Joe Mazzulla will return as the Celtics’ head coach, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a press conference on Thursday, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe tweets.
Mazzulla was thrust into the head coaching job just as the season was set to begin when Ime Udoka was suspended by the team for the season. Mazzulla eventually had the interim tag removed and received an extension in mid-season.
Questions about Mazzulla’s status arose as the Celtics fell behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven series to underdog Miami in the conference finals. Boston rallied to tie the series but played poorly in Game 7 after Jayson Tatum suffered a first-quarter injury and got eliminated on its home floor.
Stevens believes that Mazzulla will benefit from having been thrown into the fire this past season, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston tweets.
“Joe’s experience now, you could probably measure in dog years, right? Because he’s now been in three Eastern Conference finals and a Finals,” said Stevens, referring to Mazzulla’s stint as an assistant as well as this season. “Now he’s been the head coach throughout one of those runs, I mean that’s an experience in and of itself.”
Stevens believes Mazzulla has the leadership qualities to be a head coach for many seasons, Jared Weiss of The Athletic tweets.
“He’s a terrific leader,” he said. “He’ll only get better at anything that he can learn from this year cause he’s constantly trying to learn and he’s accountable. Those leadership qualities are hard to find.”
Mazzulla will have some different voices on the staff, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). The staff is expected to be overhauled, with former Rockets coach Stephen Silas a leading candidate to be one of those additions.
*Grabs popcorn*.
The right decision.
No
How come?
No way!
Mazzulla does get another year given that he signed a multi year deal with guaranteed money n overall good showing by the team… But he looked overmatched n out of place in the playoffs. Never seemed to adapt well during in hand situations, never seemed to confer with assistant coaches to get a different set of eyes n perspective on case it was something he missed. If I was the owner he’d be back but with REAL other coaches hired to help him n let mazzulla know he had to use them. Mazzulla would be on thin ice
Expect more of the same, Celtics fans.
Celtic fan. Celtics will not even make the ECFs next season. Bank it.
Brad Stevens will be fired next off season. Bank that too.
I will. You definitely seem like someone who can see into the future.
Your first point is true. Second point not so much. There is a chance he may quit, but he won’t be fired.
BTW when has Joe Mazzulla ever been held accountable? Seriously, Brad stop the spin. Joe does what you want. That is why he is staying.
Site an example please? He’s been head coach for 1 season and I’m sure they understood it might take s little bit of time for him to acclimate to it especially given that he inherited his bench.
“terrific leader?” Hahaha. That’s funny. I like how he neglected to mention half his coaching staff is leaving to go to Houston. Don’t be surprised when Grant goes there too.
As long as Stevens is in charge this will only get worse
And 1 … Stevens out, Myers in please
Oooo I didn’t think of that. If Wyc had any sense, he’s making that move
There’s one good GM available and you didn’t think of that?
Blaming the coach when the team almost makes the finals. Seriously they went against the hottest team in the playoffs.
Boston fans are possibly the most spoiled anywhere.
They should have been the hottest team in the playoffs. Should have beaten Atlanta in 4 or 5. Should have beaten Philly in 4 or 5. Should have beaten Miami in 5 or 6. So many poor decisions by the coach on player rotations, use of timeouts, last 5 minutes of the game slowdowns, use of the “deepest bench in the league”that everyone talked about.
Could’ve had Monty.
Sure, if they wanted to pay Mazzulla a big buyout, and then drastically overpay for Monty like the Pistons did.
Phoenix could have too.
Roster moves wise I’d love to see “me 1st selfish” n turnover machine Jaylen brown traded for best available big, aka KAT or realistically Siacam who can score but better D n that size allows Cs to matchup better on D especially with Horford getting older even if he is still indispensible. Yes move Brogdon in a $$ saving move even if it nets no rotation player n USE Pritchard but ideally Grant Williams comes back if $$ is reasonable n I believe it should be but Danilo n or Muscala easily could replace what Grant is currently used for n with reconfigured lineup of Siakam less dependent on other bigs anyway. Casual fans might not see it but $$ savings in salary is crucial to keeping the team winning. The heat n nuggets always are finding n ALLOWING new low cost faces a chance to be a real part of the team allowing them to keep their stars n be a great team for a very long time. So let’s trust Pritchard n save $$ on Brogdon, whereas JBrown simply isn’t the right fit nor nowhere near as good as his mid 20+ pts stats suggest with him all about himself too concerned about his stats n $$.
Brown about to go max. Sorry Charlie.
You say these things but expect good numbers from your stars. I don’t think Brown has been selfish at all. The combo of Tatum and Brown is NOT the reason they lost. Those two shining in high pressure situations is the problem. They need an inside the paint go to guy that can give them easy 2’s win the outside shooting disappears.
Brown and Tatum have been a turnover machine against the Heat. The last game alone, Brown had 8 turnovers with 1-9 3pt shot. Also blame Mazulla the waterboy, he can’t coach.
Jaylen Brown made All NBA. Malcom Brogdon was Sixth Man of the Year. But you want to dump both of them for the “best available big” and a non-rotation player? No thanks. Remember Celtics almost won it all two years in a row now, beating 29 & 28 of the other 30 teams. Celts should refine the team, not blow it to pieces. Go Celtics!
If you can trade Brown, Brogdon or Smart for Giannis? I’ll take it.
A lot of FO prefer young coaches. This way they can control them. So basically it’s Stevens who makes the call who will have playing time etc.
Ludicrous lol
This years coaching carousel has been hilarious. If Joe wins one less game in this series and the Celtics lose in 6, he is undoubtedly fired. But getting blown out at home in a game 7? We’ll leave the light on for ya.
No, he wouldn’t have been fired.
So much for winning a championship! This coach was way over matched and did not know how to make any adjustments! Bad decision!
Brad decision!
Bad Brad decision
His star players like him, which is really what matters most. Did a nice job after the fiasco,wasn’t overwhelmed or overmatched as he demonstrated in his adjustments against the heat. Good decision by Brad.
Horford was coaching the team after 0-3…
The most important thing is they are friends lol. What a joke
Bad decision. He might be a great coach in the future some day but right now he isn’t. It will be absurd if the Celtics spend almost $600 mil on start players and not be willing to spend $10 mil on a coach capable of using them.
Star players*
I’d like to see TimeLord, who has good shooting form, come back from the off season as a 3-point shooter which would add to his & our arsenal. Jayson come back better at his floater, Jaylen looking to pass first, letting his offense come to him. Marcus, Al, Malcolm are fine & in their primes. Gallo & D White healthy. Brad Stevens having improved the roster. And Coach Joe sided by a defensive oriented coach. Go Celtics!
This guy isn’t even 40. What a joke. Brad is trying to find another brad smh . Please find a real coach, center and PG
Yikes! So the Celtics won’t win again. Brad Stevens needs to go. Mazulla the waterboy would not work.