After trading for seven-time All-NBA guard Damian Lillard, the expectations for the Bucks were sky-high. In the eyes of many, the addition of Lillard put Milwaukee back on track and, in some cases, ahead of the Celtics, who acquired Kristaps Porzingis a few months before.
Yet, the fallout from the Lillard trade unfolded into Milwaukee’s worst nightmare. Jrue Holiday, a five-time All-Defensive selection and NBA champion with Milwaukee, found himself rerouted back to Boston, creating a juggernaut in Milwaukee’s biggest Eastern Conference competitor.
Holiday winding up in Boston was just the beginning of what has been a miserable season for the Bucks.
Despite still being firmly in contention for the playoffs, this season has been a major disappointment for a team with ambitions of immediate success. Just 43 games into the season, despite holding the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 30-13, the Bucks made the surprising decision to dismiss first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, suggesting underlying issues within the organization.
In response, the Bucks turned to Doc Rivers, who has managed a 6-7 record since assuming the role. Even Rivers himself was caught off guard by the sudden opening.
“I told [Bucks ownership] when they called, ‘I don’t understand why you are doing this,’” Rivers said, reflecting on his conversations with the Bucks regarding the vacancy over the All-Star break. “One of the things they said was, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter. We’ve done it now, and we want you.’ That was a tough one.”
It turns out that the Lillard trade that was supposed to push Milwaukee back to the NBA Finals was more beneficial for the Celtics than themselves, leaving the Bucks envying Boston’s success, a team they had a hand in creating.
“I thought we was going to be how Boston is right now,” Lillard said in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. “But I think what I’ve learned is that some things take time, especially stuff that has reward in the end. You can’t come into it and think that it’s just going to be all peaches and cream. We’ve had our ups and downs. We’ve had a coaching change. I haven’t completely settled into finding who am I on this team. And that’s kind of a tough thing.”
While Milwaukee continues to grapple with internal challenges nearly three-quarters into the season, the Celtics are thriving. Everyone is committed to the same goal – winning a championship – putting personal accolades aside. As a result, Boston holds a commanding 8.5-game lead over the Bucks, with the new additions seamlessly fitting into the team.
Change in any form isn’t necessarily easy, and the NBA is no exception. The internal struggles faced by Milwaukee should further highlight the high character of the Celtics, making these transitions appear effortless.
Trust Joe Mazzulla
With a team as talented as the Celtics, especially considering their current level of play, it’s easy to fall into complacency. This is a challenge the Celtics have been mindful of since day one.
“It’s tough being talented because it invites laziness. It invites complacency. But that’s going to be our enemy this season,” Jaylen Brown said back in October. “It’s going to be us vs. us.”
Combatting complacency has been a priority for Mazzulla from the outset. Since the early days of training camp, he has stressed the importance of maintaining the right mindset, whether during games, practices, or shootarounds, with a focus on winning every day.
It may seem minor, but this is another example of the Celtics fully embracing Mazzulla’s message. Whether applying his new philosophies or reinstating those that contributed to Boston’s championship in 2008, Mazzulla is leaving a lasting impact on the team’s culture, establishing himself as the ideal leader for this group.
“He’s very underrated. People don’t appreciate who he is and how he coaches,” Porzingis said earlier this month on Mazzulla. “It’s easy to not give him the credit because of the talent that we have. But he deserves a lot of credit.”
Mazzulla has enjoyed considerable success since assuming control of the Celtics’ organization. Taking charge of a depleted staff left behind by Ime Udoka just five days before last season’s training camp as a 34-year-old, he steered the team to a 57-win season and a journey to the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, in year two, after an offseason to prepare and put together his own (loaded) staff, Mazzulla has further raised the bar.
As the playoffs draw near, all eyes will be on Mazzulla, who has already been one of the most scrutinized figures in Boston sports.
When appearing on WEEI’s Gresh and Fauria, Audacy’s newest NBA Insider, three-time NBA champion Danny Green, weighed in on what he expects this spring.
“It should be [Boston] and Denver in the finals,” Green said. “It’s gonna come down to coaching, and I think Joe Mazzulla might be ready this year with the experiences he has had in the last couple of years in the playoffs.”
This author feels very similar to Green.
Over his past five seasons with the Celtics, Mazzulla has accumulated valuable playoff experience. This includes two Eastern Conference Finals appearances and an NBA Finals appearance as an assistant coach, along with last year’s trip to the Conference Finals as the main man.
Parlay Mazzulla’s postseason experience with the infusion of NBA champions on the revamped coaching staff in Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, and there is no doubt the Mazzulla will be ready to go. Mazzulla has proven to be a high-caliber coach in this league, and the Celtics are in good hands moving forward under his guidance.
“Nothing has surprised me,” Stevens told WEEI Wednesday on Mazzulla’s success. “He’s an ultra-competitor. He is a lifelong learner. He’s not afraid. He’s got a lot of the great qualities that you need to be a good coach, and he’s really good on both sides of the ball. We’ve had really good success with him leading the way.”
The 15th roster spot
With Boston currently holding an open roster spot, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard recently told “Pardon My Take” that some Celtics have been “begging” Blake Griffin to make a return.
“Blake is probably one of the best teammates all of us have ever had,” White said at practice Monday. “So anytime you have him around, it’s great. He’s just a great guy, the stuff he was doing in the locker room, off the court. On the court, great player. He could do so many different things for us. Off the court, he was just hilarious, a fun guy to be around.”
The former number-one overall pick spent just one season in green and white, proving solid in his bench-depth role, appearing in 41 games for the Celtics, with 16 starts. However, his impression on his teammates seems to go further than his reliable presence on the court.
“When he told me at the end of last season that his family was the most important thing, I stopped talking to him [about a return] because I know what it’s like to be away from your kids and be away from your family,” Mazzulla revealed at practice Monday.
Although a Griffin return is highly unlikely, as the 6-time All-Star enjoys time with his family, one former Celtic, who was also teammates with Griffin, is eligible for a return.
On Tuesday night, Mike Muscala finalized a contract buyout with the Detroit Pistons, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, he has garnered interest from a few playoff contenders.
The 32-year-old center was initially traded to the Celtics at the trade deadline last season but was subsequently moved to Washington over the offseason as part of the deal that brought Porzingis to Boston.
Since a new team bought out Muscala that the Celtics did not trade him to, the 6-foot-10 center is now eligible to sign with Boston.
While Muscala’s career 37.6% three-point shooting ability could provide valuable floor spacing, the Celtics would struggle to find him regular minutes, especially after acquiring Xavier Tillman at the deadline. Nonetheless, Muscala’s familiarity with the team and the opportunity to contend for a championship could spark interest.
However, it still appears that Neemias Queta is the optimal choice to fill Boston’s final roster spot. The Celtics signed the former Utah State standout to a two-way deal after his release by the Sacramento Kings in September, and the Portugal native has emerged as a valuable depth piece, particularly impacting plays around the rim. Despite Queta’s potential for improvement, he has consistently provided solid minutes whenever called upon, proving to be a viable option.
In the long term, securing Queta to a standard deal would benefit the Celtics more. By signing and developing a promising depth piece with considerable potential while also freeing up another two-way spot, the Celtics would make a prudent move, especially considering the limited playing time Muscala would likely receive.
Given the upcoming implementation of new CBA restrictions this summer, along with the existing cap constraints Boston faces, prioritizing the acquisition and development of young talent becomes paramount for the Celtics. This is an area where the team has found success, as evidenced by their ability to discover and develop players like Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet. Queta could very well fit that mold, and the Celtics could negotiate a team-friendly deal.
Jrue Holiday expected to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics
A second Celtic appears to be joining Jayson Tatum, who has already committed to representing Team USA in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
According to Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of the Athletic, Jrue Holiday is expected to be among the 12 members of Team USA’s roster for the 2024 Olympics, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The report adds that USA Basketball has been pursuing Holiday for much of the NBA season, valuing his “Two-way ability, point-of-attack defense, and dynamic playmaking.”
Tatum and Holiday were members of the 2020 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team that compiled a 5-1 record to capture a fourth-straight Olympic gold medal. Tatum appeared in all six games and averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks. Holiday also played in all six games, starting in five, averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Boston could have as many as four representatives, as Tatum, Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White are in the 41-player pool from which USA Basketball will select its 12-man roster.
Brown and White were finalists for the 2020 team but didn’t make the final roster.
If Latvia qualifies, Kristaps Porzingis will likely represent their National Team, and Oshae Brissett could play for Team Canada.
Summertime hoops are always a treat, and for Celtics fans, it could be even more enjoyable with such high representation. Team USA is aiming for their fifth consecutive and 17th overall Olympic gold medal.
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