Celtics Coach Brad Stevens Missing Thursday’s Game to Visit Former Butler

Larranaga said he found out late Thursday morning he was filling in for Stevens and was not sure when Stevens would rejoin the team.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 18 rebounds with Plácido Domingo looking on, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 101-92 on Thursday night for their sixth straight victory.

“It’s when we play defensively the way we need to, when we communicate and get into people, when we box out, when we help each other out… then we can beat anybody”.

Gasol. The veteran center picked up his 19th double-double of the season.

“[Defence] is a difference-maker for us”, Gasol said. “He’s here for a performance”. I think they look at me for not just leadership vocally, but my body language. “I thought a couple of times we started worrying about the referees instead of playing our game, and that let their guys get open for a couple of open shots”.

With 42 and 32 points scored over his last two games, Jimmy Butler has become the first Bulls player to score at least 32 points in back-to-back games since Derrick Rose achieved the feat in three straight games January 27-30, 2012.

Stevens was absent from the Celtics for a regular season game for the first time during his two-plus seasons as a coach.

Brad Stevens has traveled to IN to visit one of his former Butler University players, and he will not be available to coach Thursday’s game vs. the Bulls. He was scheduled to undergo a bone-marrow transplant Thursday, according to The Boston Globe.

Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga will assume head coach duties for the team’s game against the Bulls. “It’s not just the four years they’re in school with you – it really lasts a lifetime”. I played one of my worst games as a pro, and I’ve got to do a better job.

The C’s had seven players score in double figures, led by Jae Crowder’s 17.

Isaiah Thomas stepped up and took the blame after another rough night from the floor (5-of-17, 0-of-4 on treys).

Jared Sullinger added, “I think from the standpoint of the head coach, he decides the rotations, he thinks what’s best for the team”. “He had a great game and gave the crowd what they wanted”, said Ben McLemore, who guarded Bryant for much of the game. “But we have to turn it back around and get back on our high horse and get back to running our offense the way we should”. The Celtics led by 13 in the third quarter before collapsing down the stretch, getting outscored 33-19 in the fourth.

Regardless of the outcome, it was a good opportunity for Larranaga to get the full feel of head coaching.