Celtics' X-Factor: Mazzulla's Playoff Surprises

0:00On April 9th, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mozilla is ticking off key boxes ahead of the playoffs. He's smoothly reintegrating Jason Tatum after his injury layoff, and after 14 games back, Tatum's regaining that explosive quickness. Jalen Brown stepped up his core in two, averaging 31 points, 5.5 rebounds, and nearly 6 assists during his player of the week. Stretch. With an injury-less clear, Mozilla's tightened the rotation to just eight or nine players deep. That's Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, Derek White, Nea Mayes-Keta, Sam Hauser, Peyton Pritchard, Luca Garza, Bayla Shireman, the Volka minutes. Earlier, they were playing up to 10 guys regularly. Fans are buzzing about this shift, especially with Nicolavusovic back from his fractured finger. He slid right into those back up big minutes on Sunday, bumping Garza, and phasing out Hugo Gonzalez. It's all about building deep intel on everyone during this gap before the postseason.

1:01This prep word pays off in long series, where opponents for suggestions. Celtic's history is full of surprise ex-factors, like PJ. Brown in 2008, or Xavier Tillman in the finals. Even Ron Harper Jr. just signed a standard deal for playoff eligibility. SB Nation's polling plugged in fans nationwide, who's your top expactor for April through June? Mozilla's got options to curveball, any team that thinks they know what's coming. That's your Boston Celtics News today update. AI powered and always on.