Joe Mazzulla was a happy man discussing the Boston Celtics' second unit and overall culture following yet another victory for the league's best team on March 12, this time against the Utah Jazz in a 123-107 final at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, while speaking to reporters post-game.
"I didn't say this enough in the locker room, but the fact the last couple of games everybody's stepping up, like it's just kind of what we were trying to build, where we have an environment, locker room, or culture of like, it doesn't matter who's in, guys are ready to play at all times," Mazzulla said (h/t Inside The Celtics).
"The work that the player development team does, getting guys ready, the professionalism that those guys have, they're just constantly ready. I have no hesitancy of putting any one of those guys in because of the work that they do, and it reflected over these two games. That's kind of what we're trying to fight for, is that depth, and it's been fun to watch."
Jaylen Brown credited Boston Celtics bench for victory in Phoenix
Perhaps one of the most important victories of the Celtics' season thus far was the 117-107 March 9 victory against the Phoenix Suns; one that ended their second two-game losing streak of the 2023-24 season and prevented the first three-game losing streak.
Jaylen Brown credited the second unit for the win, particularly Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet.
“They won us the game tonight,” Jaylen Brown said (h/t MassLive). “Payton, Luke, Sam, their energy, their plays, their effort. They’re the reason why we probably won the game tonight. It’s tough, but they’re always ready. So shout out to those guys.”
The bench being so crucial in a must-game victory, and the team's 1A superstar being willing to give them the credit they earned for it, is part of why Mazzulla sounds so content with how this historic season has been going.