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Celtics Insider: Joe Mazzulla won’t be reason C’s don’t win title

By Alan Nahigian

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 18: Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Boston Celtics, calls in a play during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz on March 18, 2023 at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 18: Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Boston Celtics, calls in a play during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz on March 18, 2023 at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) /
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At 50-23, it’s very clear that the Boston Celtics have had a good season up to this point. Sure, there’s been the bad losses along the way.

The Houston loss on Monday March 13th is a good example of a bad loss. The Utah loss Saturday night is another one.

But when these bad losses pile up, the blame seems to always go back to head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Granted, the Celtics are 29-18 since their incredible 21-5 start to open the 2022-2023 season. But they still hold a two seed in the East and can make another run to the Finals.

But if this team ultimately falls short of winning a title, it shouldn’t be blamed primarily because of Joe Mazzulla.

Boston Celtics doing better with Joe Mazzulla than Ime Udoka

We all forget that the Celtics really caught fire last season in the second half. It seemed like they simply couldn’t lose and when they did, it was an anomaly.

But let’s compare last season to this season for a second. Last season after 73 games, the Celtics were 45-28 under Udoka. This season? The Celtics are 50-23. That’s a +5 win comparison from last year to this year.

We all know the talent is better this season because of the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Blake Griffin and the development of others like Grant Williams and Sam Hauser. But you still have to be able to put the pieces in place to succeed. Joe Mazzulla has done that so far this season.

Boston Celtics having other head coaches for their core besides Joe Mazzulla

It seems like the Celtics coaches are the ones that get blamed for what happens with their team results. But should we keep blaming the coaches for the players results? Not entirely!

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The Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown-Marcus Smart era has seen three different head coaches.

Brad Stevens led the Celtics through the post-Pierce/KG/Allen days and saw these three develop before our very eyes. A couple of Eastern Conference Finals appearances were earned, but they couldn’t get over the hump.

Then came Ime Udoka last season. The Celtics started off the year terribly, got hot in the second half of the season, and rode it all the way to the NBA Finals. But they didn’t finish the job.

Now, Joe Mazzulla is here and he has the Boston Celtics in a position to make another Finals run.

Have the Celtics had some bad losses this year? Yes. But they did last year too!

At some point, we have to hold the players accountable just as much, if not more, than a first year head coach.

Let’s not be calling for the first year head coach’s job before the playoffs even start. This team is foaming at the mouth to get back to the postseason.

Next. C's find their swagger again in blowout vs. Kings. dark

Let the playoffs actually happen first before we make a fair assessment on Mazzulla. If the Celtics get knocked out of the playoffs in the first or second round, skepticism is welcomed and warranted.

If they lost to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals or in the Finals again, we can’t say it’s on Mazzulla.

Take a breathe, Boston Celtics fans. Let’s enjoy the highs and lows of the rest of the regular season, maybe bet on it if you so choose. Then we can get strapped in on a playoff run that will hopefully end with this core finally getting over the hump.

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