Of course, both approaches sound logical and even obvious. It is unlikely that anyone starting NBA training camp this week will say his team needs to play slower and less aggressively.
Nevertheless, the Celtics are emphasizing the style of play more than they have in recent years.
“During our practices, there ain’t no fouls,” forward Jordan Walsh said. “It’s just toughness. Obviously, we’re trying to build an identity of being the aggressors and the physicality guys, and being the guys who run speedy and run hard and do it for the whole game. So, it’s definitely something we’re trying to force and grow in ourselves.”
Coach Joe Mazzulla pushed for physicality throughout last season, too. But he acknowledged Saturday that there was a noticeable shift in the officiating near the middle of the season, with referees allowing more contact.
“The league made a little bit of a change where the game became much more physical,” Mazzulla said. “I think it’s what’s best for the league and we just have to adapt to that. I think the game is in a great place as far as how it’s being officiated, how it’s being called, how it’s being played. That’s one of the things we have to continue to improve on, is our continued physicality, regardless of if it’s regular season or playoffs.”
Pritchard said it’s unclear how the game will be officiated at the start of this season. Maybe there will be a new emphasis that forces players to adjust once again. But he said Boston hopes to open this year with the relentless style that tends to emerge more prominently during the playoffs.
Pritchard said the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions, thrived thanks to their physical, elite defense. He said it was clear during the postseason that officials were allowing them to use their hands to slow offensive players, and the results were impossible to ignore.
“For sure, I’d rather play very physical and speedy like that, and then if they start making calls, then we have to change through that, rather than not doing it, and then they’re not calling it,” Pritchard said. “Let’s start off with playing physical, and then we can make adjustments off that.”
There is a fine line, however. Last season, the Celtics had the NBA’s third-ranked defense and much of their attack was centered on their ability to aggressively defend without fouling. Boston committed just 15.9 fouls per game, second fewest in the league, and held opponents to a league-low 17.7 free throws per contest.
Pritchard said that was more of a “safe” defense which helped propel the Celtics to the NBA title in 2024 but occasionally showed cracks last season. He stressed that it is important to evolve.
Mazzulla was less direct, pointing out that different situations will call for different tactics.
“But at the same time, we want to develop a mind-set of being a little bit more physical,” Mazzulla said. “And if there’s an upside to those potential fouls, then that’s good. If there’s not an upside to them, then you have to correct it.”
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
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