Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics are under 'zero pressure' to repeat as champions. 'We're all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn't matter anymore,' he said.
"We're all going to be dead soon, and it really doesn't matter anymore. So there's zero pressure," he told reporters on Monday. "You have an opportunity to carry the organization forward, to double down on the tradition and history of what this organization has. And what else would you expect than someone expecting you to win all the time?"
The Celtics cruised through the NBA regular season last year -- finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference by 14 games -- and then went 16-3 in the playoffs. Led by, they are bringing back their entire starting lineup and most of their bench, and are the favorites to win it all again. "It's not pressure," Mazzulla said. "There's nothing anyone in this circle can do to me that's gonna impact my identity and who I am as a person or a coach. We're either gonna win or we're not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that's it."When Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won it all in 2008, they ended the franchise's longest-ever title drought.
The quest begins against the Knicks, who have positioned themselves as Boston's top competition in the East after acquiring"I trust who they are. I think they have an understanding of both 'This is what we accomplished' and 'This is what we're trying to do'" the coach said. "All the intangibles that go into winning should carry over from one season to another season.
"You have to appreciate it," he said. "But you've got to know what got you there and if you forget what got you there, you'll never get back."
Tatum-Jayson Brown-Jaylen Toronto-Raptors Pritchard-Payton New-York-Knicks East-East Philadelphia-76Ers Boston-Celtics Nba Brooklyn-Nets Bridges-Mikal Los-Angeles-Lakers
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Celtics' Jayson Tatum Shares Telling Quote About His Relationship With Joe MazzullaThe Celtics star says that he communicated with his coach a lot during a much-maligned Olympics run.
Read more »
Jayson Tatum Thinks Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla Was Happy About Finals MVP Snub, Olympics BenchingCelitcs star forward Jayson Tatum thinks his head coach Joe Mazzulla was happy that he didn't win Finals MVP.
Read more »
Celtics' Joe Mazzulla Calls Jayson Tatum's Finals MVP Snub, Olympic Benching a 'Gift'The Celtics coach addressed his star riding the pine in Paris.
Read more »
Why Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla thinks Jayson Tatum's Olympic benching was ‘a gift'Joe Mazzulla explained how Jayson Tatum not winning 2024 NBA Finals MVP and getting benched at the Olympics will fuel him to achieve even more.
Read more »
Lonnie Walker IV, Joe Mazzulla Detail Crucial Component to Him Acclimating to CelticsOn Saturday night at TD Garden, Boston Celtics guard Lonnie Walker IV shined while seeing his minutes reach double digits for the first time this preseason in the hosts' 139-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Read more »
Joe Mazzulla Offered More Morbid Wisdom When Asked About Celtics' Pressure to RepeatBasketball is officially back when Mazzulla is dishing morbid wisdom.
Read more »