The most satisfying aspect of Hugo Gonzalez’s career night Saturday was not watching the parting of the Toronto seas for his flashy, uncontested two-handed dunk that essentially sealed a quality road win against the Raptors.
What put a bright smile on the 19-year-old’s fresh face was when all of his teammates came off the bench to celebrate his feat. Baylor Scheierman, who for some reason calls Gonzalez his son because he has a younger brother the same age, raced for a hand slap. Luka Garza screamed with vigor. Even Jordan Walsh, battling flu-like symptoms, rose and offered his kudos.
It was a complete team win, as coach Joe Mazzulla used nearly all of his roster to pull away with Jaylen Brown ill and Walsh unavailable in the second half. Gonzalez has put together the best consecutive games of his rookie season and his comfort in the locker room, in the team culture, and in a new country is apparent.
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“More than the dunk, it was enjoyable to see all the teammates to go to halfcourt to celebrate,” Gonzalez said. “I think that’s all the joy and togetherness that we have. It seems like somebody is making a play and everybody is happy for it. We try to stay ready. We’ve got a lot of options and I think the staff does a great job of trying to have everybody locked in every game.”
The Celtics are 17-11 and third in the Eastern Conference because of their depth and what makes this team unique is their ability to use players for spot moments and those players deliver. For example, Luka Garza hasn’t been in the rotation for nearly a month and hadn’t played in 15 days, yet he delivered his first double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) as a Celtic, pulling down nine offensive rebounds.
Walsh’s emergence as a quality, productive wing has been the most pleasant surprise of the season. He had an eventful Saturday, despite playing just 12 minutes. With 5:12 left in the first quarter, Walsh briefly lost sight of the Raptors’ Ochai Agbaji, who cut to the basket for a backdoor dunk. An incensed Mazzulla called timeout, chastised Walsh and then inserted four reserves.
Walsh had been battling illness all morning and afternoon, and decided to give it a go. He returned to play six minutes of the second quarter, didn’t attempt a shot and looked lethargic. He decided to pull himself out of the game, knowing the likes of Gonzalez and Scheierman had more energy.
“I didn’t want to give myself any excuses,” Walsh told the Globe about his illness. “I told myself I’d go out here and try and give it the best that I can and let it be what it is from there. After the first half I was just cooked. I’m hurting my team more than helping and I had to let them know.”
Walsh, who is listed as questionable for Monday’s home game against the Pacers with a non-COVID illness, said the team culture would not allow him to consider playing when he’s not fully capable.
“I [have to] swallow my pride,” he said. “Because obviously I want to play as much as possible, as long as possible. But at the same time, knowing I ain’t got it today and Josh [Minott], Hugo, Baylor can come in and fill that slot with energy and productivity, and that’s exactly what they did. I’m glad we pulled the win out but it’s something I definitely feel like did [right] and it helped the team.”
It’s the second game Brown has missed this season and in both games the Celtics won by double digits, proof they are not too Brown reliant. The fact president of basketball operations Brad Stevens padded the roster with younger and unproven players has helped foster this “stay ready” environment.
Those players approach their crafts with humility, craving for playing time and opportunity. So on nights like Saturday, when Mazzulla gives Garza a shot or plays Gonzalez extended minutes, they are eager to perform.
And when they fare well, their teammates are there to offer overwhelming praise.
“It could be anybody’s night, whether JB’s playing or JB’s not playing,” Walsh said. “Those guys are going to come in and fill those roles. Payton [Pritchard, 33 points] in particular did a great job with that. When you’re trying to fill a guy like JB’s shoes, you need multiple so that’s where Josh comes in, that’s where Baylor and Hugo come in. They gave great minutes. Luka, I don’t know how many DNP’s he had and he comes out and plays like a beast.”
Garza was signed to soak up center minutes but he’s been the victim of Mazzulla’s small lineups and perhaps some subpar performances. But he accepted his demotion, has continued to practice and be a positive locker room presence, then flourished with his unexpected opportunity.
“I think a lot of the guys take pride in [being ready],” Garza said. “Since I haven’t been playing, me [Xavier Tillman], [Chris Boucher] have been playing [one-on-one], staying ready, getting after it. I know all of us at any point of the bench are ready to go. I think you’ve seen that from so many different guys. Hugo will play two minutes one game, 25 the next, and that’s just the nature of the team and the culture that we have here. That’s what I noticed from the start, a lot of guys have that mind-set.
“It’s kind of fun to see each other succeed in that way.”
Old habits are dying hard. Making more shots is what will help the Celtics avoid another playoff disappointment, like the one they had in New York last spring.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.