[King] Mazzulla modified parts of the players’ day-to-day schedule, including their regimens on the court and in the weight room. The adjustments helped produce what Horford called the best pre-training camp atmosphere he has ever experienced with the Celtics.
by ImDKingSama
16 Comments
Key excerpts:
>In Mazzulla’s second season, Sam Hauser said the days are “more scheduled” now. He said aspects of the team’s daily routine were optional for certain players last season, but now it’s “more mandatory for guys to be in here getting work in.” He also said Mazzulla has put a heightened focus on both offensive and defensive “reads,” drills that simulate game-like situations and force players to react on the fly.
“We’ve done a pretty good amount (before),” Hauser told The Athletic. “I think it’s been more preached on and more like, ‘We have to do this. **We have to work on things that hurt us last year.’ So it’s been great.”**
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>Mazzulla has shared some of the changes he considered important. In July, he said he thought the Celtics focused too much last season on the ultimate goal — returning to the NBA Finals and winning the championship — at the expense of the day-to-day process of improvement. During a recent appearance on J.J. Redick’s podcast, “The Old Man and the Three,” Mazzulla suggested he wanted to emphasize defense more often after not doing a good enough job of that throughout his first season. Jayson Tatum later said he has noticed Mazzulla addressing the defense “more than last year.” After a practice last week, Mazzulla also revealed a couple of smaller ways he aimed to adapt.
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>“Everyone has bought in to work at a certain standard and a certain level,” Horford said. “It started with Joe and the coaches, I feel like they set the tone. And our guys, or young guys, **and** **when we started to come in in September, there was a sense of urgency. I know that word gets tossed out there a lot, but everybody’s locked in, everybody is getting after it, everybody’s trying to get better.** We’re all pushing each other the right way. So that’s what has impressed me the most. And you feel it. Guys that come in here, they see it and they feel it. …
Inject this right into my veins.
Mazzulla finna be on timing this year
There’s a stew brewing
If we can win this year it’ll be tragic it’s not with Marcus (or Timelord), but what a journey it will have been to get here.
Let’s fucking go Celtics, this season is going to be fun
King Mazzulla. I like it.
Mazulla is gonna end up a GOAT level coach
This is our year
Naps included?
Anyone else feel like the vibe this year is different? I just have this sense of confidence in the team similar to the 2018 Red Sox and the 2008 Celtics. Just seems like there’s a ton of buy in
I admit I was a Mazz hater last year. But pls prove me wrong this year, coach!
mazulla watching the town on repeat
Man I would love it if Medicare Al could win it this year with the Celtics!
Still not sold, Second Row Joe.
No Marcus Smart.
Best pre season according to Joe.
Best chance of leadership for Tatum according to Joe.
Best preseason atmosphere according to Al.
No Marcus Smart.
Some of us just don’t want to see the writing that’s on the wall.
This is an entirely new culture and changing the core leadership has EVERYTHING to do with it.
They better not go down 0-3 again
Its champiomship or bust imo