Local News

Coach Joe Mazzulla is OK with Celtics being left out of running for NBA year-end awards

“I think it’s beautiful,” Mazzulla said. “Why would you get an award for the past?”

Joe Mazzulla's focus is on the Celtics' playoff series with the Heat, not NBA awards.

By Khari Thompson, The Boston Globe

April 24, 2024

3 minutes to read

Despite having the best regular-season record in the NBA and setting the league record for most wins by 25 points or more with 17, the Celtics finished without any finalists for year-end awards.

Coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t hesitate to shake his head when asked if he was bothered by the lack of representation. He has no issue with it.

“I think it’s beautiful,” Mazzulla said. “Why would you get an award for the past?”

Mazzulla did not bother to address the awards situation with the team. He didn’t feel it was worth addressing in the middle of a playoff series against the Heat, the team that knocked the Celtics out in last year’s Eastern Conference finals.

“The great thing about this team is that I think from Day 1 we’ve appreciated the individual awards that we’ve gotten,” Mazzulla said. “From the player of the month, staff of the month, and whatnot. But at the end of the day I think one of the biggest strengths of this team is that they haven’t had that agenda.”

“None of the guys had brought it up, and I don’t think it’s important at all because we’re all focused on what we need to do as a team.”

Deep thoughts

The Celtics shot 44.9 percent from 3-point range (22 for 49) in Sunday’s 114-94 win over the Heat in Game 1. Every player in the starting five shot 50 percent or better from deep except Jayson Tatum, who was 1 for 8.

Guarding a team for which everyone can shoot from beyond the arc can be taxing on opposing defenses. Part of what makes the Celtics unique is their number of weapons capable of scoring from outside.

“This is the deal: If you want to win, you have to wrap your mind around doing tough things,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Every opponent in the playoffs presents a different kind of challenge. This is a challenge. They play a lot of five-out, you have guys that can really get going from there.

“They shoot a high volume of [3-pointers] and then if you just stay at home, they also have a couple of guys that can put up big numbers. That’s the deal, and our task is figuring it out. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be enough to win the game, and that’s what we’re focused on.”

Holiday plays Herro

Tyler Herro, who tied with Jimmy Butler for the Heat’s scoring lead during the regular season, finished Game 1 with 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Mazzulla praised Jrue Holiday for his efforts in defending against Herro.

“I just thought Jrue did a great job in particular did a great job staying connected to him, making it difficult for him.” Mazzulla said. “I thought there were some shots that he usually makes that he missed as well, but I thought whoever was matched up on him just had a heightened awareness to him.”

Holiday said he’s excited for another chance to prove himself during the playoffs.

“It’s kind of like a new season. It’s time to prove that this season meant something to us,” Holiday said. “It’s something that we don’t want to take for granted. Any time I get to the playoffs, and I know that I’m blessed to play, I want to come out and win. I couldn’t specifically say what it is about the playoffs, the intensity of the game, the way that it’s played, I think all of it is something that I like to be a part of.”