Mazzulla’s response on coaches blocking shots makes complete sense

admin | April 19, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Unfortunately for Mazzulla, he’s no longer allowed to contest opponents’ shots during timeouts.

Last month, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla went viral after attempting to stop Phoenix Suns player Royce O’Neale’s shot. The attempt occurred after a timeout was called, so Mazzulla was not interfering with play, but it sparked some controversy about whether coaches should do so.

☘️🎙️ POSTGAME POD 66

Joe Mazzulla is a maniac. And we mean that in the best possible way.

🎧 https://t.co/nroPprZQOM

pic.twitter.com/BOsYtyIQIL

— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) March 15, 2024

A few days after the Celtics’ March 15 victory, Mazzulla disclosed on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrand show that he was advised not to challenge opponents’ shots after whistles.

Joe Mazzulla told @ZoandBertrand that he's been told to STOP trying to block opponents' shots during timeouts 🚫 pic.twitter.com/PDgPZryS88

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) March 20, 2024

Mazzulla brought up the matter again last week during an interview with the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take. In an episode released on Friday, the Celtics coach detailed why he and his staff would battle opponents’ shots during timeouts.

His logic makes great sense.

“That’s the Art of War at its finest. “I don’t understand how you could allow your opponent to feel good about themselves on your half of the field,” Mazzulla remarked.

“We’ve been doing this for two years. It began last year in Cleveland, when Donavan Mitchell took a free throw and one of my aides simply watched, while I berated him. I was like, “What are you doing, bro?” You can’t just let the best player on the opposing team take a shot in front of you; I don’t think there’s anything more demeaning than that. So we just stopped it from then on out. So we’ve had four or five really, really good closeouts by the staff, but the one in the Suns game was on live TV and people saw it, so we can’t do it any longer.”

Joe Mazzullas staff needed to retire from attempting to block shots during games@DraftKings #Dkpartner pic.twitter.com/SxLgshIruC

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 19, 2024

Mazzulla is searching for whatever type of advantage he can get in professional basketball, when the margin is razor thin.

“It’s a gamesmanship issue. “NBA basketball is competitive,” Mazzulla added. “I just think you should take any small advantage you can. So I’m not going to let a guy — and he hadn’t been shooting well all game, so what if that one gets him in the right rhythm to make one?”

Mazzulla’s defensive focus appears to have extended to his players this season. The Celtics tied for the league lead with 6.6 blocks per game and were ranked second in defensive rating (110.6). If the Celtics continue their outstanding level of defense in the 2024 playoffs, they will be extremely difficult to beat.