Joe Mazzulla repeats ‘illegal screen’ six times after Celtics’ loss to Pacers
Two nights after Jaylen Brown railed against what he viewed as unfair officiating in an NSFW rant, his head coach staged a different form of protest.
Clearly believing that Pascal Siakam set an illegal screen before his game-winning shot in the Pacers’ 98-96 win over the Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla said only those two words in a postgame news conference that lasted less than a minute.
Mazzulla fielded six questions from reporters Monday night in Indiana, as seen on NBC Sports Boston, and replied “illegal screen” to each of them.
Here is the full transcript of his 44-second presser:
Reporter: Joe, you gave yourselves a chance to win. Take us through the last couple possessions.
Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”
Reporter: What?
Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”
Reporter: Illegal screen?
Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”
Reporter: What fell apart to get you guys behind, and then how were you able to get back in the game?
Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”
Reporter: What do you mean by that? What do you want people to know about–
Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”
Reporter: Would you like to say anything else?
Mazzulla: (pauses) “Illegal screen.”
On the play in question, Siakam set a screen on guard Derrick White to force a switch away from a longer wing defender, Jordan Walsh. Siakam then received a pass from Andrew Nembhard, posted up White, spun past him and banked in a floater to break a 96-96 tie with 6.8 seconds remaining.
Mazzulla evidently believed Siakam’s screen on White was illegal, but it went uncalled. Crew chief Pat Fraher and his officials called just 14 total fouls in the game — seven on Boston, seven on Indiana — and zero offensive fouls. It was the lowest foul total in any NBA game this season.
