Category: Interviews

Mazzulla celebrates One Boston Day: ‘It’s an honor and a privilege to coach in this city’

Joe Mazzulla honored One Boston Day and the anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing ahead of Saturday’s action between the Celtics and Hawks.

Today may be the first postseason game as an NBA head coach for Joe Mazzulla, but the 34-year-old had his focus elsewhere during his pregame press conference Saturday. Though he serves as the leader for the Boston Celtics, Mazzulla was not wearing his usual Celtics green. Instead, he donned a blue and yellow shirt with the phrase “One Boston” across the chest as he spoke to the media.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing which claimed 3 lives and injured 281. Mayor Wu and the city designated today “One Boston Day” as a way to recognize “the resiliency, generosity, and strength demonstrated by the people of Boston and those around the world in response to the tragedy of April 15, 2013.”

Prior to the opening game between the Celtics and the visiting Atlanta Hawks, Mazzulla spoke about the anniversary, his role as a figure in the city, and his relationship with Boston more broadly.

The funniest moments from Boston Celtics’ interviews in the 2022-23 season

Slip-ups, mishearings, and other hijinks have occasionally led to some very humorous moments on the postgame podium.

Anyone who has watched enough postgame interviews of NBA players starts to see patterns in how each responds to effectively the same questions on a nightly basis.

They lean on stock replies and non-answers to keep their sanity over the course of an 82-game season (and sometimes a postseason run as well). Sometimes, those shields fall just enough to see the person behind the canned reply — and it isn’t always intentional.

The Boston Celtics are certainly no exception. Slip ups, mishearings and other hijinks have occasionally led to some very humorous moments on the postgame podium.

The folks behind the team’s official YouTube channel assembled some of the best such instances of the 2022-23 season for our amusement while we wait for the first round of the 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs’ first round.

Check them out for yourself in the video embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston’s Al Horford to serve as co-chair for the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders program

“When the Jr. NBA brought it up to me, I just thought that it was something that I would be able to put an imprint and impact them in a positive way,” said Horford.

The Boston Celtics are among NBA leaders in ball clubs who are active participants in the communities they play in terms of mentorship, volunteering, and charitable events, leaning on a tradition nearly as old as the team itself. Veteran forward Al Horford is among those Celtics giving back to their communities and has recently signed on to be a co-chair for the Jr. NBA Court of Leaders program per USA Today’s Victoria Hernandez.

“It was a very unique opportunity to make a difference in the life of upcoming young people and in this case, these players, boys, and girls are trying to find their way,” said the Florida alum.

“When the Jr. NBA brought it up to me, I just thought that it was something that I would be able to put an imprint and impact them in a positive way. … It was a no-brainer.”

 

Celtics Co-Governor Wyc Grousbeck on Boston’s first round series with the Atlanta Hawks

The Celtics co-owner weighed in on his expectations for Boston in their looming series with the Hawks.

Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck recently took some time to sit down with the folks at WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” to talk about the Celtics’ series with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA’s 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Grousbeck spoke about the matchup, what he expects to happen in Game 1, how comfortable he was with how Boston finished the 2022-23 season, his expectations for the Celtics in the postseason writ large, the depth of the team and the mindset of star forward Jayson Tatum heading into the postseason.

The crew also touched on how much pressure could be on head coach Joe Mazzulla, his thoughts about team ownership in the NBA and other leagues, and more.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Marcus Smart shares strategy to contain Trae Young in playoffs

USA TODAY Sports sits down with the Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart before their matchup against the Trae Young led Atlanta Hawks.

When Marcus Smart and the Celtics match up against the Hawks in the playoffs, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year will be locked in on containing Atlanta’s sharpshooter Trae Young in multiple ways. 

He will not only look to prevent Young, who Smart concedes “is a great player,” from scoring, but he will also look to match the notoriously vocal guard when it comes to trash talking. 

The two have a history of jawing at one another on the court, and when asked about that aspect of their first-round matchup, Smart told USA Today Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon, “I talk smack, too.”

To hear more candid conversation from Smart, check out Mackenzie’s entire interview by clicking above. 

Paul Pierce on working with Kevin Garnett to help guide today’s Celtics in pursuit of a banner

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had the benefit of previous generations of Celtics greatness to lean on in their quest to win it all, and are now paying that debt forward.

When it was time to pursue Banner 17 in earnest, Hall of Fame Boston Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had the benefit of previous generations of Celtics greatness to lean on in their quest. Tommy Heinsohn, Cedric Maxwell and Bill Russell made themselves available to help the Boston stars of that era rise to historic greatness as well.

Now, trying to pay that debt forward, Garnett and Pierce have made themselves available in a similar way to the current Celtics. We even see Pierce talking at length about his and KG’s newfound commitment to helping the next generation of Boston legends on an episode of the team-produced “View from the Rafters” podcast.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what The Ticket and The Truth had to say about reconnecting with the team they hung a banner with ahead of (hopefully) hanging another.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on”

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston’s Jayson Tatum says ‘physically, I feel really, really good’ ahead of Hawks series

“My body feels great, (and my) energy level, so overall, I feel pretty good,” said Tatum.

By his own account, star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and his teammates are more than ready to get on the court in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.

“We’ve essentially been waiting for this moment to get to the playoffs,” said the St. Louis native to reporters after practice on Friday (via CLNS Media). “The group is locked in, the group is focused. Everybody’s gotten healthy, so we’re just preparing the right way.”

Asked if last season’s loss to the Golden State Warriors left a sour taste in their mouth, the former Duke standout suggested it was out of sight and mind.

“That’s last year, and all we’re focusing on is the Hawks and Game 1 on Saturday,” he suggested.

As to how he was feeling leading up to the series, Tatum said “this is the least amount of games I have played in six years, so physically, I feel really, really good.”

“My body feels great, (and my) energy level, so overall, I feel pretty good,” he elaborated in what is likely music to the ears of Boston fans who had to watch Tatum’s play fall off of a cliff in the 2022 NBA Finals in part due to heavy usage for literally years leading up to that series.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta not advancing bid for NFL’s Commanders

Other bidders are reportedly offering near $6 billion for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, but #Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta says he isn’t willing to go to that number.

Earlier this year, reports emerged that Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta was among several potential buyers of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. But that interest doesn’t appear likely to lead to a deal.

Fertitta is standing by his original $5.6-billion offer while others have reportedly jumped to the $6-billion range.

One of those $6-billion bids is said to be an ownership consortium led by Josh Harris, a rival NBA owner with the Philadelphia 76ers.

As transcribed by Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Fertitta told CNBC why he didn’t advance in the bidding process:

I’ll be flat-out honest. I made a bid on the Washington Commanders for $5.6 billion. That’s the value that Forbes had them at, and at some point, you’ve got to draw a line in the sand on everything, and that’s where we are. If they can get somebody to pay them more than that, good luck to them. That’s all I can say. I own a franchise, so I love them selling for a lot. But at some point, I don’t think $6 billion is the right number.

Everybody that’s watched me do business for the last 40 years knows when I draw a line in the sand, I’m done. So, I’m here, you know I can close, and that’s the way it is.

In addition to owning the Rockets, Fertitta is chairman and CEO of the Landry’s Inc. hospitality group. He is also chairman of the board of regents for the University of Houston system.

The Rockets have a busy 2023 offseason coming up with a head coaching search already underway and NBA-leading salary cap flexibility of approximately $60 million. Thus, Fertitta should have his attention occupied over the coming weeks.

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Paul George shows love to Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, compares playmaking to Magic Johnson

In a new podcast, Clippers star Paul George says young #Rockets center Alperen Sengun shows playmaking flashes that remind him of several NBA legends, including Magic Johnson.

With averages of 14.8 points (55.3% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, young Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun took a leap forward in his second NBA season.

Even stars like Nikola Jokic, the back-to-back league MVP, went out of his way during the 2022-23 year to urge Houston to run more offense through its creative 20-year-old big man out of Turkey.

Now, add eight-time All-Star Paul George — currently of the Los Angeles Clippers — to a growing list of NBA royalty to show respect to Sengun. On a new episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” George had this to say about Sengun (hat tip Rexwell Villas, Clutch Points):

He’s been doing it all season long and he’s been getting some recognition, but I think more so now. … He’s showing his true personality. His true self is starting to shine through. He’s a big dog. Beast.

He’s got shades of Marc Gasol and Pau Gasol. He’s got shades of Jokic, and the great bigs that can pass, shoot and playmake. I love his game, he can do it all. He’s a super, super high IQ player.

The greatest part of his game is his playmaking. I’ve seen some flashiness where he’s on some Magic (Johnson) type sh*t. He can hoop.

In four games versus the Clippers this season, Sengun averaged 17.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 30.5 minutes. He shot 56.8%. It certainly seems to have to have caught George’s attention.

The complete podcast can be viewed below, with the Sengun discussion starting at approximately the 53 minute mark.

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Hawks head coach Quin Snyder says the Boston Celtics are ‘really, really hard to guard’

“I think they have a feel for one another and how they play together,” said Snyder.

New Atlanta Hawks head coach Quinn Snyder had some words about his team’s next opponent after defeating the Miami Heat in the 7-8 play-in game and securing a spot in the 2-7 series against the Boston Celtics.

“They’re really connected defensively,” Snyder said via CLNS Media. “I think it’s more than them just having like a lot of weapons.”

“I think they have a feel for one another and how they play together,” added the Hawks head coach. “You can see that in the way they play. Their reads are terrific and they got a lot of guys that can make plays and they want to do that for one another. It makes them really, really hard to guard.”

“I think their versatility defensively is unique also (with) some of the different lineups they can put out,” suggested Snyder.

“I don’t know who the Defensive Player of the Year will be this year, but I know Marcus Smart, (and) I have tons of respect for him. I just think he’s one of those guys that’s a heartbeat — they’re just really good.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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