Joe Mazzulla goes against popular idea with Celtics new championship mindset

Banner 18 is home. The Boston Celtics entered the 2023-24 season as the title favorites, finished the regular season with a league-best 64 wins, and dominated the playoffs with a 16-3 record. The result was an NBA Championship. But now, Joe Mazzulla wants more.

When a team wins a title, the popular idea for the following season is for them to “defend the title.” The last team to successfully complete this goal was the Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant-led Golden State Warriors. That said, the Celtics have set themselves up perfectly to be the next, as they’ve brought back a nearly identical roster.

But Mazzulla doesn’t want to defend the title. In fact, he disagrees with that phrase entirely.

Joe Mazzulla disputes idea of 'defending' the NBA Championship in favor of Celtics maintaining attack mindset

During a recent chat with John Karalis of Locked On Celtics, Mazzulla reveals that he thinks the idea of “defending” the championship is counterintuitive. That would involve the Celtics taking their foot off the gas, and that’s the last thing Mazzulla wants them to do. (H/t HoopsHype)

“The phrase ‘defending a title’ is a very passive-aggressive term,” Mazzulla told Karalis. “If you look at the animal kingdom, some of the strongest animals don’t defend; they’re the most aggressive, and they attack the most. Whether you’ve won or haven’t won, your mindset can’t change. 

“You have to understand what goes into winning and losing, commit to the details on a daily basis, and remain aggressive. You’re not defending something; you’re attacking a new goal.”

From the moment he took over the Celtics, Mazzulla has implemented a very unique coaching style. He’s completely unafraid to be himself, and clearly, it helped the Celtics win a title last year.

He’s studied Miami Dolphines wide receiver routes, compared his roster to killer whales, and repeatedly told his players that “nobody cares.” Everything turns into a lesson when Mazzulla is at the helm, and the norm gets flipped on its head.

But at his core, Mazzulla is simply one of the most competitive people in the entire NBA. He’ll do anything and everything he can to help the Celtics win games.

And this season, that means maintaining the same attack-first mindset they employed last year.