Riding on a 5-game winning streak, the Celtics are soaring with confidence. And Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla didn’t shy away from flexing it. Tonight, taking on the Utah Jazz without Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis, the team proved that they don’t need their franchise leader all the time. However, it led to unusual questions from the reporters, asking questions like whether the players would get bored.
Nevertheless, JB and Mazzulla, the regular guys at the Celtics pressers, flipped the questions to their advantage and issued a cold warning. Before we go to the infamous “bored” question, let’s look at how Brown handled the curve ball thrown at him. A reporter asked him to compare the team’s performance to the championship season. Looking at the numbers, the Celts lost only 18 games in the regular season last year, but with 17 games left this season, the team has already lost 18.
So, the Celts have to win all their games to remain on par with the previous season. Nevertheless, Jaylen Brown didn’t seem bothered by it. “We had to make adjustments throughout the year. I feel like that has made us better,” said Brown, sending a hazard warning to four teams.
These four teams are the ones they will face in the playoffs. With the East #2 seed almost locked, the Celtics will have to face three teams from their conference and the winner of the West in the decorated NBA Finals. Moreover, the reigning Finals MVP didn’t just make the comparison, he further threatened to dominate. “We just have to, you know, have that mindset each and every night to come out and dominate, which is hard, but I think we’re a better team than we were last year,” said JB.
Last year, the Celtics only lost 3 games in the postseason on their road to glory. Can they repeat it? Joe Mazzulla has a response.
Coach Mazzula validates Jaylen Brown’s claim
A reporter asked Joe Mazzula how he manages to keep the players from getting bored until April. I mean, players have signed up for it, and losing the plot at the end could be costly. At the same time, the coach has to manage his players with proper rest and get them groomed for the 16 wins in the postseason.
Dec 27, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla talks with guard Jaylen Brown (7) from the sideline as they take on the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
However, looking at Mazzulla’s response, it doesn’t seem like a worry to him. Expanding on the Celtics players’ professionalism, the 36-year-old coach revealed the locker room mentality before the postseason. “They do a great job of understanding what we need to get accomplished,” said the defending champion coach.
Moreover, he added, “It’s a different type of character in that locker room and, you know, I think they’re focused on winning regardless of when it is.” So, the message is loud and clear. Winning seems like the primary motive, no matter if its regular season or playoffs.
Applying this locker room mentality with Jaylen Brown’s mindset “to come out and dominate” and every single game, one thing is very clear. They seem determined to retain the championship. Can they do it, especially with the Cavaliers in their conference? Let us know in the comments.
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