Latest news with #Mazzulla
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Can we expect a change in play style from the Boston Celtics next season?
Heading into the new NBA season, the Boston Celtics are expected to tweak their play style. Brad Stevens has already discussed the franchise's desire to see the team play at a higher pace with quicker decision-making. Stevens has added multiple young talents to the rotation, likely in the hope that Mazzulla will feel empowered to see the team put the pedal to the floor as often as possible. Of course, when you have Jaylen Brown and Derrick White on your roster, you also need to be comfortable playing in the half-court, which is where Boston has excelled in recent years. Mazzulla's job will be to find a balance between the two approaches and figure out how to blend them together, and what play calls can work out of each situation. During a recent segment on "98.5 The Sports Hub," Coley Mick joined James Stewart to discuss the issues with Boston's play style last season, and the changes we could expect to see, both this season and in the years to come. The two hosts also touched on the stagnation we saw from the Celtics roster as the 2024-25 season wore on. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Will the Boston Celtics keep Joe Mazzulla no matter what next season?
Since taking over as the Boston Celtics head coach, Joe Mazzulla has always had a winning roster. He inherited a team that boasted Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. For the past two seasons, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have also been part of the rotation. However, things will be much different in the upcoming season. Mazzulla must now adopt a different style of coaching. Rather than contending for a championship, his job will primarily be focused on talent development as the Celtics continue to retool the roster following Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon tear. Therefore, the expectations on Mazzulla's shoulders are far different from what he's become accustomed to. Still, that doesn't mean there won't be high expectations from some sections of the Celtics fan base. In a recent episode of NESN's "Hold My Banner," Travis Thomas & George Balekji discussed Mazzulla's job security, and whether his position could come under the microscope if Boston doesn't achieve its goals next season. In truth, Mazzulla's job is likely safe. However, if you want to watch the discussion, you can do so by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Can the Boston Celtics Summer League standouts crack Joe Mazzulla's rotation?
Joe Mazzulla faces a tough task in the upcoming season. Since being hired as the Boston Celtics head coach, Mazzulla has led a championship-level roster. Now, for the first time in his tenure, his remit will be to develop some of the younger talent under contract, either to help them cement themselves as part of the team's future or to help build up their trade value. Brad Stevens has given Mazzulla multiple young players to work with, from Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh, who have been with the team for a year or more, to Luka Garza and Josh Minott, who are looking for a bigger opportunity in the NBA. And that's before we factor in the latest round of rookie additions, highlighted by 19-year-old Hugo Gonzalez. In a recent episode of NESN's "Hold My Banner" podcast, Adam Pellerin and Ountae Campbell discuss whether Walsh and Gonzalez — two players who thrived in Las Vegas Summer League — can find a way of breaking into Mazzulla's game day rotation, and if so, what type of role they could command. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What is it like in an NBA locker room at halftime? Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla explains
What is it like in an NBA locker room at halftime? Fans of the Boston Celtics have likely often wondered how it goes for their favorite team under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Does he have the same slightly abrasive and at times seemingly unhinged bedside manner he can have with the media? Or does he take a different tack with his players when there is a game on the line at the halfway point of the contest? Now, you can get the answer to that cluster of inquiries from the man himself, after Mazzulla recently took some time to sit down with former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman on Edelman's "Games with Names" podcast. The full interview with Mazzulla is a truly wide-ranging one, and the segment in question was clipped for us to watch later by the editors of the pod. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about how things go at halftime in an NBA locker room.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Celtics' Jordan Walsh reveals message from Joe Mazzulla after ejection
The Summer League Celtics dropped their first game of the tournament on Monday, July 14, losing to the Miami Heat 96-100. Jordan Walsh's ejection in the second quarter likely played a roll in the defeat. Walsh, 21, was having his best game thus far, before picking up two consecutive technical fouls, the second of which saw him push Pelle Larsson into the stands where Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren and new Celtics owner Bill Chisholm were sitting. Despite Walsh's poor decision-making, it would appear that Joe Mazzulla was a fan of the fire and fight that Walsh displayed on the court. When speaking to reporters in attendance after the game, Walsh shared a message Mazzulla had sent him via text. 'As soon as I got ejected, I got to the locker room, I checked my phone, He was texting me, 'I loved this out of you,'' Walsh said. 'So take that for what it is, but Joe was hype.' Mazzulla has developed a reputation for his unique approach to coaching and how he looks to challenge his players both mentally and physically. As such, it should come as no surprise that Walsh's heated moment was something that endeared him to the championship-winning coach. Nevertheless, Walsh will likely want to avoid such lapses in judgment moving forward. After all, minutes are up for grabs this season, and mistakes like the one against Miami could harm his chances of cementing himself as part of the team's rotation moving forward. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
