Speaking to the media on the eve of Game 1, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla explained why his team is feeling no extra pressure to perform in this series. In a comment that went viral online, he dismissed the idea that the lights were any brighter at this level of the playoffs.
“Unless they changed the lightbulbs in the arena they won’t be any brighter than they were last series,” said Mazzulla. “It’s just sticking to the details and the things that matter.”
The Celtics have been in this position before just two years ago. Back then, they were going against an experienced and dangerous Warriors team. They lost that series, but they did pick up some valuable knowledge that will help them in the battles to come.
“The truth of the matter is if we don’t box out, if we don’t get in transition, if we don’t pass the ball in 2-on-1 if you don’t know who you’re guarding, if you don’t recognize the spacing, and if you don’t talk you’re not gonna win,” said Mazzulla.
As part of just the third pair of black head coaches in NBA Finals history, Mazzulla is charting new ground with this playoff run and he’s not looking back now. Even after finishing the season with the best record in the East at 64-18, he knows that the hardest work is only just beginning. With 5x All-Star Jayson Tatum and 27-year-old Jaylen Brown, the Celtics certainly have the talent and star power to keep up but it’s attention to detail that will put them over the top.
“The truth of the matter is you have to do those things and you have to do them at a high level,” said Mazzulla. “The stakes are higher, but that just means the details are more important.”
Joe, who played college basketball for West Virginia University, took over the Celtics job back in 2022 and he’s gotten them through various highs and lows. Now, he’s at the helm in their most important time since their previous Finals trip. Love him or hate him, Mazzulla has a plan and he’s going to do everything he can to keep the Celtics focused on executing that plan to pull out four more wins this season.
LeBron James Says Joe Mazzulla Is A “Genius”
While the Mavericks may have the best player in the series, Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic, the Celtics are arguably the more well-rounded team between the two stars and a supporting cast that includes 1x champion Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis.
The good news for the Cs is that they hold home-court advantage and will have the chance to go up 2-0 against the Mavericks on their home floor. And while some doubters and critics still question the methods of Mazzulla, LeBron himself has given him the ultimate stamp of approval.
“This Joe Mazzulla guy is a f***ing genius,” said James to JJ Redick. “The more I talk to you, the more I like this Joe guy. I see why he sits over there and he says absolutely nothing and he’s calm as f*ck.”
The Celtics seem to be experts at finding unknown basketball geniuses but they’re on a nice run lately with Brad Stevens (who got promoted to the front office) and now Mazzulla, who is in the driver’s seat behind the best offense in the NBA.
To win the Finals, however, it will take more than good coaching, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will have to show up and take care of business or this will be a short series for everyone involved. Game 1 starts tomorrow and I firmly believe it will set the tone for the rest of the series.
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