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Joe Mazzulla wants to add power plays and compete in the NBA
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Joe Mazzulla wants to add power plays and compete in the NBA

The Celtics’ dominance from beyond the three-point line has led some to call for NBA rule changes.

But probably not what Joe Mazzulla had in mind.

Celtics head coach was asked what happened on Tuesday NBA tweaks to rulebook if only he had the power to do so. His answer: Introduce two elements of the other sport played at TD Garden: power plays and fighting.

“Basketball is the only sport that doesn’t have a power play,” Mazzulla said on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand.” “I think football puts a blue card where a guy should be kicked out and it’s 9 to 10. So we have to play a power play – because let’s say you take a technical or let’s say you get a receiving foul. You get one shot, but you’re not really rewarded for it because if you miss the shot, you don’t get rewarded for the receiving foul.

“You know what I mean? So, on a technical foul, it should be a power play where you have to go 5-on-4 for five seconds or three passes.”

Mazzulla said it “might be a bit extreme” for a team to play man down to gain all possession. But for a short period of time, to give the non-offending team a clear but temporary advantage? This could be fun.

“I think we should start power plays where if you commit a foul, instead of taking the ball out of bounds, the guy will go to the other side of the half court and not be able to leave the half court circle for about three seconds,” Mazzulla said.

Considering his interest in combat sports and his generally intense demeanor, Mazzulla’s other offer should come as no surprise.

“The biggest thing we’ve stolen from people in terms of entertainment is that you can’t fight anymore,” Mazzulla said. he tore his meniscus during a jiu-jitsu sparring session late last season. “I wish you could bring back fighting. … You’re talking about ripping off the entertainment league, what could be more fun than a little tiff?

“How come they are allowed to clear the benches in baseball? I don’t understand how these things are allowed in hockey. … I don’t understand why some sports are allowed to clean their benches. They have bats and guns; we don’t. We only have one ball. The other sport has one of the hardest surfaces and a puck and a stick, and we’re not allowed to throw it down a bit.”

The odds of anyone in the NBA adopting any of these rules are as good as the chances of the Celtics missing the playoffs. Defending champions of Mazzulla 4-0 start They are considered the championship favorites after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 119-108 on Monday night.