The place have 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 infinite criticism of Mazzulla. The Celtics took too many threes. He appeared unprepared towards the Warmth in 2023. He was an odd chicken.
Now his eclectic fashion is well 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, when you take his mind out and you set it in a chicken, the chicken is gonna begin flying backwards,” – Kendrick Perkins on Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
“You already know why I say that?”
Undecided we do, Perk. pic.twitter.com/BLuvdUYRjK
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) January 20, 2024
A weird factor to say as a result of, at the very least to me, a chicken flying backwards could be very spectacular.
In February, Perkins later harped on the Celtics taking too many threes:
Perk: The Celtics do not submit up sufficient. They don’t have anything to depend on if the 3s do not go in.
Celtics within the submit this season:‣ Publish up frequency – 7.3% – 2nd within the league ‣ Publish up effectivity – 1.17ppp – 1st within the league pic.twitter.com/Ado7a1PSre
— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) February 13, 2024
Which, as Jake identified, was incorrect. The Celtics have been the perfect submit up group 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 towards 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 probably would have gained it final 12 months” https://t.co/ZnPpqI21CC
— banner 18 jack (@janderson22_) Could 22, 2024
By the best way, his level on the Celtics offense was tremendous incorrect, too:
additionally they scored 133 factors, shot 48% and acquired to the road 30 instances. their offense was the explanation they gained the sport. they have 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 properly.
— banner 18 jack (@janderson22_) Could 22, 2024
It felt like each time the Celtics misplaced, followers have 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 group made is giving Ime up. They’re such a undisciplined group. Hearth Mazzulla tonight!
— Simon Bernstein (@sbern360) Could 30, 2023
Below Ime this group was robust and battle examined. Below Joe this group is as gentle as they arrive. When adversity hits they buckle like clowns. Hearth 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
Folks 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 most likely.”
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 all the time believed within the analytics, as he advised the NBATV crew after the Celtics championship-clinching win.
“Dominate the margins. Dominate the possessions.”
Folks usually criticized Mazzulla for the way he coached the group, saying he was unprepared and the way his group 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.
