In a list published by Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, Joe Mazzulla was ranked 11th in a list of the Top 30 NBA head coaches. The Boston Celtics’ head coach is entering his third season, coming off an NBA championship in just his second year. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was ranked number one, followed by Philadelphia’s Nick Nurse at two, Pacers’ Rick Carlisle at three, Warriors’ Steve Kerr at four, and Clippers Ty Lue at five. Other notable rankings include Spurs legend Gregg Popovich at 14, Nuggets coach Michael Malone at 15, and the Lakers new coach, JJ Reddick at 30.
Is Joe Mazzulla Ranked Correctly?
11 is an interesting spot on the list for Joe Mazzulla, and arguments can be made for him to be ranked higher or lower. After his first season, many Celtics fans were not happy with Mazzulla’s coaching. The Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Miami Heat in seven games after the Heat went up 3-0. Mazzulla was thoroughly outcoached in this series. There were many instances of poor timeout management and a simple outclassing of schemes. With a roster of players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics were getting overwhelmed by players like Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent.
However, Joe Mazzulla did bounce back in his second season. He polished most of his mistakes with game management and the Celtics performed better than ever before in the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era. In the playoffs, the Celtics were a dominant 16-3 in their championship run, no longer letting opponents hang around and extend series’. Mazzulla also improved schematically, especially in the NBA Finals with the Celtics defense. Mazzulla opted to avoid double teams, taking away secondary options and forcing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to win by themselves. The Celtics won the NBA championship in five games, and Mazzulla never had a series where he was outcoached like the season before.
But Joe Mazzulla also had one of the best rosters in the NBA. When he took over as head coach, the Celtics were coming off an NBA Finals appearance, and for the 2023-24 season, added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. With this team, it would have been considered a disappointment for them not to reach the NBA Finals again. Mazzulla showcased definite improvements in his second year, but also had one of the best championship rosters in the league.
Another aspect of Joe Mazzulla’s coaching is the three-ball. Last season, the Celtics shot the most three-pointers in the NBA, and when they heated up, they were untouchable. But there were also times when the team went cold and continued to rain shots from beyond the arc.
So, is Joe Mazzulla too high or low? He has had his flaws and coaches a great roster, but his improvements in year two were undeniable. Rick Carlisle ranks third on the list, and the argument could be made that Mazzulla soundly outcoached him in the Eastern Conference Finals. The team rallies around him and Mazzulla keeps them motivated.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics are looking to repeat as NBA Champions, and if Joe Mazzulla can continue to coach as well as he has and the roster can continue to play up to their potential, then the Celtics will be a powerhouse again. If Joe Mazzulla continues to prove himself as a head coach, especially with Kristaps Porzingis missing time at the start of the season, then there is no doubt that he will be firmly placed in the top ten of NBA head coaches. For now, though, taking only his first two years into account, he is ranked 11th.
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