Mazzulla claims that in the wake of…, Celtics need time to heal.
After their unexpected run to the NBA Finals under new head coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics were expected to be among the favorites to win the Eastern Conference going into the preseason.
That was before to Udoka’s impending season-long suspension following a months-long probe by an outside legal company that discovered numerous infractions of team standards for what insiders claimed The Associated Press was an improper contact with a female employee.
Joe Mazzulla, a 34-year-old assistant who was considered for the head coaching position of the Utah Jazz, is the team’s interim coach and will have to focus on keeping the squad together and taking advantage of Boston’s championship window.
In the short span of 72 hours, he has had to reconcile the news of Udoka’s ban with the fact that he has been given an incredible opportunity. However, Mazzulla has stated that he will take his time, allowing everyone to “feel and heal” as the club gets ready to start training camp on Tuesday.
“Trust cannot be rushed. Healing cannot be hurried. “You can’t rush any of that,” he declared to a crowded room on Monday during the Celtics media day. We have a tremendous roster and a great opportunity, regardless of what has transpired. That is what I must pay attention to.
For the past two seasons, Mazzulla has assisted the Celtics. He helped West Virginia beat ninth-ranked Duke in the NCAA Tournament the following year and win the 2007 NIT as a collegiate player. His two years as Division II Fairmont State’s head coach in West Virginia from 2017 to 2019 were his only head coaching experience.
Al Horford, a 36-year-old senior, is the sole player on the Celtics squad that he will manage. Danillo Gallinari, a free agent acquisition, is the next closest match in terms of age, being five weeks younger than Mazzulla.
Though Mazzulla doesn’t have as much playing time as Stevens, he more than makes up for it with player endorsements, as several players urged Brad Stevens to retain his former assistant once Stevens was elevated to president of basketball operations. The players are still certain that Mazzulla can lead this club not just through adversity but also back to the NBA Finals and another championship opportunity.
They also admitted that, having discovered the Udoka news on social media before receiving minimal information from the team—not much more than what was made public—their feelings were still all over the place. Since the announcement of Udoka’s suspension, none of the players that talked to the media on Monday had communicated with him.
Veteran Marcus Smart, while acknowledging the privacy restrictions that club executives face, put the last several days into five words: “It’s been hell for us.”
Jaylen Brown noted that although he processes everything, he’s trying to maintain his optimism.
According to Mazzulla, his strategy is to strengthen the existing culture and base rather than trying to drastically alter things.
The fact that Mazzulla played such a significant role in the Celtics’ on-court success under Udoka, according to All-Star Jayson Tatum, is crucial.
Tatum stated, “Over the past three or four years, we’ve felt comfortable with this person.” “Identical person, albeit in a new role. However, someone we respect and are acquainted with.”
However, Brown also said that as camp begins, the sudden revelation of Udoka’s suspension and the scant information will loom. LP
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