Up until this Sunday, when the selection of the coaches for each conference in this year’s NBA All-Star Game takes place, the Boston Celtics have guaranteed themselves the best record in the Eastern Conference. This indicates that Joe Mazzulla has been awarded the East title, although the Celtics coach does not appear to be overly excited about it.
When asked what it means to him to coach an All-Star squad on Tuesday, Mazzulla responded. His response was a direct “nothing.” Additionally, the 34-year-old stated clearly that he won’t need to coach the team very much throughout the match.
Those who have followed Mazzulla in his first season as Celtics coach know that responses like that are fairly standard for him. He almost has a Bill Belichick vibe at times with the media. Celtics guard Marcus Smart says we should not always buy it, however.
Smart was asked about his coach’s remarks, and he called them “bulls—.”
“But that’s just Joe, he does a good job of hiding his enthusiasm for certain things,” Smart told reporters, via Jay King of The Athletic.
Mazzulla was unexpectedly named Boston’s head coach just before the season, when Ime Udoka was suspended for having an affair with another member of the organization. The Celtics, who reached the NBA Finals last season, have looked just as good — if not better — under Mazzulla as they did when Udoka was in charge.
Mazzulla has dealt with some unusual things this season, but his approach has clearly been working. We doubt any Eastern Conference All-Stars will take his remarks personally.
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