Marcus Smart: Joe Mazzulla has shown ability to 'learn' amid criticism - ESPN

BOSTON — Celtics guard Marcus Smart provided further clarity on his pointed comments following Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, when he said coach Joe Mazzulla has «rightfully» faced criticism in his first year leading the team.

«Rightfully so in the fact that just like us when we go out there and we don't play a good game, or we don't do things we know we're capable of and we should be doing, we get held accountable,» Smart said after practice Saturday afternoon. «Joe's not on the court, so he gets held accountable differently than we do. And that's with certain things that he might do or might not do.»

With their season on the line in Game 6, the Celtics made a critical adjustment by inserting Robert Williams III into the starting lineup and going back to the unit they used most of last season on the way to an appearance in the NBA Finals. Celtics players responded to the change with roaring approval, including Smart, who said he was ecstatic about the switch.

Smart used that lineup change to note that Mazzulla, the Celtics' 34-year-old first-year coach, was still learning. But Smart continued to remain supportive of Mazzulla's decision-making.

«At the end of the day it's his decision,» Smart said. «If it works, we don't say nothing. If it doesn't, then obviously you have to look at it. That's the fun of taking the criticism and moving on, being coachable, being able to learn. The great players, the great coaches, they're able to learn.

»Even if they make a mistake, they don't let it deter him. They keep going and they learn from it."

Mazzulla has caught criticism throughout this second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers — for his timeout management at the end of Boston's Game 4 loss and after the