Joe Mazzulla Calls Knicks And Bucks Desperate After Celtics Lose Back-To-Back Games

Joe Mazzulla was not fazed by the Celtics losing to the Knicks and Bucks in consecutive games due to the opponents' desperation to win.

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Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics are on course for a dominant No. 1 seed finish to the regular season, having secured the top seed in the East a month ago. They’ve stumbled to losses at the hands of the Bucks and Knicks in their last two outings, but head coach Joe Mazzulla chalks that up to the desperation the other two teams played with. 

“I did not like the effort level in the first half, but like you said, it’s just a tough spot to be in. I think the guys have handled it the best they could in our last two games against teams that are highly desperate. As much as we want to be able to simulate that, that’s just not the position we’re in.” 

Mazzulla added that he doesn’t mind the team facing some adversity.

“I actually don’t mind the results of the last few games because I think it’s important. Going in with a bunch of wins and feeling good about yourself isn’t any better than having little bit of a bloody lip.”

Mazzulla added to calling teams fighting for playoff seeds desperate when asked about the Celtics giving up open threes in the loss to the Knicks.

“I saw that there’s only one team in the Eastern Conference that has their seed settled and no one else does. I saw a high level of desperacy.”

The Celtics have a 62-18 record, which gives them a lot of reasons to feel comfortable at this point. They’re miles ahead of everyone else in the East with losses having no impact on their standing. He’s right about other teams being desperate as well, with both the Knicks and Bucks currently scrapping over the No. 2 seed.


The Celtics Are Being Called Overrated

The Celtics are clearly not focusing on the end of the regular season, which could be a good move in ensuring the team is at top fitness when the playoffs start. However, this is a team that has had more playoff failures than successes in recent years, with fans waiting to see if this is the season they finally win the title.

Until that happens, their record will be considered overrated by some, as Shaquille O’Neal recently said.

“You’ve got to show me. I’ve been in this league a long time, seen a lot of guys that have had a great regular season but they didn’t win championships.”

Jayson Tatum will receive consideration for All-NBA First Team after averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season on a dominant Celtics roster. But that accolade isn’t what he’s after, with Tatum chasing a championship. The Celtics are united in that goal and have put together an expensive lineup to fulfill that pursuit

The Celtics have a golden opportunity this season, with whoever coming out of the West needing to go through a tough road in a stacked Conference. The Celtics have proven their class over their competition in the East but they can’t get too comfortable with what they’ve achieved or else they could fall victim to another shocking elimination by a lower seed. 

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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