It only took two defeats in a row, at home, for some to already ask for the head of Joe Mazzulla. The former assistant to Ime Udoka is doing a remarkable job for his first season, but his inexperience is pointed out against a size like Erik Spoelstra. The Heat coach, especially with his zone, manages to break the rhythm of the Celtics, and Mazzulla has not yet found the parade. For Spoelstra, Mazzulla “ did a very good job”. ” What he is achieving this year is not easy. You have to respect what he does » asks the Heat coach.
Mazzulla has earned the trust of its players
The two men already know each other a little, and they got to know each other during the “bubble”. “We kept running into each other” recalls Spoelstra. “I got to know Joe over the years. He is a very lively man. He is very attentive to others. He is more mature than his age. He’s been in Boston for a while, and I think that’s probably the most important thing. He knows what is important for this franchise and he has a lot of experience with these players. He earned their trust. »
For Marcus Smart, it’s unfair to point the finger at Mazzulla and it’s up to the players to take responsibility. “Joe is the type to not get us out of trouble when we play badly,” reports the former best defender in the NBA. “We have to look in the mirror. Joe can call a time-out, and then what? We come back on the field and we do the same thing? It’s our fault. »
Adapt your mentality to the level of play
For the Celtics coach, his players have a mindset problem. After Game 1, Jayson Tatum explained that he and his teammates took the game as a regular season game. What the Heat never allows itself.
“When you’re playing at a certain level, especially against a team like this, you can’t just think what you’ve done in the past is good enough” concludes Mazzulla. “So we have to adapt our mindset. Regardless of what we do in a quarter, we have to increase our level of intensity, we have to change our mindset, knowing that they are going to respond. That’s what this series is all about: how long can we remain the most competitive, physical and disciplined basketball team? »
For now, only three quarters per game, and that’s not enough.
