After the Boston Celtics’ 105-102 victory over the Pacers in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals series, the Cs punched their ticket to the NBA Finals. Not only that, but the sweep over the Indiana side also put Joe Mazzulla in the NBA history books.
Mazzulla became the youngest head coach to reach the NBA Finals since Bill Russell. The record stood the test of time for 55 years as the 35-year-old HC achieved a feat that might not be replicated for a long time.
Joe Mazzulla’s introduction to the coaching career came at the age of 22. After being undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, the former West Virginia captain shifted towards coaching as his physical condition was already in doubt due to his shoulder issues.
In 2019, Mazzulla joined the Celtics coaching staff as an assistant coach and was in the role till 2022, when he was made the interim HC following Ime Udoka’s suspension. In 2023, Mazzulla was named the permanent HC of the franchise and, since then, reached back-to-back conference finals, with this season ultimately breaking into the NBA Finals.
But after the game 4 win, Mazzulla had a lot to say about his defeated opponents in the series, the Pacers.
Joe Mazzulla Provides Blunt Assessment of Pacers Sweep
After the game, Joe Mazzulla wasn’t short on words to praise Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford. But what was surprising was his assessment of the Pacers following the sweep.
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“This team is very similar to you guys, where they create a lot of noise and you have to decipher what’s true,” said Mazzulla.
The statement looked like a double-pointed arrow aimed at the media and his opponents on the night. Mazzulla’s media handling can be termed as level-headed, but this occasion stood out due to the bluntness of the comment.
After the win and confirming their participation in the Finals, Mazzulla’s focus will solely be on the game between the Mavs and the Timberwolves, and he might get to know his opponents by the end of Tuesday night as the Dallas side leads 3-0.
