Tag: 2023-24 boston celtics

Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens on Joe Mazzulla’s coaching in 2023-24

It wasn’t that long ago Celtics fans were lining up to fire head coach Joe Mazzulla — at least, in their imagination, anyway.

It was not all that long ago that fans of the Boston Celtics were lining up to fire head coach Joe Mazzulla — at least, in their imagination, anyway. But the bumps and doubt from Mazzulla’s first season at the helm of the Celtics has given way to title celebrations in his second campaign, washing away most of those ill vibes.

Boston President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens recently opened up about that shift in fan perception towards Mazzulla in an interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “He did a great job in year one under really tough circumstances,” said Stevens, alluding to the massive task of taking over Ime Udoka’s team just days before the start of training camp.

“Then he came back and prepared exceptionally well and really had an unbelievable year and always recognized the whole time how fortunate we were to have the team we had.”

“His leadership all the way throughout and the way he managed each part of the season, and the way we peaked in the playoffs, was really encouraging,” added the Celtics president.

“Winning all those close games in the Indiana series, I just thought there were a lot of good things. It was cool to see that. It’s a reminder I think of how good he’s always been, and we knew that.”

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Celtics team president Brad Stevens says winning a title doesn’t make you feel different

‘The route to work doesn’t change, the traffic doesn’t change, and the same things you need to … take care of at home don’t change,’ he added.

Winning a title had always been something that had eluded Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. When he was a high school and college player, he had personal success, but not matched by that of his teams. And as a coach, his near-misses with Butler (twice!) took that dynamic to a new level.

He got close as an NBA coach in Boston as well, but did not get to take on the mantle of champion until his Celtics won in 2024 with him as team president. Asked what he will take from that experience in a recent interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, Stevens had plenty to say. “To me, it’s about the people and the journey,” he explained. “Having come close in college, obviously, and then a couple of years ago in the Finals, I’ve actually taken a lot of satisfaction that you don’t feel fulfilled.”

“You don’t feel any different,” said Stevens. “The route to work doesn’t change, the traffic doesn’t change, and the same things you need to make sure you take care of at home don’t change.”

“We’re going to have 50 million things we’re going to have to tackle and conquer together the next time we go through this,” said the Celtics president. “The only thing that probably changes is you have a bigger target. But I think that’s fun.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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Woj: Champion Celtics alum Svi Mykhailiuk signs 4-year, $15m deal with Utah Jazz

Mykhailiuk has found himself a new ball club.

It seems that former Boston Celtics deep reserve shooting guard and small forward Svi Mykhailiuk has found himself a new ball club. A member of the 2024 title team, Mykhaliuk has turned his supporting role on that club into a new, multi-year deal with a new team.

Per ESPN senior writer Adrian Wojnarowski, “Mykhailiuk has agreed on a four-year, $15 million deal with the Utah Jazz … He played 41 games for the NBA champion … Celtics last season.” The Ukrainian swingman showed himself to be a great depth option for Boston in those 41 games, putting up 4.0 points, and 1.2 rebounds per game for the Celtics in 10.1 minutes of floor time.

Mykhailiuk shot 41.6% from the floor overall with Boston last season, 66.7% from the free throw line, and 38.9% from beyond the arc.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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The Boston Celtics roster is worth the incredible price tag

Despite being one of the more expensive rosters in the NBA, the Boston Celtics are right to lock their core down for the future.

As a second-apron luxury tax team, the Boston Celtics roster projects to be one of the more expensive in the NBA. President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, has spent the off-season locking down multiple players to long-term deals. As such, the cost of the roster is only going to continue rising.

During a recent article for Bleacher Report, Zach Buckley shared his thoughts on why it makes sense for the Celtics to continue pushing forward with their current championship-winning rotation, regardless of how expensive it may get to keep the core together long-term.

“Boston clearly has a great thing going and recognized as much. That’s why the Celtics bought back into this core wherever they could,” Buckley wrote. “…This roster will cost a fortune to manage—which is perhaps a big reason why the majority stake in this franchise is up for sale—but when the potential return on investment is additional championship rings, it’s hard to fret too much about the finances.”

The Grousbeck family recently put the franchise on the market.

Any potential new ownership group will be inheriting a costly team, but one that can sustain a dynasty in the coming years. It will be interesting to see whether the cost of Boston’s roster is a sticking point in the bidding period.

For now, though, the Celtics are set to continue working towards a second-straight championship, with the knowledge that the current roster is set to stick around for the foreseeable future.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Which Celtics players stock has risen during summer league?

Which members of the Boston Celtics Summer League roster have seen their stock rise in recent weeks?

The Boston Celtics will play their final Summer League game on Sunday, July 21. They are 2-2 over their first four games. During the tournament in Las Vegas, Celtics fans got a closer look at recent draft additions Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson. Neemias Queta, JD Davison and Jordan Walsh also participated in the event.

However, not every member of Boston’s Summer League roster stepped up to the plate. Some players have struggled to make an impact despite being given significant opportunities to showcase their improvements. On the other hand, some members of the Summer League roster have staked their claim and could get a closer look from the coaching staff during training camp.

In a recent episode of the “Big 3 NBA Podcast,” host A. Sherrod Blakely discussed which members of Boston’s summer league roster have seen their stock rise over the last couple of weeks with guest Noa Dalzell of Celtics Blog.

They also cover which players have hurt their chances of potentially earning playing time.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla drew inspiration from orca whales on National Geographic

Sam Hauser has revealed one of the stranger tactics the Boston Celtics head coach used during the 2023-24 season.

Joe Mazzulla is known to use peculiar tactics to get his message across and motivate his Boston Celtics team. The sophomore head coach helped end a 16-year championship drought this past season, leading his team to an 18th championship banner and proving his credentials as a top-level coach in the NBA.

During a recent appearance on the “Green Light with Chris Long,” Sam Hauser was asked about some of the stranger tactics Mazzulla has used throughout his time with the team. Hauser recalled a video session where Mazzulla illustrated his thoughts on teamwork by showing Orca whales hunting a seal that had been isolated on some ice in the middle of the Ocean.

Whatever mind games and tactics Mazzulla is using, they are clearly working. He got a team full of All-Star caliber players to buy into his methods and accept individual sacrifice, so the team as a whole could thrive.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Will the Boston Celtics regress next season?

Will the Boston Celtics sustain another 60+ win regular season as they look to defend their title?

After winning 64 games last season, the Boston Celtics face a tough task when trying to build on their regular-season success. They will enter the season without Kristaps Porzingis, who is expected to miss the opening months as he recovers from surgery. The Celtics will also face the pressure of trying to retain their NBA championship.

In a recent article by Bleacher Report, the staff writers share their reasoning as to why the Celtics should take a slight step back in the coming season despite still being favored to win the 2025 NBA Championship once the roster is back to full health.

“Consider the Boston Celtics a casualty of their own success,” The staff writers wrote. “Its continuity alone is enough to declare its championship stock in better shape compared to last year. But it’s unfair, even irrational, to expect a generationally good regular-season team to level up its dominance while missing a critical rotation piece. Especially when they have no business caring about anything other than preserving itself for a (totally plausible, if not likely) championship repeat.”

Joe Mazzulla’s team has built their identity on the defensive end. Yes, they shoot a lot of perimeter jumpers, but when the chips are down, it’s their rearguard that emerges as their strongest point. As such, Boston should be aiming for another 60+ win season.

Nevertheless, health will be a major factor in their pursuit of a second straight first-seed finish in the Eastern Conference. Teams around them have improved during the summer.

Still, none of that will matter if the City of Boston is organizing another pride in just under a year’s time.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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Who could be the Boston Celtics new owners?

Who could be the next ownership group of the Boston Celtics?

The Grousbeck family has put their majority share of the Boston Celtics up for sale. The decision came shortly after Boston won the 18th championship in franchise history. However, there doesn’t appear to be any hurry for a sale to materialize. Instead, the Grousbeck family will likely take their time evaluating potential buyers before deciding.

Nevertheless, the decision to put Boston on the market undoubtedly caused a stir online, as fans began to speculate who could purchase one of the NBA’s most historic franchises. More importantly, fans wonder whether the new owners will be willing to foot the ever-growing luxury tax bill the current roster generates.

During a recent appearance on the “Celtics Beat” podcast, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe discussed the Grousbeck’s decision to sell the franchise, before noting how currently, there aren’t any indications of who could emerge as a potential buyer.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Who are some legitimate NBA comps for Boston’s Baylor Scheierman?

What are the NBA player comparisons for Boston Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman?

Baylor Scheierman joined the Boston Celtics as the 30th pick in the NBA Draft. The five-year product out of Creighton has impressed throughout his four games at Las Vegas Summer League. His diverse offensive game, coupled with his potential upside on the defensive end, has led Celtics fans to believe Brad Stevens may have found the steal of the draft.

As is usually the case with young talents, the Celtics fan base is looking to find NBA comparisons for their latest draft addition, with Joe Ingles being the most logical one. Scheierman has previously stated that he modeled some of his game on the veteran sharpshooter.

During a recent episode of the “How ‘Bout Them Celtics” podcast, hosts Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance discussed some potential comparisons for the rookie wing, along with answering a viewer’s question likening Scheierman to the legendary Larry Bird.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Is the NBA’s Eastern Conference becoming a powerhouse again?

Has the Eastern Conference returned to its former glory?

The Eastern Conference is getting deeper. The Boston Celtics are the clear-cut favorite to return to the NBA Finals next season. However, multiple teams in the East can push the Celtics to the limit, especially after another active free-agency period. The Philadelphia 76ers created a new big three with their addition of Paul George. The New York Knicks are among the best defensive teams in the NBA following their acquisition of Mikal Bridges.

The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic are exciting young teams that play a distinct brand of basketball and will continue to improve with internal development. And, of course, the Milwaukee Bucks have one of the best duos in the NBA.

In a recent episode of “KG Certified,” Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss whether the Eastern Conference is returning to its former glory of being a deep and challenging conference after multiple years of being a clear tier below the West.

You can watch the full segment by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

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

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

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Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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