The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Tuesday’s <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> Cup opening-round game with an undefeated 15-0 record to start the season. However, their streak came to an end at TD Garden, where the Boston Celtics showcased their strength and winning mentality in a hard-fought 120-117 victory. After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla sent a bold message to the rest of the league.



When asked about Cleveland’s physical approach, which targeted <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Boston</a>’s stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Mazzulla praised his players for their resilience. “I thought both of them handled the pressure and the physicality well,” Mazzulla said. “I hope teams continue to be physical, ’cause it just gets us reps.”



Tatum led the way for Boston, scoring 33 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in 38 minutes. Brown contributed 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists. “They had a great balance of handling the pressure, driving to attack, driving to get to the free throw line… they handled it really well,” Mazzulla added.



The head coach also explained the strategic adjustments that were key to defeating the Cavaliers. “We lulled the offense. We played a little bit slower, but it was more important to get to the proper spacing,” he said. “It was more important to get our drive-and-kick reads.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241120_BUS_276304_Mazzulla-Tatum-1024x576_dc1cc859.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics speaks with head coach Joe Mazzulla during game one of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on May 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts." class="wp-image-273962" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Tatum.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics speaks with head coach Joe Mazzulla during game one of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on May 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. </figcaption></figure>



<h2>Mazzulla’s concern</h2>



Despite the victory, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joe-mazzulla">Joe Mazzulla</a> expressed concern about the team’s ability to sustain its high level of intensity over the course of the season. When asked whether the Celtics’ effort was a natural evolution or driven by the importance of the game, Mazzulla replied, “If you ask the players, I’m sure they would say it’s a little bit of both.”



He elaborated: “To me, I care more about, can we do it again in 72 hours? Can we do it again a month from now, a month later? Understanding we’re not gonna be at our best all the time, but the most important thing over the course is can we just chip away and do that?” And then Mazzulla added: “It’s great that we did it tonight, it showed the level that we can get to, but we just got to do it over and over again.”


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<h2>Looking ahead</h2>



After their big win, the Celtics will have three days to rest before facing the Washington Wizards on Friday at Capital One Arena, another NBA Cup opening-round matchup. Meanwhile, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-cavaliers">Cavaliers</a> will need to regroup quickly. Kenny Atkinson’s team is set to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season.

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miniaturas

Joe Mazzulla joined the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach in 2019 and, following a brief stint as interim head coach, was officially promoted to the top position in early 2023. He wasted no time in proving his leadership abilities, guiding the Celtics to the 2023-24 <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a> title. Mazzulla’s success can be attributed not only to his basketball knowledge but also to his relentless effort, attention to detail, and fierce competitiveness—qualities that are evident in his dynamic with Charlotte Hornets head coach Charles Lee.



Lee, who served as <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joe-mazzulla">Mazzulla</a>‘s assistant in Boston, departed over the summer to take on the head coaching role with the Hornets. Upon his departure, Mazzulla made his stance clear: “I told Charles when he left, ‘I’m not talking to you during the season. I’m not waving to you at the national anthem. I’m not doing that,’” Mazzulla admitted during a recent press conference.



Joe didn’t stop there, candidly sharing the harsh words he had for his former assistant. “You’re an enemy,” he told Lee when the latter decided to join <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/charlotte-hornets">Charlotte</a>. This declaration exemplifies Mazzulla’s fiercely competitive spirit and his uncompromising approach to the game: in basketball, personal relationships take a backseat to the ultimate goal of winning, no matter the sacrifices required.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241116_BUS_273959_Mazzulla-Lee-1024x576_e68b5418.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Assistant coach Charles Lee (L) of the Boston Celtics speaks to head coach Joe Mazzulla during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts." class="wp-image-273963" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-740x416.jpg 740w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-490x275.jpg 490w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee-250x140.jpg 250w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/Mazzulla-Lee.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Assistant coach Charles Lee (L) of the Boston Celtics speaks to head coach Joe Mazzulla during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Lee’s reaction</h2>



Despite Mazzulla’s direct words, Charles Lee sought to bridge the gap during their first meeting as opposing head coaches this season. According to Mazzulla, Lee made an unexpected gesture: “He breached NBA rules and came into the assistant coach locker room and forced me to give him a hug,” Mazzulla revealed. When a reporter asked if Joe appreciated the hug, his response was unequivocal: “No.”



Mazzulla went on to accuse Lee of playing mind games, suggesting the gesture was an attempt to disrupt his focus. “That could easily be a psychological tell that knocks you off your game competitively. So he knew what he was doing,” the Celtics head coach said, showcasing his competitive mindset.


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<h2>Celtics had the last laugh</h2>



Whether or not Lee’s actions were meant to rattle Mazzulla, they had no impact on the Celtics’ performance. Boston defeated Charlotte in both matchups this season. On November 1, the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Celtics</a> claimed a commanding 124-109 victory at the Spectrum Center, and they followed it up with a 113-103 win the next day, also in North Carolina. For Mazzulla, the results reinforce his approach to the game: when it comes to basketball, the only relationship that matters is the one with victory.

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Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla stirred up controversy recently with comments on the lack of physicality in the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba">NBA</a>, and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has since weighed in.



“The biggest thing that we rob people of from an entertainment standpoint is you can’t fight anymore,” <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joe-mazzulla">Mazzulla</a> said on the Zolak &amp; Bertrand show. “I wish we’d bring back fighting. How come in baseball they’re allowed to clear the benches? How come in hockey they’re allowed to fight? I don’t understand.”



<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/draymond-green">Green</a> responded to Mazzulla’s comments on The Draymond Show, making it clear that he disagrees with the Celtics coach. “I get what Joe is trying to get at,” Green said. “The s— talking and guys getting testy, we take so much of that out of the game today… Actual physical fights, Joe – I’m here to petition against you.”



Green also reflected on the personal consequences that fights can have, referencing his own high-profile clash with former teammate Jordan Poole. “Where [fighting] almost led me, I don’t want none of that,” Green said. “I’m gonna leave that to Joe. Joe, you go and fight.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20241101_BUS_263907_GettyImages-1436787286-1024x683_7d933eb6.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=683" alt="" class="wp-image-263972" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-1436787286-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-1436787286-300x200.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-1436787286-768x512.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-1436787286-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/GettyImages-1436787286-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Draymond Green #23 and Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors walk to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns. Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Green and the Jordan Poole incident</h2>



Ahead of the 2022-23 NBA season, Draymond Green and then-Warriors teammate <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jordan-poole">Jordan Poole</a> were involved in a widely publicized altercation during practice. 


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Green struck Poole, an incident that shook the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Warriors</a>’ locker room and had repercussions on team chemistry throughout the season. The event, which was caught on video and quickly went viral, contributed to Poole’s eventual trade to the Washington Wizards.



<h2>Green gets candid about the fallout</h2>



In a recent conversation with Andscape, Green opened up about the lasting effects of the incident with Poole and why he chose to keep his distance afterward. “A couple years ago, man, I really distanced myself,” Green shared.



“And I had to. I needed to. When that incident happened [with Poole], I just really needed to,” he continued. “So, I really distanced myself. And in doing that, you miss a lot. But once you do that, it’s hard to come back.”

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Even though <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jayson-tatum">Jayson Tatum</a> played a pivotal role in leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, his role with Team USA in the Paris Olympics under head coach Steve Kerr turned heads. Tatum was used sparingly, a move that surprised many, but according to Tatum, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was fully supportive of Kerr’s decision.



During the Celtics’ media day, Tatum opened up about his Olympic experience and revealed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/joe-mazzulla">Mazzulla’s</a> reaction to the situation. “In real time, [not playing in the Olympics] was tough,” Tatum admitted.



He continued, “Joe (Mazzulla), I talked to Joe a lot. Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two games of the Olympics. That was odd, but if you know Joe, it makes sense.”



Tatum reflected on how the situation with Team USA impacted him. “It was a unique circumstance, something I haven’t experienced before in my playing career,” he said. “But I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason. I was coming off a championship, highest of highs, cover of 2K, a new contract, and then that happened.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="696" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240924_BUS_239806_GettyImages-1484677646-1024x696_1b0dda27.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=696" alt="" class="wp-image-239819" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1484677646-1024x696.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1484677646-300x204.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1484677646-768x522.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1484677646-1536x1045.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1484677646-2048x1393.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics converses with Jayson Tatum #0. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



“Whatever the reason is, I haven’t figured it out yet. But I am a believer that everything happens for a reason,” Tatum added. “It was a good experience. We won a gold medal, I won my second one, and I got to be around some of the best players in the game daily. I built some friendships and had the chance to bring my family to enjoy the Olympics, so that was a plus for me, for sure.”


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<h2>Tatum claims he knew when they would win the title</h2>



In an interview with The Boston Globe, Jayson Tatum shared the moment he knew the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics">Celtics</a> were destined for the championship. “People always ask me, when did you guys know you were going to win a championship?” Tatum recalled. “When Minnesota beat Denver, I felt like Denver was the only team that matched up best with us. I thought we were going to play Denver in the Finals, and it was going to be a good one.”


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Reflecting on the title, Tatum added, “It’s extremely tough to win a championship. I was super proud of what we were able to accomplish. To come into the next season and just say we’re gonna do it again would be insensitive. A lot has to go right. Our mindset is not ‘let’s win the championship again.’ It’s ‘let’s start over, let’s get better every single day, and let’s not skip any steps.’”

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The Los Angeles Lakers have yet to announce their new head coach after firing <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/darvin-ham">Darvin Ham</a> in May. While the purple and gold seem to have their new bench boss in sight, LeBron James looks impressed by an active <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba">NBA</a> coach.



On the latest episode of “Mind The Game” podcast alongside JJ Redick — heavily linked with the Lakers’ job — James showed nothing but praise for Joe Mazzulla, who led the Boston Celtics to the 2024 NBA Finals.



“This Joe Mazzula guy is a [expletive] genius,” James said, as quoted by Boston.com. “The more and more I talk I want to talk to you, the more and more I like this Joe guy.”



Of course, Mazzulla is off limits for the Purple and Gold, with the Celtics facing a legitimate chance to succeed in their second season under the 35-year-old. Last year, Boston made it to the Conference Finals with Mazzulla as interim HC.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240607_BUS_130851_Joe-Mazzulla-1024x576_0dc6cca7.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts." class="wp-image-130878" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Joe-Mazzulla-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Joe-Mazzulla-300x169.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Joe-Mazzulla-768x432.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Joe-Mazzulla-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/06/Joe-Mazzulla.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>James explains what he likes about Joe Mazzulla</h2>



“Absolutely,” James replied when Redick said a coach has to think outside the box. “And I see why he sits over there and he says absolutely nothing. And he’s calm as [expletive]. He only gets a little like — when he knows they’re not playing the right way offensively. It’s never defensively. It’s never because of the three-point attempts. It’s never ever if a team makes a run. He’s calm. It’s only when they don’t play the game the right way does he gets a little angry.”


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While Mazzulla may not be an option for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-lakers">Lakers</a> this offseason, James’ comments on what he expects from a coach are definitely interesting. Will Rob Pelinka take note of this?



<h2>Lakers reportedly target Dan Hurley as HC</h2>



On Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported the Lakers are preparing a massive, long-term offer to hire UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley as their new head coach.



While it remains to be seen whether Hurley decides to take his coaching wisdom from college to the NBA, the 51-year-old might be approved by <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lebron-james">James</a>, who once looked impressed by the UConn coach.



“He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their [offense]. Love it,” James wrote about Hurley on X in response to a podcast interview with JJ Redick.

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LeBron James calls NBA coach 'genius' amid Lakers' search of Darvin Ham replacement - Bolavip US

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The <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-celtics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics</a> have made it to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA </a>Finals twice in the past three years, and they’ve reached the Eastern Conference Finals six out of the eight past seasons.



Still, they have zero championships to show for that. Jaylen Brown and<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jayson-tatum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Jayson Tatum </a>have faced plenty of criticism for that, as they haven’t been as dominant late in the playoffs as they’ve always been during the regular season.



There have also been rumors and speculation about their relationship and whether the team should look to break them up or not. With that in mind, coach Joe Mazzulla made sure to set the record straight and call out the media over those unfair narratives.



<h2>Joe Mazzulla Calls Out The Media Over Celtics Star Duo</h2>



“The whole thing about that really pisses me off and I think it’s unfair to both of them,” Mazzulla said. “I think it’s stupid that people have to use those two guys’ names so they can remain relevant. It’s very unfair those two get compared. They’re two completely different people, completely different players, completely different teammates, they love each other, and they go about winning, and they go about their process in a different way.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="572" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20240602_BUS_129744_Jayson-Tatum-and-Jaylen-Brown-1024x572_ea29235a.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=572" alt="Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown" class="wp-image-15178" srcset="https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/Jayson-Tatum-and-Jaylen-Brown-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/Jayson-Tatum-and-Jaylen-Brown-300x168.jpg 300w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/Jayson-Tatum-and-Jaylen-Brown-768x429.jpg 768w, https://bolavip-us.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/06/Jayson-Tatum-and-Jaylen-Brown.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Mazzulla Says They’re Not Judged Like Other Duos</h2>



“You see other duos around the league don’t have to go through that. It’s because of the platform that they have, it’s because they’ve been so successful their entire careers, they’ve been able to longstanding success at a high, high level. So people need them in order to stay relevant,” Mazzulla continued.


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That’s fair. However, that’s the kind of scrutiny that comes with playing for a franchise like the Boston Celtics. And while the criticism has often been unfair and uncalled for, the only thing to make it stop is by winning at the highest level, and that’s something they objectively haven’t done yet.


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Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla blasts the media over Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

NBA: Joe Mazzulla blasts the media over Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown - Bolavip US

Celtics coach gets real on Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum

Joe Mazzulla blasts the media over Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

There were high expectations for the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/boston-celtics-t101837">Boston Celtics</a> this season after reaching the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/nba-finals">NBA Finals</a> last year. Going for the title after the 4-2 loss to the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/golden-state-warriors">Golden State Warriors</a> was the goal, but the team fell short this time.



The playoffs gave them a great opportunity with the N°1 seed <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/milwaukee-bucks">Milwaukee Bucks</a> losing in the first round. They could make it to the Eastern Conference Finals against the favorite against the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-heat">Miami Heat</a>, although they couldn’t come back from <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/record-of-nba-teams-down-3-0-in-the-playoffs-how-many-of-them-forced-a-game-7-20230522-BUS-3139.html">a 3-0 deficit</a>.


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In the elimination against Miami there was a lot of criticism directed to Joe Mazzulla, so there were some rumors indicating he could be heading out. For general manager Brad Stevens there is no doubt regarding who is going to be their coach next season.



<h2>Brad Stevens confirms Joe Mazzulla as Celtics coach</h2>



Mazzulla had a sudden beginning of his head coaching career. He had to replace Ime Udoka right before the season started because of an off-the-court issue involving his predecessor. However, Boston didn’t feel that change in the regular season.



The Celtics remained as a top team finishing second in the East with a 57-25 record, only one game behind Milwaukee in the conference. It was the series against the Heat what created some uncertainty around Mazzulla considering they were heavy favorites, but Brad Stevens didn’t hesitate to confirm him as the head coach for next season.



“I thought he did a really good job. Everybody’s going to overreact to the best players and coaches. When you consider the position he was thrust into and the overall accomplishments of the group, I thought he did a really good job. Having a team that was second in offense, second in defense, won 57 games and has a chance to go to the NBA Finals on your home court, there’s a lot of direction and organization that goes into that. I thought that he did a good job”, Stevens said.



“He’s a terrific leader, he’ll only get better at anything that he can learn from this year, because he’s constantly trying to learn. And he’s accountable. Those leadership qualities are hard to find. Our players, our staff, everybody around him believes in him, and we’ve got to do our best to support him going forward“, the general manager explained on a press conference.

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The Boston Celtics make final decision on Joe Mazzulla’s future - Bolavip US

The Boston Celtics make final decision on Joe Mazzulla’s future

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/Steve-Kerr-has-incredible-news-for-Golden-State-Warriors-fans-20230331-0033.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Good coaching</a> could take any <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Playoff-Tiebreakers-2023-What-happens-if-two-or-more-teams-are-tied-in-the-standings-20230405-0007.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBA</a> team a long way. Regardless of how many <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/The-15-greatest-NBA-players-of-all-time-20200329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talented players</a> you have on your roster, you also need someone calling the shots, making adjustments, and leading the way.
Notably, the NBA’s revolving door of coaches rarely rewards patience, and not many coaches get the benefit of staying with a team for a long time. But it’s safe to say that several of them have earned that right.
With<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Postseason-When-do-the-playoffs-start-in-2023-20230329-0002.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the NBA season </a>coming to an end, we take a look at every single one of the awards. Here, we discuss the top three candidates to win Coach of the Year, and it seems like the league couldn’t go wrong either way here.
<h2>NBA Awards: Top 3 Candidates For Coach Of The Year</h2>
<h3>3. Mark Daigenault</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20230409_BUS_218447_mark_daigenault.jpg_22993414_21b0ea89.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Mark Daigenault— Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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There’s a strong chance the Oklahoma City Thunder won’t make the NBA playoffs, but this should still be considered a very positive season for the organization. They proved to be way ahead of schedule, and Mark Daigenault deserves credit for that.
We’re talking about a team that was missing its best player from time to time. They also didn’t have Chet Holmgren suit up for them this season, and they still flirted with .500 basketball and a playoff berth for most of the year.
<h3>2. Joe Mazzulla</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20230409_BUS_218447_joe_mazzulla.jpg_22993414_0a007b82.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Joe Mazzulla— Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Just like Ime Udoka before him, Joe Mazzulla proved to be ready to be a coach right away. And while you might argue that the Boston Celtics are the most stacked team in the league, he still did a solid job.
The Celtics are actually better defensively now under Mazzulla. Continuity can go a long way, and he’s there from the previous process, but he’s also been quite good at personnel management and getting the team out of their slump.
<h3>1. Mike Brown</h3>
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<figure class="image"> <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="413" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:413" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20230409_BUS_218447_mike_brown_x1x.jpg_22993414_4833cbac.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=413" width="740" height="413"></figure><figcaption> Mike Brown— Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
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Mike Brown should get a statue outside of Golden 1 Center. He finally got the Sacramento Kings back to the playoffs, and it’s become more than clear that they’re not satisfied or done just yet.
Brown has helped their youngins take a step forward. He’s got trust in them and vice versa, and he’s shown that he’s willing to take a bullet for any of those guys. The Kings will be very good for a very long time, barring a disaster.