The defending champions have a certain attitude, and it all starts with their head coach.
Joe Mazzulla is in his third season as the Boston Celtics’ head coach, and his personality has been one of the most interesting things about the team. From contesting opponents’ shots to his deadpan reactions, Mazzulla is a gift that keeps on giving from the sidelines in Boston.
His team is currently on the verge of making the second round of the NBA playoffs, holding a 3-1 lead over the Orlando Magic. While the Celtics have a chance to close out their opponent in five games, their first-round matchup has been anything but easy.
Although Orlando doesn’t have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Celtics, its defensive intensity and physicality have made life difficult for Boston. That physicality has even led to a few flagrant fouls in this series.
Considering Jayson Tatum had to miss Game 2 after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s flagrant foul in the series opener, many think Orlando isn’t playing a fair game. While the physicality is a bit more intense than usual, Mazzulla had a classic response when asked if he thinks any lines have been crossed.
“No one’s been arrested,” Mazzulla said. “As long as we’re playing within the rules, you have to win in the trenches.”
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Unsurprisingly, Mazzulla loves the physicality. After Kristaps Porzingis took a nasty shot to the forehead in Game 2, Mazzulla said he loved to see his big man bleed.
That type of attitude is exactly why the Celtics are unfazed by the Magic’s physicality. Although the team has been reactive to the hard fouls in the series, it hasn’t kept them from playing their brand of basketball.
As long as the Celtics continue to advance in the playoffs, Mazzulla is sure to have much more to say.
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