So did Joe save his head coaching job?

[douggood]

Joe Mazzulla has $14 million guaranteed on his deal, which spans over the next three years, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
https://theathletic.com/4563225/2023/05/30/celtics-future-rumors-heat-nba-finals-the-bounce/?source=nbatw

[chrisab123]

Was never in danger. Boston doesn't like rocking the boat. All about good feelings and coddling here

[The Corey's]

No. Because they were never gonna fire him. Even if they lost game 4 by 40.

However, I don't see how he last beyond next year because I don't see how he improves the team with championship aspirations, which more than likely won't even get back to the ECF next year.

[The Corey's]

Joe Mazzulla has $14 million guaranteed on his deal, which spans over the next three years, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
https://theathletic.com/4563225/2023/05/30/celtics-future-rumors-heat-nba-finals-the-bounce/?source=nbatw

Wait, what? That actually makes me physically sick. WHO GAVE HIM THIS DEAL.

Even Ime only had a 3 year, 2 year guranteed deal.

I think Brad cost him self his job with this one.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Joe was never in any danger of losing his job contrary to what people kept saying.

[fallguy]

Joe Mazzulla has $14 million guaranteed on his deal, which spans over the next three years, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
https://theathletic.com/4563225/2023/05/30/celtics-future-rumors-heat-nba-finals-the-bounce/?source=nbatw

Wait, what? That actually makes me physically sick. WHO GAVE HIM THIS DEAL.

Even Ime only had a 3 year, 2 year guranteed deal.

I think Brad cost him self his job with this one.

Jesus Christ.

[jonige94]

14 million LMAO, fire Brad as well.

[Froob]

Unless Wyc or Tatum demand it, then yes. I'm not a fan of the Brad Stevens style coaching, but I'm ok with Joe staying with a re-vamped staff.

[threrf23]

I know we ended up winning game 6, but I had never felt as much anger towards a Celtics coach as I had by the end of that game.

Games 4 and 5, there was some good in terms of gameplanning, Joe called some good timeouts, it felt like things came to a head and he was willing to change his habits to smooth things over and to win important games after it had become painfully clear that what he had been doing was not working. He showed that he was capable of doing what was needed, doing what the players wanted of him. Then he was too stubborn or too proud or something to keep doing what worked, game 6 I felt like our guys came with good effort and Joe hung them out to dry late. We won the game anyways but it required a bit of divine guidance.

He coaches almost identically to the way Brad coached, I thought we were over that, disappointed.

Miami brought back the zone for game 7, who could have predicted that? 2020 all over again.

Last season under Ime might not have been all peaches, but I swear I remember our guys handling Miami's zone and the board rejoicing that amateur hour was finally over.

Timeouts, Joe seems influenced by Brad who was maybe influenced by Phil Jackson, who sometimes declined to call timeouts "to give his players a chance to develop their ability respond to challenges."

I am actually OK with that, but especially with a season on the line, it is incredibly important for somebody to do something when other teams go on runs, especially if we are talking elimination games. Our players virtually never did anything, they rarely appeared to be capable of weathering adversity without some assistance, and it was blatantly obvious that they never practiced for said situations.

Situational awareness was lacking all postseason.

Bill Belichik - on a weekly basis he makes sure the Patriots practice plays designed for niche/special situations, so that they are well prepared for the moment when it comes about. Even though these situations might not occur more than once in an entire season or two, Bill knows that entire games if not entire seasons can ride on these plays. It is also a situation where, when the team has prepared for any situation it might face, it lends confidence in clutch moments, because the players know they are prepared for whatever might happen.

I understand that basketball is less tactical than football and that it is tough to compare practice habits, but throughout this postseason, we saw **** situational awareness and little to no situational prep across the board. It's easy to blame Jaylen or Marcus for being stupid, but our entire team consistently ****ed up in the clutch, even high IQ vets like Al & Brog on occasion. And I think it was game 4 vs the Sixers, down 1 with 15 seconds to go, not a particularly uncommon situation, not only was our team fully unprepared, it became clear that Joe didn't even have a clue about what we were supposed to do in that situation, was treated almost like the end of any random half.

If, as a coach, you treat the end of a must win game like the end of any random regular season game, you cannot complain when your players treat a must win game like it is unimportant, and fail to match their opponent's intensity. You are the one setting the bad example.

I understand that Joe, like Brad, likes to show faith in his players so they can develop faith in themselves. But there is entirely a reason why teams hire coaches, and just because a coach chooses not to micromanage his players doesn't mean he cannot help them win. If a coach is not going to prepare his team for important situations, if he is not going to make obvious adjustments or call timeouts, if he is not going to hold players accountable and leave that responsibility to the players themselves, WHY EVEN HAVE A HEAD COACH? Save money, and just tell your players to coach themselves and at least someone will end up taking the responsibility seriously.

For the record, Joe had somewhat lost me early in the season, based on the way he handled Jaylen if not others. We were so dominant early in the season, in large part because everyone was unselfish, had bought into what Joe wanted, and we were making an effort to use them to their strengths. Then Jaylen's agent supposedly asks for more on ball usage, and that is the moment where everything seemed to go a bit downhill - because Joe made it clear through his actions that this season was not about winning, but was about making sure Jaylen and maybe others got what they wanted because god forbid they would become unhappy and ask out.

This didn't appear to change much come the end of the season and postseason. And for the record, it wasn't unreasonable for Jaylen to have all-NBA on his mind, fantasies on his mind, jealousy towards other players who got to be undisputed number one options. Part of the reason you pay a coach is because every player has wants needs and egos, and it is coach's job to manage that. Like Brad before him, Joe seemed mostly unwilling to contradict players, to stand up for what was needed, and when he talked the talk he didn't necessarily walk the walk.

Nikola Jokic has won multiple MVP awards. And if he ever gets out of line or gives up on his players, Mike Malone will bench him without hesitation. Jokic is a better player for this and the Nuggets are a better team for it. We have little leadership or accountability on our sidelines and everyone loses as a result.

Forget about our defensive identity. Currently, we don't have an identity, period. And problems have probably existed for years.

I was going to keep on ranting a bunch more. In short, if I'm in charge this offseason, Brad is gone. We have well established culture issues and Brad has contributed to them ever since he came on board. And if I am somehow wrong about Brad shouldering any blame, then it must be our players that are the problem, and Brad still ends up shouldering the blame because he has been our GM.

He did well as a GM, except perhaps for appointing Joe as our coach. I bet he would make a great assistant coach or scout. But he is replaceable and he must move on.

I would also like to see Wyc step more into the background and excuse himself from business decisions.

Joe seems like a good guy and he is the same age as many players and if he wants to stick around as an assistant coach and grow with our players I am perfectly cool with that, hypothetically. But he must step down as our head coach.

/end rant

[GWVan]

If it was my decision he would be gone but Brad will not pull the trigger.

[lon3lytoaster]

Joe Mazzulla has $14 million guaranteed on his deal, which spans over the next three years, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
https://theathletic.com/4563225/2023/05/30/celtics-future-rumors-heat-nba-finals-the-bounce/?source=nbatw

Woah.. holy hell. That's insane. I either didn't know, or didn't remember he got this kind of contract.

[AgentGreen]

Probably saved it. Joe is a copy of Dwane Casey, bad with the timeouts and keeps pounding the rock. This team gave me the same vibes as the Casey Raptors with Lowrey and Derozan.

I hope Joe can swallow his pride and take a step back for a real head coach. My favorite coaching candidate for this team was Nick Nurse, but Philly already signed him.

Don't know if this squad will play their ass off for a coach like Monty Williams. They actually need a Ime type who treated them like a drill sergeant.

[The Corey's]

Joe Mazzulla has $14 million guaranteed on his deal, which spans over the next three years, sources tell
@ShamsCharania
https://theathletic.com/4563225/2023/05/30/celtics-future-rumors-heat-nba-finals-the-bounce/?source=nbatw

Woah.. holy hell. That's insane. I either didn't know, or didn't remember he got this kind of contract.

No one knew because they didn't announce the terms.

This is a unacceptable amount to give anyone. This is almost the same amount of years Stevens got out the gate.

This begs the question. Why did Ime get a 3 year deal with the third year being an option but Mazzula got a 4 year deal with 14 mil guranteed?

[Hal14]

Per Shams, Mazzulla not going anywhere:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

He says the plan is to bring on some more experienced assistant coaches.

Some potential targets to be an assistant:

-Frank Vogel
-Stephen Silas
-James Borrego
-Mike D'Antoni
-JJ Redick
-Rasheed Wallace
-Sam Cassell

Ideally, we would add 2 of these guys.

[Parliament10]

I think he was never gonna get fired (after getting extended) even if we got swept. I guess depends on how much pressure the owners put on Brad. But I'm leaning towards him getting retained and they get some cheapo assistants on the bench.

I think that Mazzulla stays. Give him a full off-season.
Also, the team has had 3 Coaches in 3 years. A new one would be 4 Coaches in 4 years. No Bueno.

[celtxman]

The problem isn't the offense, it's the defense. Mazulla needs a veteran defensive-minded lead assistant, sort of what Thibs was to Rivers in 2008.

First off Mazzula will be staying because I believe Tatum and Brown like him and as bad as we feel right now towards facilitating the players you have to do what's best for the club.
I don't think there was anyone more geeked up than me when the Celtics pursued Thibodeau in 2007. I knew how well his defenses performed with the Knicks (as assitant), and I also saw the impact of Dick Harter as a defensive assistant coach under Jim O'Brian in the early 2000's. That team with Paul Pierce., an overrated Antoine Walker, and a bunch of mediocre players almost made it to the Finals.
Yes they need someone who has a defensive mindset, who Mazzula would have to listen to, that can keep Caleb Martin from becoming MJ.

[The Corey's]

The problem isn't the offense, it's the defense. Mazulla needs a veteran defensive-minded lead assistant, sort of what Thibs was to Rivers in 2008.

First off Mazzula will be staying because I believe Tatum and Brown like him and as bad as we feel right now towards facilitating the players you have to do what's best for the club.
I don't think there was anyone more geeked up than me when the Celtics pursued Thibodeau in 2007. I knew how well his defenses performed with the Knicks (as assitant), and I also saw the impact of Dick Harter as a defensive assistant coach under Jim O'Brian in the early 2000's. That team with Paul Pierce., an overrated Antoine Walker, and a bunch of mediocre players almost made it to the Finals.
Yes they need someone who has a defensive mindset, who Mazzula would have to listen to, that can keep Caleb Martin from becoming MJ.

They like him cause there no accountability. It's bro culture.

How hard is practice even? Clearly they just chuck 3s.

[Drax]

No chance.... his pressers alone are embarrassing, but at the end of the day it will come down to what the players want IMO. Get a vet coach in here that can run an actual offense. This live and die by the three mentality failed this group.... Waste of a season really, banner 18 or bust...... Unfinished business my a$$

That's what got us in the coaching mess in the first place. I still can't phatom that the core of this team had one of the best coaches for this NBA iteration (Brad was defense first with the emphasis on shutting down the three point line, ball movement on offense and great X & Os). We were clutch back then.
But the trade for a certain PG who's name shall not be named and a Morris twin brought us player empowerment and we suddenly got vocal players who know best what a franchise should do. Ever since then we lost our good habbits and we're looking for a savior(and Udoka was not it). Good luck finding that coach.

[165bows]

The problem isn't the offense, it's the defense. Mazulla needs a veteran defensive-minded lead assistant, sort of what Thibs was to Rivers in 2008.

Actually the other way around. This team has come to a screaming halt the past two years with the exactly the same inability to score the way modern teams do (or even non-modern teams) despite two different head coaches.

Bring in D'Antoni as lead offensive assistant and lets get people moving on offense again.

[Jammer]

Brad's Biggest Blunders

1- Offering Mazzula a Guaranteed Contract with 3 seasons past the current one
2 - Letting Will Hardy take over in Utah