In the third quarter of Friday night’s NBA Cup game against the Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics were down 66-63. After Jaylen Brown didn’t get a foul call on a drive, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was upset with the officials and had to be held back by his assistant coaches. Mazzulla received a technical foul, which ignited a 12-4 Celtics run. Boston ultimately closed out the game 108-96 off the heels of a 31-point, 11-rebound night from Brown. According to Mazzulla’s post-game comments, his technical foul was intentional, and it helped shift the energy of the game.
Joe Mazzulla is heated and gets a technical foul — assistant coach Tony Dobbins holding him back pic.twitter.com/5lynsCrgHf
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) November 23, 2024
Joe Mazzulla Gives On-Brand Answer About His Technical Foul
When asked what he was upset with during his technical foul, Mazzulla said the following.
“I mean it changed the energy in the arena did you feel that?” Mazzulla went on to say, I thought it wasn’t really about energizing the team it was about manipulating the environment.”
Joe Mazzulla says he picked up a tech midway through the 3rd as “a way to manipulate the environment.”
Boston was down 66-63 at the time.
“It changed the energy in the arena.”
Celtics went on a 12-4 run after his tech. pic.twitter.com/kE8BdNQ5DZ
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) November 23, 2024
Mazzulla certainly has a point with his comments, his tech came while the Celtics were playing sluggishly and especially struggling to shoot. Mazzulla’s tech shifted the dynamics of the game and arena. While Mazzulla insists that it was more about manipulating the environment, it also gave the Celtics some extra energy. Considering that this was an NBA Cup game, it’s fair to wonder if Mazzulla broke out these tactics specifically for this game. However, after the game, Mazzulla was asked why the NBA Cup matters, and he asked, “Who said it does?”
Q. Why does the NBA Cup matter?
Joe Mazzulla: “Who said that?” pic.twitter.com/jdGIaGzHwN
— Khari A. Thompson (@_KhariThompson) November 19, 2024
Other Mazzulla quotes
This quote is the most recent example of Mazzulla’s unique and hilarious quotes. Among many notable quotes this season, Mazzulla suggested the NBA should bring back fighting, discussed not interacting with former assistant coach, now Hornets head coach Charles Lee, proposed a rule that would allow teams to loan players for the NBA Cup, and gave a unique quote on pressure, which resulted in him saying in 40 years none of you (reporters) will at my funeral.
Joe Mazzulla is a walking quote card
pic.twitter.com/uZfdry51j8— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 19, 2024
Mazzulla is the Perfect Coach for the Celtics
Mazzulla’s quotes and tactics are certainly unconventional however, he clearly gets his players to buy in. His high-intensity and competitive coaching style is perfect for the Celtics as they aim to repeat as champions. Furthermore, Mazzulla’s five-out offense, paired with a constant drive-and-kick game, has elevated the Celtics to arguably the best offense of all-time.
Jaylen Brown revealed that Mazzulla compares the Celtics’ offense to killer whales since they attack together as a unit. You can certainly see this analogy when watching the Celtics. Brown and Jayson Tatum have praised Mazzulla for both installing a winning mentality and his basketball brilliance. Under Mazzulla, Derrick White‘s game has reached new heights, especially as a shooter and overall offensive threat. Additionally, he got Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to buy into lesser yet crucial roles. Ultimately, as both a cultural setter and a basketball mind, Mazzulla has proven to be the perfect coach for the Celtics.
