As the Celtics attempt to discover their means by way of a tumultuous interval, they’ll be turning to an inexperienced voice to guide them.
Brad Stevens confirmed Friday that Joe Mazzulla will take over because the Celtics’ interim head coach within the wake of Ime Udoka’s season-long suspension. The 34-year-old Mazzulla – who Stevens employed as an assistant coach in 2019 – doesn’t have in depth expertise however the Celtics are very assured that he’s the appropriate man for a troublesome job.
“It’s not easy timing for him or the rest of the staff, but he’s an exceptionally sharp and talented person,” Stevens mentioned. “I believe strongly in him and his ability to lead people, his ability to galvanize a room and get behind him. And his ability to organize and understand all that comes with running a team during the season.”
Stevens famous that Mazzulla can have nice assist from assistants Damon Stoudemire, Ben Sullivan and the remainder of the workers.
“They’re a really good group and they’re gonna need to pull together and they’re gonna need to really support each other,” Stevens mentioned. “But I believe in Joe’s leadership and, again, with all of them bringing their strengths to the table, I think that this will be an unbelievable challenge, but it’s also like — I’m really confident in the team and the coaching staff that’s gonna take the court on Tuesday. It’s not what we expected to have happened, but I’m very confident.”
Mazzulla, nonetheless, has a checkered previous, which is honest to deliver up in gentle of Udoka’s transgressions. Mazzulla, whereas taking part in faculty basketball at West Virginia, was charged with underage ingesting and preventing police in 2008. A yr later, he was arrested on expenses of home battery for allegedly grabbing a girl by the neck at a bar. He has not been concerned in any incidents since.
Stevens mentioned he totally vetted these incidents earlier than hiring him and has full confidence in his character.
“He’s been very open with me about how those moments impacted him in every which way and you can see it in the way he carries himself,” Stevens mentioned. “I believe strongly that that probably shaped him into who he is today in a really, really good way. But he’ll be the first to tell you, he’s 110 percent accountable for that, and I’ll be the first to tell you that I believe in him.”
Stevens, who coached the Celtics from 2013 till turning into the president of basketball operations final summer time, mentioned he’s not concerned with being the interim coach. Wyc Grousbeck mentioned there was a quick dialog about it, nevertheless it was by no means beneath critical consideration.
“There’s a lot of factors in play of why I wouldn’t necessarily even want to do that, but I do think that, and I’ve told Joe this, I’m going to be there for him without stepping on his toes as much as he needs,” Stevens mentioned. “But he doesn’t need much. I believe in that strongly. And hopefully I can help him with any questions he has as he goes through it, but sometimes you just need someone who has been there next to you, to be able to go in and let your shoulders down and talk about what you’re going through, and hopefully I can be that for him.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com