Why Coach Of Celtics Joe Mazzulla Is Best For The Team?
We are all aware that the Ime Udoka controversy was the sole factor in Mazzulla’s appointment as head coach for this campaign. But he did a fantastic job for someone who was simply put into the role.
I mean, consider this situation for a moment. Due to a breach of the team’s regulations, the head coach is suspended for the entire season. Then, Mazzulla must intervene, take charge of a team that is anticipated to be a title contender, and return to the Finals. That is not simple.
Why The Recently Appointed Coach Of the Celtics Joe Mazzulla Is Best For The Team?
At barely 34 years old, Mazzulla becomes the NBA’s youngest head coach. Although Mazzulla has the utmost confidence from the Celtics’ front office and players moving forward, it is important to note his lack of experience. During Monday’s “Celtics Post Up,” Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix highlighted the uphill battle Mazzulla will face.
Joe Mazzulla on what he saw from Jaylen Brown after JB removed his mask early in the game:
“I saw his face.” pic.twitter.com/xtE6UCj3MR
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) April 24, 2023
“I don’t think what has happened with Ime Udoka specifically is going to affect them on the court. I think how they respond to Joe Mazzulla is what’s going to affect them on the court,” Mannix said. “Joe Mazzulla is an exceptional basketball mind. Brad Stevens recognized that in him early on. But he is just 34 years old. He is entering a championship situation with just one week’s notice basically before he has to jump into training camp.
So why did the Celtics pick Mazzulla as their successor instead of seeking outside the team?
Joe Mazzulla is an expert motivator and a self-improvement fanatic.
Mazzulla enjoys reading a lot. He enjoys going for a stroll and reading from the Bible first thing in the morning. He includes meditation in his routine every day.
Jayson Tatum on Ime Udoka being his favorite coach that he’s had:
“I can’t take away the relationship that me and (Udoka) had and the impact he had on me in that one season. I love coach K, I love Brad (Stevens), I love Joe (Mazzulla), I love all those guys but it was just a… pic.twitter.com/s2bxUjhEoC
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) April 25, 2023
Mazzulla was hooked to gum, but he abruptly quit using it since it was getting in the way of his breathing exercises.
Mazzulla is well-versed with NBA regulations. He looks for any openings and every little advantage, such as when he started having his team roll the ball up when they were up late in the game to stop the clock.
No of the rule, Mazzulla will figure out a way to break it. He said, “I don’t care,” when questioned about the possibility of outlawing the charge. Regardless of the guidelines, we’ll manage to follow them and manipulate them at the same time.”
Robert Williams says Joe Mazzulla uses Muhammad Ali's fights as coaching lessons for the Celtics 👀 pic.twitter.com/wuYaJb0Zce
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2023
“He knows the offense, he knows the defense, he knows the roster and he’s going to be backstopped by Brad Stevens and supported by him. But it’s asking a lot for a young guy whose head coaching career amounts to two years at Fairmont State, to take over a championship team and to do it over an 82-game season.”
The Celtics concluded the NBA season in the top five in both offense and defense, as noted. Since joining the Celtics staff in 2019, Mazzulla hasn’t gained much notoriety, but he still had a significant effect behind the scenes. The C’s have mainly leaned on Mazzulla to handle matters on the defensive end, as writer Chris Forsberg points out. Boston’s defensive rating last season was No. 2 in the league.
Robert Williams praises Joe Mazzulla for his coaching style pic.twitter.com/FsKumy1CTf
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 24, 2023
We are aware of how effective the Celtics’ defense was in 2021–2022. But as supporters, we questioned how players like Jaylen Brown and Tatum could develop offensively under a different head coach. Without a doubt, it was a thrilling success!
“Mazzulla Ball” included the three-ball, taking plenty of shots, and limiting turnovers. It appeared to have worked the majority of the time with 57 victories during the regular season!
Therefore, scoring the ball whenever you want and stopping when necessary. I think this is a great method!
A new meme was born today:
Joe Mazzulla @BarelPini @idogur @Yoav_Modai pic.twitter.com/V89Ky7O8Y4— MrBuckBuck (@OldGamesLife) April 24, 2023
The pickup games Mazzulla organized are now legendary. Before most of his home games, he plays with his staff. Short videos of Mazzulla knocking down opponents and sinking corner 3-pointers have appeared on TV shows and rapidly gone viral.
Mazzulla allegedly dove onto the bench during a game that took place hours before a TNT tipoff, according to Stan Van Gundy.
Joe Mazzulla thrives on competition.
Mazzulla continues to be highly competitive. Early in his coaching career, he would issue push-up challenges to his college players. Earlier in the season, he surprised Marcus Smart by performing a jiu-jitsu flip in front of Smart while saying, “I bet you can’t do that.”
What did Joe Mazzulla see from Jaylen after he ditched the mask?
"I saw his face" pic.twitter.com/UkfXX4fFar
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 24, 2023
He’s pretty unafraid to try something kind of different that might seem sort of weird,” Celtics center Luke Kornet said. “But if he believes in it, then he feels the freedom to do it.”
This includes demonstrating the team’s requirement for a killing instinct by showing them films of orca whales attacking seals.
Not to mention, the dude is incredibly funny. Sometimes, Mazzulla does allow a glimpse of his personality to reach the media. His teammates, friends, and coaching staff witness it every day. They will gladly talk about the man they describe as being passionate, analytical, outspoken, brilliant, and fiercely competitive.
WIRED: Joe Mazzulla 🔊
📺: TNT | Game 5 | BOS Leads 3-1#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/JGnB2YiwRl
— NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2023
Simply said, Mazzulla is a really amusing guy.
He is also a very witty person.
“Because he’s so intense, people probably don’t know this,” Celtics assistant coach Ben Sullivan said. “But he has a great sense of humor.”
And that’s a really dry sense of humor.
“I can’t understand sometimes if he’s serious or not,” The Athletic’s Jared Weiss said. “There’s been a couple times where he’s straight-up owned me, and I thought it was hilarious.”
Joe Mazzulla reacts to the Celtics tough loss in Game 5 vs. the Hawks pic.twitter.com/IytMM3kjKE
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 26, 2023
Question for Joe Mazzulla: You’re running some plays specifically to get Sam Hauser a shot… What has he done to earn those looks? Joe: “Not miss.”
Joe Mazzulla on what he saw from Jaylen Brown after JB removed his mask early in the game: “I saw his face.”
Joe Mazzulla when asked what the Raptors do to challenge the Celtics with their length: “They measure everybody’s wingspan before they draft them and then bring in guys with massive wingspans.”
With all these strengths the combination of Joe Mazzulla and Celtics is worth watching this season !
FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE-
NFL Draft 2023: Patriots Become The First Teams To Draft Both A Kicker & Punter Since 2000