If Al Horford waited a long time to win the title, Joe Mazzulla, he was very fast. In just two seasons, and at the age of 35, he climbed the mountain to reach the summit. However, 21 months ago, in a particular context and without experience, he took over from Ime Udoka.
With his methods and his references sometimes far removed from basketball, he was able to make his group adhere to his ideas. The Celtics version 2023/24 are logical champions one could say, since they dominated the regular season and lost only three games in the playoffs.
“It starts with them. You can’t have a philosophy or a style if you don’t have the group that wants to apply it, to be disciplined.”, underlines the Boston coachwho was showered with praise by his troops after Game 5 of the Finals against the Mavericks.
“I love Joe Mazzulla so much”commence Derrick White. “I was coming off a season where I had just arrived and he was taking charge of the team. And he decided to make me a starter. I did not expect that. He had confidence in me, he believed in me and that gives you confidence. This change, I think, changed my career. I’ll do anything for him. »
Same feeling with Jrue Holiday, who discovered the character this season. “He did a remarkable job. It allowed me to raise my level of play, to see things differently,” explains the former Bucks, already crowned in 2021. “In my old teams, I had to score more and carry the ball, here, I am mainly available, I score 3-pts in the corners and I go for the rebound. I help the team because they have a lot of talent. He opened my eyes to this point. And I’m not the only one on this team who made sacrifices. Everyone did it. »
“He is tough, sometimes crazy. But we like it »
After a very eventful first season, Joe Mazzulla managed, with a big recruitment too (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis), to find the perfect balance and to keep his group determined, from the start to the end of the season.
“Joe was very criticized last season and I think he did the best possible”remembers Al Horford. “Everything was different this year, even before training camp. He insisted on what he wanted, on our way of working, of behaving and on the determination we had to have. It started there. His energy trickled down to the assistant coaches and everyone followed. »
For the 38-year-old insider, there is no doubt: this Boston team is a reflection of its coach. “This is Joe Mazzulla’s team. It defends, it’s bold in attack, with everyone being a threat,” he continues. “He succeeded in accomplishing what he wanted to do. He always knew when to push the buttons: he’s tough, sometimes crazy. But we like it. He really cares about us and what it’s like to be a Celtic. »
2024-06-18 13:16:26
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