Hugo Gonzalez sported a big scratch on his neck when he addressed the media after Wednesday’s Celtics observe — and possibly just a few psychological scars from an unpleasant sequence two nights earlier.
Late within the third quarter of Monday’s 112-105 loss to the Pistons, Gonzalez was crushed for a layup off a sideline out-of-bounds, then turned the ball over on the following possession, resulting in a fast-break dunk for Detroit. After these back-to-back miscues, the 19-year-old rookie — who’s had an in any other case encouraging begin to his NBA profession — watched the remainder of the sport from the bench.
“That wasn’t an excellent sequence,” Gonzalez stated. “It was actually powerful to have it, and even more durable to see it once more (on movie). However you’ve obtained to be taught from that and transfer ahead.”
Gonzalez’s errors occurred whereas Boston was using an all-wings lineup that it hadn’t proven beforehand. Head coach Joe Mazzulla subbed Gonzalez in for level guard Anfernee Simons with 33.5 seconds left within the quarter, deploying him alongside Jaylen Brown, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and Josh Minott.
With no guards on the ground, Gonzalez introduced the ball up after Jaden Ivey’s layup, and Caris LeVert picked his pocket simply previous halfcourt.
The Celtics’ personnel utilization put Gonzalez in a difficult spot, Mazzulla acknowledged, however didn’t excuse both of his miscues.
“I imply, dropping the ball at halfcourt, that’s a troublesome one,” Mazzulla stated Wednesday. “You must find out how to have the ability to clearly deal with the ball, however we take Ant out for Hugo on the final possession of the quarter, understanding we’re getting the ball again, and so that you solely have one ball-handler on the courtroom in Jaylen and everybody else isn’t one. In order that’s a bit little bit of a troublesome state of affairs. As you develop, you simply can’t enable that to occur.
“However coming in on a defensive possession, (it’s about) simply having a transparent understanding that your position is to be an excellent defender, no matter if it’s firstly of the sport or once you step into the sport. Simply making that clear after which working in the direction of with the ability to try this whatever the state of affairs. We labored on that at the moment, and people guys, they need to get higher.”
Visibly annoyed after his blunders, Gonzalez obtained a pep discuss from veteran guard Derrick White as soon as he reached the Celtics’ bench. White’s message?
“Stick with it,” White stated. “Clearly, he’s laborious on himself and (had) a troublesome couple of possessions, nevertheless it’s a protracted season, lengthy sport. Simply perceive it’s going to be these ups and downs, and simply know that I’ve been there and simply making an attempt to have his again.”
Gonzalez, the Celtics’ youngest participant, appreciated the phrases of help.
“It means quite a bit,” Gonzalez stated. “A participant like Derrick is an unbelievable participant and in addition an unbelievable individual. Actually nice teammate, all the time searching for the blokes subsequent to him, and particularly me — he has helped me quite a bit. And people kind of moments, they only present the kind of individual and the kind of participant he’s on and off the courtroom.”
It was a teachable second for the Actual Madrid product, who’s carved out a role this season along with his aggressive protection and hustle plays at each ends.
The primary Celtics rookie to see common taking part in time since Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith in 2020-21, Gonzalez has appeared in 21 of Boston’s 26 video games, together with every of the final seven. He ranks second on the group in particular person internet score behind beginning middle Neemias Queta. Within the loss to Detroit, he tallied 5 factors and 5 rebounds and was a plus-9 over his 16 minutes.
Gonzalez, whose neck scratch was the results of an particularly bodily Celtics observe, will look to bounce again when Boston hosts the Miami Warmth on Friday night time at TD Backyard (7 p.m.).
“Everyone makes errors,” he stated. “I’ve simply obtained to attempt to make much less errors as I can. That’s my goal.”
