Mazzulla Completes First Season as NBA HC, Celtics Drop Game 7

Former WVU G Joe Mazzulla has completed his first season as the head coach for the Boston Celtics. The Celtics fell at home to the Miami Heat in game seven, 103-84.

Mazzulla and the Celtics were looking to become the first NBA team in history to comeback from a 3-0 deficit but came up just short on Monday night.

Joe Mazzulla:

“You better fu*king smile.” 🗣️

(h/t @hoops_bot)

pic.twitter.com/iA9hi3y7oR

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 30, 2023

Through perspective and staying calm, Mazzulla prepared his team to fight back in the series. Before game five, the former WVU guard gave his perspective of meeting three young women that face terminal cancer.

“I met three girls under the age of 21 with terminal cancer and I thought I was helping them by talking to them and they were helping me,” Mazzulla said.

“You always hear people give glory to God and say thank you when they’re holding a trophy but never really hear it in times like this,” he continued.

Mazzulla has caught a lot of criticism during the playoffs as the Celtics have high expectations with their core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. Boston appeared in the NBA Finals last season and have made the Eastern Conference Finals four out of the last six times. With the high expectations, many believe Mazzulla will be on the hot seat since the Celtics didn’t advance to the NBA Finals.

Mazzulla took over the interim duties for Ime Udoka back in September, before serving as a the full-time head coach. Mazzulla led the reigning Eastern Conference Champions to 57 wins. Mazzulla also coached in the NBA All-Star Game back in February.