe Mazzulla Reveals Assistant Coach’s Role In Helping Cope With Jayson Tatum’s Injury Before Sending Message To Frustrated Celtics Stars appeared first on EssentiallySports.