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The Boston Celtics were picked by most NBA pundits to finish relatively low in the East in the preseason polls. Having lost Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in the playoffs, combined with all of the roster turnover, confidence seemed low in this group.
As of Christmas Eve, the team sits at 18-11 and in the #3 spot in the Eastern Conference. They have been turning heads from day one this season, with their head coach doing an incredible job of pushing all the right buttons.
With Boston’s last win on Monday, Joe Mazzulla picked up his 200th career victory. It took only 275 games for Celtics head coach to win as many games, making him the third fastest to ever get there.
The only coaches to win 200 games quicker are Steve Kerr (270) and Phil Jackson (238).
Joe Mazzulla Has Celtics Playing Great Basketball
The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. Both Al Horford and Luke Kornet left to sign with other franchises. Combine that with a missing Jayson Tatum, and things really weren’t expected to be easy.
Joe Mazzulla has been adapting different starting lineups and bench combos, finding whatever it is that works best for the team. With 200 wins now under his belt, Boston’s coach will be looking to win another 200 in pretty quick fashion.
In the team’s last victory over the Pacers, Mazzulla pulled all of his starters, going with a bench unit as the team trailed entering the fourth quarter. A 29-13 fourth quarter win for the C’s helped seal their third win in a row, and 8th in their past 10 contests.
Jaylen Brown has been playing the best basketball of his career, looking like not only an All-Star, but a dark-horse MVP candidate. Brown joined Paul Pierce and Larry Bird as the only payers in franchise history to score 30+ points in seven consecutive ballgames.
As Boston goes forward, one thing is absolutely certain. Joe Mazzulla is one of the best coaches in the league. He has proven capable of helping this team achieve what is expected, and then overachieve in more difficult circumstances.
Next Steps for Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics
Rumors have swirled about a potential Jayson Tatum return to the court this season. Whether it happens or not, the team has proven that the future is still in very good hands. Jaylen Brown has taken his game to another level. Neemias Queta has proven to be a capable starting center.
Payton Pritchard and Derrick White have done well enough to hold down the backcourt. And if they can just find a suitable Anfernee Simons trade partner, things should be all set for April.
Jordan Walsh has emerged as a defensive star in his third season. Joe Mazzulla has put Walsh, along with guys like Josh Minott and Luka Garza in a good position to succeed. All of them have done so, learning that their 37-year-old coach is somebody that has their best interest at heart along the way.
Boston won 57, 64, and 61 games in Mazzulla’s first three seasons at the helm. The number will obviously dip a bit this year, but he remains a Coach of the Year candidate. The Celtics are playing harder than anybody expected them to in the preseason predictions.
They are absolutely contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Joining Steve Kerr and Phil Jackson, two coaches that know a thing or two about championships in the record books is no small feat. This is an all-time great coach in the making.
Zach Weiss Zach Weiss is a sports reporter covering the NBA for Heavy. He also hosts a podcast about the Cleveland Cavaliers, “Across the Cavs,” and serves as a sports broadcaster for various institutions in the Greater NYC Area. He wrote for Knup Sports for six years. More about Zach Weiss
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