Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics know what comes with the territory of being NBA champions. Instead of shying away from being “hunted” by teams, Mazzulla says that they will embrace their role as the top targets for the 2024-25 season.
“It’s not about skipping steps because we can go out there every day and focus on the fundamentals,” said Mazzulla on the “Locked on Celtics” podcast. “It comes down to can you translate them to high-duress moments individually and together and build that mindset… we’re going to have difficult moments in the season, that’s going to happen and people are gonna say the target is on our back. But I hope it’s right on our forehead in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot.”
It’s easy to forget that Mazzulla is still relatively new in his position as the Celtics’ head coach. After serving as the top assistant for years under Brad Stevens and then Ime Udoka, Mazzulla was picked as the interim coach right before the 2022-23 season. Today, Mazzulla is on the verge of starting the second season of his three-year, $14 million contract.
Of course, the 2024-25 campaign also marks the first time that he and his players will be suiting up as the defending champions. Before their title run this past summer, the franchise hadn’t won a Finals series since 2008, when Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett led the green team to an impressive victory over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
Despite having a talented roster with stars such as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics repeatedly failed to deliver in the playoffs and critics were bullish on their chances to break the cycle and add a 17th banner to their championship record.
Everything changed for the Celtics when they made a series of moves last summer. First, they traded for veteran point guard Jrue Holiday, whose two-sided game gave the Cs some much-needed versatility in the backcourt. They also added European sharpshooter Kristaps Porzingis, a former NBA All-Star who has opened up the floor in impressive ways for his new team.
Between those additions and the growth of Tatum and Brown, the Celtics were poised to go on a run and that’s exactly what they did. After a dominant regular season, where they went 64-18, the Cs cruised through the playoffs (16-3) and became champions of the basketball world.
Obviously, the Celtics are determined to go back-to-back, but the feat will not be easily done. As the defending champs, the Celtics will have a major target on their backs and every team in the league will be looking to prove themselves when matched up against them.
The Celtics know that they will get the opposition’s best effort every night but they are ready and prepared to face whatever comes their way. With a proven coach, the game’s top stars, and a depth chart that rivals the best, the Celtics are moving without fear and they have confidence that they can deliver another championship to their storied city. At this point, it will take a truly special team and a coordinated effort to get in their way and disrupt their plans.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
