According to CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter, the Boston Celtics have gone all-in with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, so if this team doesn’t go over the top with these wholesale changes, head coach Joe Mazzulla and President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens could be fired.
“Several people across the NBA who talked to CBS Sports were most impressed by Boston’s moves,” Reiter said before adding, “The Celtics, several pointed out, moved on from Brogdon — “a malcontent in Boston,” one said — upgraded offensively, swapped out Marcus Smart for Holiday, and still have plenty of future picks to use, if necessary.” But the heat is on. Boston must make this new-look, much more offensive-minded team work to keep the pressure off Mazzulla and — if that fails — the team.
Unfortunately, despite Stevens’ success, being so aggressive in the trade market — including selling away two of Jayson Tatum’s best friends, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III — may age poorly if Banner 18 isn’t brought to Boston by the present bunch. If this club fails to meet their enormous preseason expectations, Mazzulla will be the first to go.
Joe Mazzulla’s midseason troubles in 2022-23 threaten the Boston Celtics’ tenure.
Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics peaked in his first few months with the team, crashing and burning around the
All-Star break in February and never recovering in postseason series against the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks that went on too long, leading to an Eastern Conference Finals series loss to the Miami Heat that they may have lost because of those extended early rounds.
Mazzulla has been a hit for the circumstances under which he became the C’s head coach — yet he has hit singles and doubles when the fanbase expects him to hit a home run. If that moonshot doesn’t happen, Mazzulla won’t be in charge of the team’s stars for much longer.
Leave a Reply