Top Story: Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla Gives Honest Explanation On Animalistic Winning Mindset

Fresh off a championship in his second season as head coach of the Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzulla is considered one of the top coaches in basketball. At just 36 years old, younger than Al Horford, he’s anticipated to be a long-term fixture in Boston, following in the footsteps of legends like Red Auerbach and Tom Heinsohn.

He does have a quirky side.

Successful head coaches often aren’t shy about expressing their thoughts, even if they come across as unconventional. For instance, Gregg Popovich urged his players for “some nasty” during the 2012 playoffs, and Erik Spoelstra wasn’t afraid to argue with his players on the sideline. NBA coaches truly are a unique group.

Mazzulla, however, takes this to a new level. Known for his quirky quotes, he has quickly become a media favorite and has been busy adding to his collection of soundbites over the summer. Recently, he shared his perspective as the Celtics aim to “defend their title.”

“The term ‘defending a title’ is quite passive-aggressive. In the animal kingdom, some of the strongest animals don’t defend; they’re the most aggressive and often the ones that attack the most.” – Mazzulla

This might suggest how the Celtics plan to approach the upcoming season.

Boston Celtics Will Be On the Attack

Don’t expect Tatum and Company to take their foot off the gas

Unlike many championship teams, the Celtics haven’t had a particularly enjoyable summer. Jaylen Brown was left off Team USA’s Olympic roster, and although Jayson Tatum made it to Paris, he barely played. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday got significant minutes in Paris, but overall, the Celtics feel disrespected after their NBA title victory.

While they are favored to repeat according to Vegas odds, it seems that the rest of the NBA isn’t as intimidated by them. Tatum’s celebrations after winning the Finals came off as cliché, as he appeared to mimic past celebrations from Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry.

The Celtics appear to have a target on their back, but Mazzulla believes they won’t need to “defend” anything. Their style of basketball and Mazzulla’s coaching approach are effective, and now it’s up to the rest of the NBA to catch up and find a way to halt their winning game.