Category: Interviews

Coaching misteps, overthinking Boston’s 2022 Finals rematch with Dubs cost Celtics a winnable game

Jayson Tatum may not agree, but Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown acknowledged Boston did not play their brand of basketball on Saturday.

Far from the statement win they had hoped to make on the Golden State Warriors’ home court on Saturday night, the Boston Celtics instead found themselves the victims of a 123-107 loss to the Dubs due to a combination of peculiar rotational decisions by interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and frequent lapses on both ends of the court by his players.

“We have to be better. The staff has to be better,” admitted Mazzulla via MassLive’s Brian Robb after the loss. And despite Jayson Tatum claiming the game was “more meaningful to” the media “than it was to us,” the St. Louis native’s exceptionally inefficient 6-of-21 shooting night told a different story.

One of the Warriors still owning some prime real estate in Tatum’s mind despite his and the Celtics’ growth as a team.

Stephen Silas taking time away from Rockets after death of father, Paul Silas

John Lucas is leading the #Rockets as head coach for the time being after the death of Paul Silas, father of Houston’s Stephen Silas.

Paul Silas, a former NBA coach with multiple teams and a championship player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday morning at the age of 79. His son, Stephen Silas, is head coach of the Houston Rockets.

“The Fertitta family and the Rockets organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Silas, father of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas,” the team said in a statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with Stephen and his family during this difficult time.”

“Paul Silas was a three-time NBA champion and a premier rebounder and defender during his 16 seasons before serving as coach for over two decades, including several years with Stephen working alongside him,” Sunday’s statement concludes.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Silas will not be with the team for Sunday’s home game versus Milwaukee. Veteran assistant John Lucas will replace Silas on the sidelines, as he did when Silas missed time in October after contracting COVID-19.

With 387 career victories, the elder Silas ranks in the top 55 of all-time coaching wins after stints with the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats. Stephen worked for his father in some sort of assistant capacity at multiple stops along the way, effectively giving him an introduction to the world of NBA coaching.

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Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams shares he tried to hire Joe Mazzulla away from Boston

“He was a guy that was smart enough to not come here with us,” shared Williams.

If there is indeed a multiverse, in one of its worlds, JJ Redick is undoubtedly an assistant coach for Boston Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla based on what we have recently heard from Redick on his “Old Man and the 3” podcast. In another, Mazzulla is an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns based on what Suns head coach Monty Williams shared ahead of Boston’s blowout road win against the Arizona franchise.

“He was a guy that was smart enough to not come here with us,” shared Williams via AZ Central’s Dwayne Rankin as the Phoenix coach revealed he’d pursued Mazzulla when he got the Suns’ top gig in 2019-20.”I had heard about him through a number of people, and I talked to my representation about talking to him, but (the Celtics) thought so highly of him there, you couldn’t even talk to him.”

“That was a credit to their organization and to (Mazzulla),” suggested Williams. “They valued him and have valued him for a while. He was somebody that was trusted behind the bench, which is rare.”

The duo had previously been co-workers in their respective tenures with the San Antonio Spurs organization. “I talked to him a little bit on the phone and text because we have a bit of a common bond in our past, but other than that, not much,” said the Suns coach.

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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JJ Redick reveals Joe Mazzulla asked him to join Boston’s coaching staff

Redick shared that he was asked to join the Celtics as an assistant coach this offseason after the Ime Udoka scandal elevated assistant coach Joe Mazzulla into his current interim capacity.

Revealing an unexpected twist in a recent episode of the popular “Old Man and the 3” podcast hosted by former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick, the former New Orleans Pelicans wing revealed that he was asked to join the Boston Celtics organization as an assistant coach this offseason after the Ime Udoka scandal elevated assistant coach Joe Mazzulla into his current interim capacity.

In an interview with current Celtics shooting guard Derrick White, Redick shared a story about how that opportunity ended up arising for him in the midst of a friendly game of golf with the Celtics coach ahead of the start of the 2022-23 NBA season.

“So the Ime (Udoka) thing happened,” began Redick.

Could Celtics star big Robert Williams III make his season debut against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday?

Both Timelord and coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed Williams is now considered day to day, but were coy beyond that.

Could Boston Celtics star big man Robert Williams III make his season debut against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday? The Texas A&M alum has been out of action since before the start of the 2022-23 NBA season after a cleanup operation on his knee but hinted a return might be very close at a practice in San Francisco on Friday, suggesting he was “day to day” in terms of his playing status, per multiple reports.

Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzulla echoed that perspective in a post-practice interview (via NBC Sports Boston), confirming Williams’ status is indeed day to day ahead of their 2022 Finals rematch with the Dubs.

“The most important thing for Rob is that he’s comfortable where he’s at, from a physical conditioning standpoint, and from a mental mindset standpoint,” explained Mazzulla.

That he’s comfortable out there, and that it’s going to go well for him. And so I think that the most important thing is where he’s at and how he feels,” he added. “So he’s continuing to work at it, and when he’s ready, he’s ready.”

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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Stephen Silas celebrates release of native Houstonian Brittney Griner

In pregame remarks, #Rockets coach Stephen Silas showed support for the release of native Houstonian Brittney Griner. “It’s a great day, and I’m so happy for her,” Silas said.

The Houston Rockets didn’t get the win on Thursday night in San Antonio, but there were more important developments related to American basketball that took place earlier in the day.

Brittney Griner, a native Houstonian, seven-time WNBA All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was released from the Russian penal colony where she had been held captive as part of a one-for-one prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. More information on the news story is available at usatoday.com.

In pregame comments from AT&T Center captured by our Brian Barefield, head coach Stephen Silas offered his perspective:

It’s great any time you can have an American come back home. You can imagine that situation that she was in for nine months. So, there’s been so much support for her, especially in Houston.

I was at an event with the mayor (Sylvester Turner) at Toyota Center to bring Brittney back. To wake up this morning and hear that news… you almost get a little emotional about it, because you think about her family, the people who are closest to her that she has touched. She touched so many people in the NBA and WNBA.

I think that support, and the groundswell and the speaking up for her, helped the government kind of move in that direction. It’s a great day, and I’m so happy for her.

Griner, who was charged by Russian authorities with with possessing cannabis oil, was classified by the United States in May 2022 as being “wrongfully detained.” Since then, the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has worked to secure her release.

The complete video of Silas’ remarks is available below.

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Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr. has career night as Rockets lose to Keldon Johnson, Spurs

#Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. continued his recent surge by scoring a career-high 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to win Thursday versus Keldon Johnson and the hot-shooting Spurs.

After leading for much of the first half, the game quickly spiraled for the Rockets in Thursday’s second half at San Antonio — punctuated by an epic poster dunk from Alperen Sengun that somehow didn’t count. The Spurs won, 118-109, (box score) to snap their 11-game losing streak.

Houston (7-18) fell somewhat back to Earth after having won two of its previous three games and four of its last seven. Ultimately, it was a battle of rebuilding teams who should each pick high in the first-round order of the 2023 NBA draft, pending lottery results.

Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. continued his strong run with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting (69.2%), including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers (57.1%). Unfortunately, it was offset by a poor shooting night from Houston’s starting backcourt. Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. combining to make just 10-of-33 shots (30.3%).

Big man Alperen Sengun had 16 points (47.1% FG) and 11 rebounds for the Rockets in 29 minutes, but he also had three turnovers, including one on the controversial dunk that didn’t count.

The Spurs (7-18) were led by third-year forward Keldon Johnson, who had 31 points and 7 rebounds while shooting an impressive 14-of-20 from the field (70%) and 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60%). As a team, the Spurs made 55.4% of their shots overall, 36.1% on 3-pointers, and 86.7% on free throws — well ahead of Houston in all of those categories.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from San Antonio. The Rockets return to action Sunday against Milwaukee for the start of a season-long seven-game homestand. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central from Toyota Center.

‘None of this means anything if we don’t hang a banner,’ says Celtics’ Jayson Tatum of Suns blowout

‘We realize that we’ve got the best record; we’re 21-5; with that comes the decision every night to play the right way, to play as hard as we can on both ends,’ explained Tatum.

The Boston Celtics flattened the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, but if revenge was a factor for the team, it was less so than simply a part of a greater goal according to star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum even as he acknowledged the sting of previous losses to the Suns as a factor.

“Honestly, they kicked our (expletive) the last two times we were here, and we remembered,” he related via CLNS Media after Boston’s 125-98 blowout victory. “That was fresh in our mind, and we wanted to have a different outcome.”

The St. Louis native kept the win in context, however.

“I think everybody in the locker room understands what we’re trying to do,” explained Tatum. “We realize that we’ve got the best record; we’re 21-5. With that comes the decision every night to play the right way, to play as hard as we can on both ends.”

“I wouldn’t say we’re playing angry, we’re having a lot of fun. But the goal is still the same — to get back to the finals and get over that hump.”

“So while we’re having fun and happy with the way we’re playing, nobody in that locker room is celebrating or satisfied,” added Tatum. “None of this means anything if we don’t hang a banner. That’s the ultimate goal.”

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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Celtics Lab 157: Making sense of royal NBA fans and World Cup play with Josh Coyne

In our first of our series of ‘Peer Review’ special episodes, we get into some Celtics-adjacent phenomena in the world of sport.

For many fans of the Boston Celtics, common British sports phenomena like having the Prince and Princess of Wales in attendance of your favorite team’s game or the political component of supporting one’s (association) football team can be somewhat mystifying. It was a very British-inflected week for Celtics fans with the royal family in attendance for Boston’s first tilt against the Miami Heat and the ongoing World Cup a point of interest for Boston fans and players both.

To that end, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast thought it our duty to bring on Celtics Lab O.G. and resident British soccer fan and complicated-relationship-with-British-royals-haver Josh Coyne to make sense of it all for the first in a special episode series we’re calling Peer Review.

Host Justin Quinn and Coyne get into some of their (and the Celtics’) mixed emotions on having the royals in attendance last Wednesday, get up to speed on the good and the bad of the World Cup, and wrap things with an all-time Boston soccer squad.

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Check out this episode whether you love footy or are as clueless about it as Justin is — no soccer knowledge required.

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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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Celtics’ Jaylen Brown opens up about rocky start, positives of life in Boston

Boston and Brown have grown closer as they have gotten to know one another, and have found more than a modicum of success together.

The city of Boston and Celtics star wing Jaylen Brown did not exactly get off on the right foot when the team picked up the Cal alumnus third overall in the 2016 NBA draft, the crowd actually booing him when his name was announced. But since then, Boston and Brown have grown closer as they have gotten to know one another, and have found more than a modicum of success together.

Speaking at his second annual 7uice Foundation Gala at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Bally’s Brandon “Scoop B.” Robinson spoke with the Celtics star about how his rough start in the city was transformed by locals reaching out to him, and people doing good work in the community among several other topics.

“Where do I start?” said Brown in response to what he’s learned from being in Boston. “I am learning a lot, man.”