Joe Mazzulla is using a 'fighter's mentality' to give the Celtics a strategic edge

One of Joe Mazzulla's gifts is his ability to connect with people. As a coach, relationships are paramount. From spending time with Hugo Gonzalez in Spain to Neemias Queta in Portugal, and Baylor Scheierman on Creighton's campus, the Boston Celtics' bench boss spends an appreciable portion of his offseason with those he coaches. It's one of the ways he lets them know he genuinely cares about them on and off the court and that he wants to help them achieve their goals.

Another way that Mazzulla lets his players know he's in the trenches with them is through an indulgence that comes with immense benefits.

It's no secret that the 38-year-old from Johnston, Rhode Island, has a passion for mixed martial arts [MMA]. It's a love that makes him better at his profession. It's also a discipline that sharpens his ability to relate to those he's coaching.

"The players are physically drained, mentally drained, emotionally drained," Mazzulla told Ariel Helwani, the host of The Ariel Helwani Show, about the grind they go through during the season. The interview took place at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Boston's bench boss is in Sin City for Summer League. While there, he has spent time in the cage with friend and legendary MMA trainer Eric Nicksick.

"The more I can kind of meet them where they're at and put yourself in that position, I think it helps have empathy for them and understand what they go through."

For Joe Mazzulla, it's about the 'fighter's mind'

The Celtics are fortunate. They're a global brand with a massive fan base. Even on the road, it's rare that they aren't well-represented in the crowd. However, for those on the floor, in uniform, and holding a clipboard, there's still an "us against them" mindset that comes with playing away from the comforts of TD Garden.

For those in the world of MMA, when they step into the ring, they're all alone. It's a challenge they must face with only the help of those in their corner. It parallels what an NBA team experiences. The difference is that it's a solo sport. There aren't four other fighters standing beside the individual on the canvas. The only path to their goal is straight through the adversity standing in front of them.

It requires a warrior mentality that resonates with Mazzulla.

"It's the fighter's mind. I think I have a lot of respect for the fighter, and when we're in other cities, it's us against the city. It's us against not just that team, but the arena, that city," said Mazzulla. "I think it just keeps you fresh, mentally and physically, so that when I'm helping the team, I have that little fighter mentality. It just helps grow a little bit of an edge, and every little bit helps."

How Joe Mazzulla translates MMA cornering to the Celtics' Bench

As he prepares for his fifth year at the helm, the former West Virginia floor general is searching for any advantage he can find. His friendship with Nicksick allows him the chance to gain valuable insight into an aspect of the latter's job that he can apply directly to his own.

For Nicksick, his communication with a fighter must maximize efficiency. Even in-between rounds, time is precious, and the message must get conveyed effectively. When the bell rings, there's even more stress put on the ability to execute that task.

That's why Mazzulla asks questions and picks Nicksick's brain about his communication as a corner man. He doesn't just want to learn the keys to helping prepare a fighter for the next round. He's curious about how one excels at coaching as the bout is unfolding.

"The other thing that's interesting is the in-fight communication," expressed Mazzulla. "I think communication can be distracting. I ask Eric a lot about what his communication is during the round. It's probably different for every fighter, but what's my communication during the game?

"There's a timeout component in communication, but also in-game communication," continued Mazzulla. "I think one of the hardest things in coaching is to relay, in a simple way, what you see to the players so that they can see it simply and execute. I think Eric does a great job of that."

The benefits of practicing mixed martial arts are exponential. They help Mazzulla be his best self in and outside of his work domain. That's why he has no intention of stopping with this discipline.

As Mazzulla put it, "The pursuit of that helps with the pursuit of trying to make the Celtics great, so I'll do it as long as I can."

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