Re: Joe Mazzulla Thread, Head Coach – (COTM, Dec 2023)
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2024 2:10 pm
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That is what the game of basketball is about, to me, and what counterattacking in soccer is about,” Mazzulla told The Athletic. “So I study a lot of Man City. I study Pep a lot. I think he’s the best coach at any level, in any sport. It’s had a huge influence (on me).”
One of Mazzulla’s favorite drills at practice consists of two five-man lineups walking onto the court with no offense/defense assignment. Then he throws the ball to one group and everyone has to jump into the right play call and defensive coverage immediately.
No time to think about what you’re going to do. Immediate read and react.
For Mazzulla, it was the visualization of how a coach manages the game so differently in soccer.
“That’s where my timeout philosophy started. I think soccer coaches are the best teachers, because once the game starts, you can’t call a timeout,” Mazzulla said. “The ability to create a system where your guys can operate and function based on the ebbs and flows of the game and how the game is going is really important. You have to empower your players to understand exactly how the game’s going and how quickly you can self-correct to either stop a run or create your own run.”
bisme37 wrote:That is what the game of basketball is about, to me, and what counterattacking in soccer is about,” Mazzulla told The Athletic. “So I study a lot of Man City. I study Pep a lot. I think he’s the best coach at any level, in any sport. It’s had a huge influence (on me).”One of Mazzulla’s favorite drills at practice consists of two five-man lineups walking onto the court with no offense/defense assignment. Then he throws the ball to one group and everyone has to jump into the right play call and defensive coverage immediately.
No time to think about what you’re going to do. Immediate read and react.For Mazzulla, it was the visualization of how a coach manages the game so differently in soccer.
“That’s where my timeout philosophy started. I think soccer coaches are the best teachers, because once the game starts, you can’t call a timeout,” Mazzulla said. “The ability to create a system where your guys can operate and function based on the ebbs and flows of the game and how the game is going is really important. You have to empower your players to understand exactly how the game’s going and how quickly you can self-correct to either stop a run or create your own run.”
Sweet Serenity wrote:This is why I laugh when posters on here who have never played or coached basketball at a professional level think they know more than him lol
Homerclease wrote:Sweet Serenity wrote:This is why I laugh when posters on here who have never played or coached basketball at a professional level think they know more than him lol
We’d all get cooked 1 on 1 by every player in the NBA yet we still criticize guys all the time. Why would it be different for coaches?
Fwiw I think Joe has been a lot better in year two than year one but I still strongly disagree with his “let guys figure it out” approach and his overall game management in the final minutes during tight games can be questionable to put it nicely.
Mr_Mojo_Risin wrote:Homerclease wrote:Sweet Serenity wrote:This is why I laugh when posters on here who have never played or coached basketball at a professional level think they know more than him lol
We’d all get cooked 1 on 1 by every player in the NBA yet we still criticize guys all the time. Why would it be different for coaches?
Fwiw I think Joe has been a lot better in year two than year one but I still strongly disagree with his “let guys figure it out” approach and his overall game management in the final minutes during tight games can be questionable to put it nicely.
He doesn't have a "let guys figure it out" approach by itself. He trains them outside of games how to read the game through drills and video, then leaves them at times to work through it in games.
If successful, it is immensely valuable and not dissimilar in approach to Golden State in some ways.
I often want to challenge people to see beyond convention in my areas of expertise in life and try to do so when judging what Joe or other coaches do, because conventions should be tested and need to be broken at times for improvement. In elite sport the margins are small and winning is exceptionally difficult. Being ahead of the curve is essential.
When people call Joe an idiot it's often based on the fact he is not doing things the same way other coaches have for a long time.
Now that doesn't mean it will work out or that Joe is a genius for doing that, but it doesn't make him an idiot either.
Listen to Joe speak about basketball and he's clearly at a very high level of understanding about the game and can articulate his thoughts well.
IMO what he's done very well this year is learning when to add some convention to his ideas, reading some game situations and being less stubborn about his approach. However the breaking convention aspect is still there and we're seeing the players talk his language and really add more and more wrinkles to their game with good effect. Personally I'm starting to feel like Joe might be an exceptional coach. However only time will tell.
Homerclease wrote:Mr_Mojo_Risin wrote:Homerclease wrote:We’d all get cooked 1 on 1 by every player in the NBA yet we still criticize guys all the time. Why would it be different for coaches?
Fwiw I think Joe has been a lot better in year two than year one but I still strongly disagree with his “let guys figure it out” approach and his overall game management in the final minutes during tight games can be questionable to put it nicely.
He doesn't have a "let guys figure it out" approach by itself. He trains them outside of games how to read the game through drills and video, then leaves them at times to work through it in games.
If successful, it is immensely valuable and not dissimilar in approach to Golden State in some ways.
I often want to challenge people to see beyond convention in my areas of expertise in life and try to do so when judging what Joe or other coaches do, because conventions should be tested and need to be broken at times for improvement. In elite sport the margins are small and winning is exceptionally difficult. Being ahead of the curve is essential.
When people call Joe an idiot it's often based on the fact he is not doing things the same way other coaches have for a long time.
Now that doesn't mean it will work out or that Joe is a genius for doing that, but it doesn't make him an idiot either.
Listen to Joe speak about basketball and he's clearly at a very high level of understanding about the game and can articulate his thoughts well.
IMO what he's done very well this year is learning when to add some convention to his ideas, reading some game situations and being less stubborn about his approach. However the breaking convention aspect is still there and we're seeing the players talk his language and really add more and more wrinkles to their game with good effect. Personally I'm starting to feel like Joe might be an exceptional coach. However only time will tell.
It cost this team games last postseason and will never work in practice because of the other variable that Joe can’t control and that’s the other team. Regular season is one thing, if you want to hang your men out to dry and let them sink or swim then so be it. The Celtics are none worse for wear as shown by our record. Now when the games actually matter? Throw that rubbish in the bin where it belongs and put your players in the best position you possibly can to succeed.
zoyathedestroya wrote:
BK_2020 wrote:zoyathedestroya wrote:
Basically we lead the league (tied with Dallas) in ppp on ATO plays. Not bad.
BK_2020 wrote:zoyathedestroya wrote:Spoiler:
Basically we lead the league (tied with Dallas) in ppp on ATO plays. Not bad.
djFan71 wrote:BK_2020 wrote:zoyathedestroya wrote:Spoiler:
Basically we lead the league (tied with Dallas) in ppp on ATO plays. Not bad.
That's only cuz Joe games the stats by not calling timeouts and having just a few really special plays for when he forgets and calls one.
BK_2020 wrote:djFan71 wrote:BK_2020 wrote:Basically we lead the league (tied with Dallas) in ppp on ATO plays. Not bad.
That's only cuz Joe games the stats by not calling timeouts and having just a few really special plays for when he forgets and calls one.
We do have the fewest ATO plays.