Ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics announced a coaching change. Instead of Joe Mazzulla taking his usual seat at the helm, Tony Dobbins will coach the first half. DJ MacLeay will do so after the intermission.
It's the latest example of the empowering culture that Mazzulla has cultivated. He has instructed the coaching staff to be less hands-on at training camp. He wants the Celtics to be a player-led team.
To fuel that, the NBA's reigning Coach of the Year has given the roster the freedom to run film sessions and coach themselves on the court. That approach sharpens instincts and helps players think through the game. Teams that win the mental side of competition usually don't end up in the loss column.
Much of today's game is about making the right read in the moment and managing runs. Whether that means building on one or steering out of it as fast as possible, it's paramount that a team can make the right choices, especially under stress. Putting players in situations where they coach themselves, and having his staff take on more responsibility in the preseason, will help this group navigate whatever situation they find themselves in.
How Joe Mazzulla benefits from empowering Celtics' coaches
Thursday morning, Boston's bench boss met with the media at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. He shared that he will not be on the sideline for this exhibition opener against the Cavaliers.
Instead, Mazzulla will watch the game from the back. He'll be with players who aren't suiting up and those on the staff who put together the team's halftime edits.
For the fifth-year head coach, it's a chance to gain a different perspective. Just like he's empowering the Celtics' roster and their assistants, he can grow from this opportunity. It can influence how he sees the game going forward and the decisions he makes at potentially critical junctures.
Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay are coaches on the rise
Mazzulla doing this while fostering the development of those around him is how a team maximizes this opportunity. Thursday, he hands the reins to Dobbins and MacLeay. Both have risen through the ranks in Boston.
Dobbins sat in the A-chair for the Sin City C's at Summer League in 2023. He was also a candidate for the Dallas Mavericks' head-coaching vacancy this summer.
A year after he got his opportunity in Las Vegas, MacLeay stepped into the same role. Like Tyler Lashbrook, he interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers' opening. Now they get to grow from a new challenge in a different environment. It will also help raise their profiles as they work toward the position Mazzulla is in now.
Sam Cassell, a long-time assistant long deserving of a head-coaching opportunity, will be at the helm for the Celtics in their preseason finale against the Philadelphia 76ers.
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