The Boston Celtics captured the hearts of basketball fans during the 2023-24 NBA season with their dominant performances. Led by star players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics triumphed over the Indiana Pacers in the Conference finals and went on to win their 18th title by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals. Following their championship, there were discussions about the team’s chances of winning another title in the next season. In response to this, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla shared his thoughts on the matter.
On a recent episode of the Locked on Celtics podcast, Mazzulla, who had given a strong response to the Celtics’ chances of winning back-to-back titles, explained why the team shouldn’t be focused on defending their title this season. The head coach used an analogy from the animal kingdom to emphasize his point about the Celtics’ approach to a title defense.
“The phrase ‘defending a title’ is a very passive-aggressive term. If you look at the animal kingdom, some of the strongest animals don’t defend; they’re the most aggressive, and they attack the most. Whether you’ve won or haven’t won, your mindset can’t change. You have to understand what goes into winning and losing, commit to the details on a daily basis, and remain aggressive. You’re not defending something, you’re attacking a new goal.” Mazzulla said.
As Mazzulla states, the most aggressive animals always initiate an attack. Similarly, the Celtics persist in striving for improvement rather than fixating on winning or losing.
Joe Mazzulla Sets the Record Straight on Celtics’ Ambitions for Next Season
Jaylen Brown has emerged as a dominant force behind the Celtics’ success in the recent season. Alongside Jayson Tatum, the 27-year-old star showcased stellar performances, especially in the playoffs, where he averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 19 games. Mazulla further explained the team’s goal for the next year and mentioned that the team is more focused on its aim.
“People are gonna say the target is on our backs, but I hope it’s right on our forehead in between our eyes,” Mazzulla added.
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The upcoming NBA season is just around the corner, and the Celtics will be taking on the Denver Nuggets in the first game of the preseason. It will be exciting to see if the Celtics can win the title in the upcoming season.
