When Joe Mazzulla has gone to go to Patriots coaching camp, the Celtics coach has had the prospect to select legendary coach Bill Belichick’s mind. But amongst different issues, he’s additionally had the chance to satisfy Jerod Mayo and spend time with him within the Patriots’ linebacker and defensive rooms throughout their movie classes and conferences.
Safe to say, Mazzulla was thrilled to see Mayo turn out to be the brand new Patriots head coach, which was made official final week the day after Belichick and the Patriots mutually parted methods after their historic run. Mayo was launched on Wednesday in Foxboro.
“I love Jerod. Just his ability to think the game, I liked the relationship he built with his linebackers and DBs,” Mazzulla stated of his impressions of Mayo when he’s made these Patriots visits. “Those film sessions were intentional but they were built on relationships. You could really see that.”
Mazzulla and Mayo shared related paths on their strategy to turn out to be head coaches. Both have been assistants earlier than being elevated to the lead function. Both Mazzulla, 34 years outdated when he was employed, and the 37-year-old Mayo, grew to become the youngest head coaches of their respective leagues. Both are Black, and each are first-time head coaches. But Mazzulla didn’t essentially have any recommendation for Boston’s new head coach.
“As far as advice, not really,” Mazzulla stated. “He’s been around a long time. He’s coached and played. I don’t need to give him any of that. But he does have my support. I can’t wait to go over there and sit with him and just kind of learn from him.”
East motion
With about three weeks till the deadline, the Pacers struck the primary massive deal of commerce season by buying All-Star ahead and champion Pascal Siakam from the Raptors, a transfer that may undoubtedly help their playoff push. The Pacers sit sixth within the East behind the league’s greatest offense, and the addition of Siakam definitely makes them extra harmful.
Mazzulla, nonetheless, is just not losing any power serious about the impression of the commerce. He truly lower off a reporter throughout his pregame press convention when requested in regards to the matter.
“Save yourself the rest of the question,” Mazzulla stated. “I don’t really care.”
Mazzulla sang the identical tune when requested if his consciousness of strikes made across the league will increase this time of the yr.
“No. I mean, obviously I saw it,” Mazzulla stated. “The TV’s on in the back, guys talk about it, but it doesn’t really concern me.”
White sits vs. Spurs
Derrick White (left ankle sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (proper knee irritation) missed Wednesday’s recreation towards the Spurs, however Mazzulla stated he has no concern about them and doesn’t anticipate both of them to overlook extra time forward of Friday night time’s recreation towards the reigning champion Nuggets. Wednesday’s recreation marked White’s first recreation missed because of damage since becoming a member of the Celtics.
But that didn’t cease Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from making a wisecrack about White’s absence. White, after all, performed his first 5 seasons for Popovich and the Spurs earlier than being traded to the Celtics.
“He’s afraid of us,” Popovich joked. “He’s not playing tonight. He’s sitting it out. I had stuffed planned for him. We were gonna destroy him, so he sat out.”
Popovich has been proud to see White flourish with the Celtics and turn out to be a legit All-Star candidate this season.
“I’m thrilled for him. I love the kid,” Popovich stated. “Keep in contact with him and he’s one of many nice examples of working via it. Played within the G-League a few years. Didn’t even assume he belonged within the league. …
“It was mostly a matter of confidence and it took time, but he got there and then when he got here playing with the guys he’s playing with, he took another step. I couldn’t be more thrilled for him. Wonderful young man.”
Al Horford and Luke Kornet began on Wednesday in White and Porzingis’ absence.
Tragic loss
The Celtics held a second of silence earlier than Wednesday’s recreation to honor Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević, who died on Wednesday after struggling a coronary heart assault. The Warriors’ recreation towards the Jazz was postponed following Milojević’s loss of life.
Milojević, 46, was a former star for his native Serbia and a mentor for two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. He was a part of the Warriors’ workers that defeated the Celtics within the 2022 NBA Finals.
“Prayers for him and his family and the Warriors,” Mazzulla stated. “I feel we have been sitting there with loads of our workers members once we acquired the information and it simply places issues into perspective that it may all be gone any second. So as essential as this job is and as severe as it’s and the way folks assume it’s life and loss of life on a regular basis, it’s actually not. It’s only a actually enjoyable alternative in one thing that we get to do. But when one thing like that occurs, it’s scary and I feel it places issues in a ton of perspective and, you recognize, you need to worth the time and relationships and the chance that we get since you don’t know the way lengthy you could be afforded to do it.
“So I was definitely, like just, really hurt by that, you know, as a coach, just even thinking something like that could happen to one of your coaches, players or his family. It’s tough.”
Milojević additionally hung out teaching for the Spurs’ summer season league group in 2017 throughout his teaching profession.
“Fine coach,” Popovich stated. “He proved himself with a pair totally different groups in the summertime after which went again and coached in Montenegro and in Belgrade. Steve (Kerr) was actually, actually keen on this man. I didn’t know him very properly. I simply knew him throughout that summer season in 2017. Never actually spent an entire lot of time with him. But I talked to some folks again in Belgrade at the moment and so they have been devastated.
“He’s just such a bright future. It was all there for him. I think this was his third year with Steve and he had everything going for him. So any kind of situation like that, obviously a whole lot of people, starting with his family, are just devastated.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com