Noah Vonleh taking advantage of Celtics opportunity after humbling year in China: ‘It made me even hungrier’

Life came at Noah Vonleh fast during the Celtics’ season-opening win on Tuesday night.

Days after locking up one of the Celtics’ final roster spots, the Haverhill native found himself living his dream, in uniform for his hometown team. But then things moved quickly. Less than four minutes into the game, Al Horford picked up two fouls – including a flagrant – in the span of 25 seconds.

Joe Mazzulla pointed to Noah Vonleh as the first man off the bench. After spending last season in China, Vonleh checked in and was tasked with matching up against MVP candidate Joel Embiid.

“I was a little surprised,” Vonleh admitted. “But I mean, being a professional, you got to be ready whenever your name is called, I think I did a good job getting ready.”

Vonleh said he was nervous, but prepared. But his first minutes didn’t go as well as he wanted. He picked up two quick fouls, got blocked at the rim, and Blake Griffin subbed in for him soon after.

But Vonleh was still able to finish the night giving the Celtics meaningful minutes. With Horford – who played just 23 minutes – in some foul trouble most of the night, Vonleh played 20 valuable minutes as he tried – and sometimes succeeded in – slowing down Embiid. He even took a shot to his face for his troubles when the 76ers star made a move to the basket, which sent Vonleh to the floor for a few moments.

“For a quick second I was kind of out of it,” Vonleh said. “I had to lay on the floor for a little bit just to gather myself and then when I stood up, I was fine.”

With Rob Williams out for the opening months of the season after his left knee surgery, the C’s frontcourt depth will be tested like it was on Tuesday night, with a rotation that includes Horford, Vonleh, Griffin, Grant Williams in certain lineups and Luke Kornet once he starts getting minutes. Though Vonleh arrived in Boston on just a training camp deal this summer, he’s quickly earned the coaching staff’s trust to fill important minutes.

“He has a great attitude, works hard, really fits into our defensive identity and has the ability to do multiple things,” Mazzulla said. “He switched, he was in drop, he did a bunch of stuff. He just does all of the little things for us. I think that’s where he can help us.”

After a season playing in China, Vonleh pointed out an obvious difference as he returned to an NBA court on Tuesday night.

“China’s different. I mean, they don’t have no Joel Embiids out there,” Vonleh said.

But he’s also attacking his new chance in the NBA with a different mindset. Vonleh, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 draft, did some soul-searching when he was in China that seems to be already benefiting him.

“It definitely motivated me,” Vonleh said. “It made me even hungrier. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good work ethic, but being out of there I was just wondering why and questioning certain things. But it just made me more motivated and made me work a lot harder. I ended up up getting this opportunity here and just trying to make the most of it. …

“I definitely learned that I have no quit in me. I’m just going to keep going, regardless of the situation, until the wheels fall off. So no matter what’s thrown at me, when adversity strikes I’m just going to keep going.”

Balancing act

The Celtics – especially in Rob Williams’ absence – feel like they’re playing to their strengths by playing small and with a higher tempo offensively, and that has already translated well. But they want to make sure they’re not sacrificing too much of their defensive identity to do so.

Jayson Tatum expressed some frustration after the Celtics gave up 116 points, “which we weren’t too happy about,” he said. But even though they’re playing faster, which will naturally lend itself to giving up more points, they’re not shying away from their defensive principles. And even without Williams, they have the right defensive-minded personnel. There just may be an adjustment period.

“I think it’s just a matter of we got to a point in our system last year where we were able to do different things and I think it’s the same thing this year,” Mazzulla said. “(Tuesday) night, we were able to go to a couple different coverages and we were able to look different but feel physical. I think that’s the most important thing regardless of who plays. We still have to be physical on both ends of the floor.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/9umwxTZ