The place had been you on September twenty second, 2022? The Celtics had suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the season and introduced that assistant Joe Mazzulla would take over the reins. For some time, there was limitless criticism of Mazzulla. The Celtics took too many threes. He appeared unprepared in opposition to the Warmth in 2023. He was an odd hen.
Now his eclectic type is widely known. The loss to the Warmth was a studying second and he’s now seen as a basketball genius.
Let’s begin with a number of the criticism. After a tricky 102-100 loss to the Nuggets inJanuary, ESPN’s and former Celtic Kendrick Perkins mentioned this about Mazzulla:
“You marvel, in case you take his mind out and you set it in a hen, the hen is gonna begin flying backwards,” – Kendrick Perkins on Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“You already know why I say that?”
Unsure we do, Perk. pic.twitter.com/BLuvdUYRjK
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) January 20, 2024
A weird factor to say as a result of, a minimum of to me, a hen flying backwards can be very spectacular.
In February, Perkins later harped on the Celtics taking too many threes:
Perk: The Celtics do not put up up sufficient. They don’t have anything to depend on if the 3s do not go in.
Celtics within the put up this season:
‣ Submit up frequency – 7.3% – 2nd within the league
‣ Submit up effectivity – 1.17ppp – 1st within the league pic.twitter.com/Ado7a1PSre— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) February 13, 2024
Which, as Jake identified, was flawed. The Celtics had been the very best put up up crew within the NBA a season in the past.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith additionally acquired within the combine in Could.
After the Celtics’ Sport 1 win in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, he had this to say Mazzulla and the person he changed:
“if ime udoka was nonetheless the coach of the boston celtics they’d’ve been champions by now. they presumably would have gained it final 12 months” https://t.co/ZnPpqI21CC
— banner 18 jack (@janderson22_) Could 22, 2024
By the way in which, his level on the Celtics offense was tremendous flawed, too:
additionally they scored 133 factors, shot 48% and acquired to the road 30 instances. their offense was the rationale they gained the sport. they had been additionally solely 31% from 3 on 15 makes, so throw your silly they depend on threes an excessive amount of out the window as nicely.
— banner 18 jack (@janderson22_) Could 22, 2024
It felt like each time the Celtics misplaced, followers had been calling for the coach to be fired and Udoka to be introduced again.
I’d fireplace Mazzulla and BEG Ime to come back again.
— Gio’s Gaming Nook (@GioCorner) Could 22, 2023
Largest mistake this crew made is giving Ime up. They’re such a undisciplined crew. Fireplace Mazzulla tonight!
— Simon Bernstein (@sbern360) Could 30, 2023
Below Ime this crew was robust and battle examined. Below Joe this crew is as mushy as they arrive. When adversity hits they buckle like clowns. Fireplace Mazzulla.
— kevinbakinz (@kevinbakinz) Could 11, 2024
But, now that Mazzulla is a champion, individuals can’t appear to get sufficient of him.
Joe Mazzulla being completely locked in on the US Open is the sicko conduct I completely love about him
— Doot Fixer Szabo (@the_szabo) September 1, 2024
Individuals say that Joe Mazzulla is a “sicko,” as now Lakers head coach and ESPN’s JJ Redick as soon as put it:
Derrick White agreed:
“He is a sicko, so in all probability.”
Derrick White on whether or not or not Joe Mazzulla loved the prospect to rally again after a blown lead pic.twitter.com/7yBEcRdvDT
— Celtics on NBC Sports activities Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 13, 2024
Mazzulla has by no means modified; he at all times believed within the analytics, as he advised the NBATV crew after the Celtics championship-clinching win.
“Dominate the margins. Dominate the possessions.”
Individuals typically criticized Mazzulla for the way he coached the crew, saying he was unprepared and the way his crew took too many threes. But, Mazzulla caught to what he believed and it paid off in a championship. Now, everybody goes to need to acknowledge the genius of Mazzulla ball.
For what it’s price, I extremely advocate Pondering Basketball’s video for extra in-depth evaluation on Mazzulla ball and the way the Celtics gained the Finals.
