Joe Mazzulla Thread, Head Coach – (COTM, Dec 2023 & March 2024)

[djFan71]

Maybe Joe failed in some grand, meta-coaching sense of not getting these clowns to brick everything and repeatedly make bad decisions. The offense however was fine and it's been a top 3 offense in the season and post-season. I don't know how you guys watch the same games I do and come away with the idea that Joe's just telling Tatum and Jaylen go ISO for 48 minutes.

Great stuff in this recent run of posts.

I lean more your way, but the bad decisions / lack of game plan discipline - maybe I can see some blame on Joe? Part of coaching is to make the players execute the plan - not just come up with it. That's where Ime was a little better, perhaps, at making them do it. Joe's obviously not telling them to make dumb plays and turnovers, but it's also clear they're not really executing what he DOES want them to do either.

EDIT: Consistently. They do it a large amount of the time. But not every time down the court.

That's fair. I don't think BK is saying that Mazzulla should get 0% of the blame.

And despite the fact that I've defended Mazzulla quite a bit on here, I don't think he should get 0% of the blame either.

I think both BK and myself simply want the blame % to be shifted more fairly, that's all.

Because when you read many of the posts in this thread (and in many other threads on here) by the many folks who have been advocating for Mazzulla to be fired, you feel like many posters here think that 90 or even 100% of the blame (for us being down 3-0 with a blowout loss in game 3 and 2 losses at home) is on Mazzulla.

Yep, I didn't think he was saying that either. I was just continuing the discussion is all.

[djFan71]

Maybe Joe failed in some grand, meta-coaching sense of not getting these clowns to brick everything and repeatedly make bad decisions. The offense however was fine and it's been a top 3 offense in the season and post-season. I don't know how you guys watch the same games I do and come away with the idea that Joe's just telling Tatum and Jaylen go ISO for 48 minutes.

Great stuff in this recent run of posts.

I lean more your way, but the bad decisions / lack of game plan discipline - maybe I can see some blame on Joe? Part of coaching is to make the players execute the plan - not just come up with it. That's where Ime was a little better, perhaps, at making them do it. Joe's obviously not telling them to make dumb plays and turnovers, but it's also clear they're not really executing what he DOES want them to do either.

EDIT: Consistently. They do it a large amount of the time. But not every time down the court.

I think Ime's offense was a little more predictable and ISO-centric.

he started breaking the iso habits, Joe continued it. Ime got them to buy in on the D end more. Tho, tbf, Rob's health was better and most of the ideas were Joes, afaik. But, Ime just had that charisma to make guys wanna do it. And, unfortunately, female staffers as well.

[Floody100]

Please make me eat my own words Joe !

[shackles10]

Not mad at Joe these last two games. He’s called timeouts not when we desperately needed them, but at just the right times. Rotations have been pretty good. Even trying PP a little yesterday he quickly changed it when he saw something he didn’t like. Overall doesn’t seem to be as stubborn. Also the huddles we get to hear sound like he knows what he’s doing. Hopefully a switch in humility turns a corner on our season and Joe’s hold on the locker room.

[BK_2020]

Joe coaching circles around Spo rn.

[Theocy]

Lads, our guys were shooting like a G league team for 3 games. You could have spo, pop and all the great ones sitting on the bench brainstorming collectively how should play, it would be the same ****.

If they keep firing at the clip they have been the last 2 games i doubt we loose another game. If they slip again we are done.

[darrendaye]

A thought just crossed my mind....any possibility of Blake transitioning to a coaching staff role next year? Not that I'm suggesting this is a likely course. But I'm anticipating there may be a defection or two to Ime's staff and if Griffin had interest in coaching and if he created a bond with the Jays it might be a stars aligning situation. He's been team oriented about playing time and playing career on fumes. They would benefit with a coaching "grey beard" to help counsel Joe, but if there are 2 slots that need filling and want an "upside" coach, it's a longshot possibility I guess, right?

Posted this is the main season thread, but thought it might contribute in this discussion as well. I'd want to give Joe time. But agree a steady wise super experienced voice on the staff is the best direction to go. Joe might also need a player communicator to calm things down when there is player-head coach conflicts. Joe is has an intensity which is great, but having one good chill guy can help balance that when it gets tilted. Not saying they don't have one.

[playa-hater]

A thought just crossed my mind....any possibility of Blake transitioning to a coaching staff role next year? Not that I'm suggesting this is a likely course. But I'm anticipating there may be a defection or two to Ime's staff and if Griffin had interest in coaching and if he created a bond with the Jays it might be a stars aligning situation. He's been team oriented about playing time and playing career on fumes. They would benefit with a coaching "grey beard" to help counsel Joe, but if there are 2 slots that need filling and want an "upside" coach, it's a longshot possibility I guess, right?

Posted this is the main season thread, but thought it might contribute in this discussion as well. I'd want to give Joe time. But agree a steady wise super experienced voice on the staff is the best direction to go. Joe might also need a player communicator to calm things down when there is player-head coach conflicts. Joe is has an intensity which is great, but having one good chill guy can help balance that when it gets tilted. Not saying they don't have one.

By all accounts it seems like blake is an outstanding guy.. Don't think that would make him a good coach necessarily... But I certainly won't complain if he's added on as the last new assistant..

[KamikazeK]

If bazooka Joe can coach these guys to a completed reverse sweep of the Heat in the ECF then I'll forgive him for the poor start and retract my expectation for a new coach in the offseason. If they go down in game 7 tho then I don't think getting 3 wins should save him imo.

[jfs1000d]

Got to find a reason why this team struggles late in Games. It isn’t coach. They’d strugglers with Ime and Brad same way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sam_I_am]

For all the criticism directed at Joe Mazulla - fairly or unfairly - there is one incontrovertible thing for which he deserves credit. He unlocked the potential of Derrick White here in Boston. White had a career year and in a season where the team lost its defensive identity at times, Derrick White found his - making an all defensive team.

And man did it pay off last night!

Play off the new millennium to win the game.
3-7 from 3 when rest of team was 4-28.
1-12 shooting by players he guarded including 0-4 from 3 when Heat shot 14-26 from 3 against rest of team
6-8 shooting by players he passed to.

[Duke4life831]

I will say this, after Game 3 I thought the team had quit on him. It looked like no one wanted to put up the effort to fight and were basically counting down to Cancun.

But this team clearly has come out with an edge and have refused to just quit. And I do think if there is one important thing to talk about with HC in the NBA is, do they have the locker room? These guys are clearly playing hard. I dont think you can come back from a 3-0 deficit to at minimum force a Game 7, if the players no longer want to play for their coach.

[Big J]

Joe has gotten better as the playoffs have gone along. He started out as a complete moron, and now he seems like he's at a Doc Rivers level. He might reach Ty Lue by the end of the Finals.

[Tyakack]

I will say this, after Game 3 I thought the team had quit on him. It looked like no one wanted to put up the effort to fight and were basically counting down to Cancun.

But this team clearly has come out with an edge and have refused to just quit. And I do think if there is one important thing to talk about with HC in the NBA is, do they have the locker room? These guys are clearly playing hard. I dont think you can come back from a 3-0 deficit to at minimum force a Game 7, if the players no longer want to play for their coach.

I still think they quit in game 3.... But I guess that quit didn't last long. They regrouped with a different mindset after that.

[BK_2020]

For all the criticism directed at Joe Mazulla - fairly or unfairly - there is one incontrovertible thing for which he deserves credit. He unlocked the potential of Derrick White here in Boston. White had a career year and in a season where the team lost its defensive identity at times, Derrick White found his - making an all defensive team.

And man did it pay off last night!

Play off the new millennium to win the game.
3-7 from 3 when rest of team was 4-28.
1-12 shooting by players he guarded including 0-4 from 3 when Heat shot 14-26 from 3 against rest of team
6-8 shooting by players he passed to.

He also exiled Grant Williams and Pritchard to the deep bench which was long overdue.

[Big J]

You guys still want him gone?

[playa-hater]

You guys still want him gone?

Even if Boston won hes clearly not a good coach. I think the evidence of that is far greater than any evidence of him being an okay coach..

And i'm not buying that he's only a rookie ship...

If brad doesn't fire him then brad needs to go himself..

Running in the back with this coach and a couple of veteran coaches is definitely not the answer.

[Big J]

You guys still want him gone?

Even if Boston won hes clearly not a good coach. I think the evidence of that is far greater than any evidence of him being an okay coach..

And i'm not buying that he's only a rookie ship...

If brad doesn't fire him then brad needs to go himself..

Running in the back with this coach and a couple of veteran coaches is definitely not the answer.

If I'm the owner I'm telling Brad to get his ass back on the sidelines and out of that cushy suite where he doesn't have to answer any of the tough questions.

[KamikazeK]

A fake 0-3 comeback and Tatum's ankle better not take the focus away from what this team needs - A new coach who can get them playing the right way.

[Marvel]

Joe has gotten better as the playoffs have gone along. He started out as a complete moron, and now he seems like he's at a Doc Rivers level. He might reach Ty Lue by the end of the Finals.