Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is one step closer to receiving the honor that he couldn’t be less interested in -- coach of the year. He, along with Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs head coaches, JB Bickerstaff and Mitch Johnson, was officially named a finalist for the award on Sunday night.
The case for the Rhode Island native to become the first Celtics coach to be recognized since Bill Fitch in 1980 is strong. Despite significant roster turnover and having to play without an injured Jayson Tatum for 75% of the season, Boston finished in the same spot as last season.
At every opportunity, the players have praised the coaching staff for consistently setting them up to succeed and instilling confidence in them.
“He doesn’t like the attention on him and making it about himself,” Derrick White said on Monday. “But, obviously, he has done an amazing job this year – and when he wins it, it’ll be well deserved.”
Nonetheless, Mazzulla denounced the recognition, or the potential of it, last month before a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, calling it a “stupid award.” He went on to add that the NBA shouldn’t even have it because the success of a team spans far beyond just one person -- it’s everybody.
He expanded on that point after Monday’s practice at the Auerbach Center.
“I would like for it to be changed to Staff or Organization of the year,” Mazzulla said. “If it were Staff of the Year, it’s different, if it were Organization of the Year.”
It starts with the players, according to Mazzulla
Though he wouldn’t mind if all of the hard workers who are out of the public eye were recognized for their daily commitment to excellence, Mazzulla stressed that the players themselves remain responsible for this team’s achievements thus far.
“At the end of the day, I haven’t made one basket all year,” he pointed out. “Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t gotten a block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play in a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done s---. So, if you don’t have the guys to be able to put you in position, it doesn’t really matter. I’m just grateful. The greatest gift I have is I get to coach a bunch of guys that care about winning and being a part of the culture that we have.”
Mazzulla won’t say it, but he’s made great contributions to the winning culture in Boston. Not only does he hold the league’s highest winning-percentage of all time, but he has a magnificent ability to remain locked in at all times in spite of the praise.
“Praise is just as dangerous as criticism,” he added. “You just have to remind yourself that neither one lasts too long. And really, at the end of the day, they’re gonna forget about you eventually. This is all just a short-term thing that’s gonna last a few years, and then 10-15 years from now, no one is gonna talk about it.”
Contrary to what Joe thinks, people are probably going to be talking about him in 10-15 years. He might even still be doing the same job as he is now.
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