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Should Joe Mazzulla be concerned with Boston Celtics coaching hires?

By Dylan Thompson

The Boston Celtics have made great coaching hires to bolster Joe Mazzulla's staff -- but how should Mazzulla feel about those moves? Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Celtics have made great coaching hires to bolster Joe Mazzulla's staff -- but how should Mazzulla feel about those moves? Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brad Stevens has done a tremendous job this offseason by bolstering the Boston Celtics coaching staff with new hires. The hirings of Sam Cassell, Charles Lee, Amile Jefferson, and Phil Pressey give head coach Joe Mazzulla a deep and experienced staff.

Although most fans view the hiring as a positive for Mazzulla, I think they could be negative and that they apply pressure on Mazzulla. I ultimately wonder if Mazzulla is concerned with the recent hires and his overall status as head coach of the Boston Celtics.

Mazzulla has dealt with immense pressure since taking over as head coach as he had to deal with superstar players and a contender that is in an extremely difficult sports market. Although I think Mazzulla did well in his first season, I question how the team/front office feels about him. There are two important things that the Celtics did for Mazzulla, but they kind of cancel each other out.

For example, trading Marcus Smart helps Mazzulla because they did not have the best relationship last season, and it was obvious. Smart openly criticized Mazzulla throughout the season, and he even checked himself into a game at one point. Getting rid of Smart gives Mazzulla more freedom as a coach.

Boston Celtics coaching hires could be bad for Joe Mazzulla

On the other hand, the recent coaching hires could be bad news for Mazzulla. I think the recent hires are insurance for the organization in case Mazzulla turns out to not be the guy.

The depth that the coaching staff now has gives the front office ammunition to pull the plug on Mazzulla if the Boston Celtics start the season poorly or if the team quits on him. I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that the Cs hired two guys who were finalists for other jobs.

Mazzulla cannot afford to have his team looking like anything less than a contender all season, because with the moves made this offseason, the Cs are as all in as an NBA team could get — and that’s before Jaylen Brown potentially puts pen to paper on a $295 million supermax extension.

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