Last week, Jrue Holiday’s comment suggesting that Joe Mazzulla would probably have the Celtics do intense drills to stay sharp for the playoffs during the week-long hiatus between the final game of the regular season and their first playoff game seemed to be made in jest.
“I’m pretty sure during that time, Joe is going to have us do crazy-ass drills to get us all ready,” Holiday said with a chuckle.
Turns out it wasn’t a joke.
When the Celtics returned to the Auerbach Center on Tuesday for their first postseason practice, Mazzulla put his players to work.
“It was a really good practice. High energy,” Al Horford said. “Probably harder than any training camp practice we had. Just a lot of pace. It was very productive.”
That’s saying a lot, considering Jayson Tatum described the preseason sessions earlier this year as “hard as s—.”
The Celtics’ time for rest is over. They got plenty of it over the final couple of weeks of the season.
The stellar regular season showing served as the initial leap towards basketball glory, a feat not witnessed in 15 years. But that’s now in the rearview, and with that, everybody is back to square one.
“That’s what today is. It’s a training camp for the playoffs,” Mazzulla said after the session. “Everyone goes back to square one. You got to reestablish the habits and the things you build throughout the year. At the same time, don’t take them for granted. I thought the guys did a great job with the physical and mental approach to a day like today. Today’s like the first day of a long journey, however long that may be. I thought we came out with the right mindset.”
Although the Celtics won’t know their opponent until Friday night, their preparation doesn’t change. Mazzulla and the Celtics’ key is to treat these upcoming postseason games just like they did in the regular season — paying close attention to the details.
“I think it’s as simple as, regardless of who you play in the playoffs, it’s no different than the regular season,” Mazzulla said. “It comes down to the margins, the style, and the system in which we play. That’s really what it is. So, between now and Friday, we’ll hammer home us getting better as a team and how we can continue to work the margins on both ends of the floor. And understand the playoffs, there’s, obviously, more attention on it, but winning a basketball game comes down to all the same things.”
Mazzulla reiterated multiple times on Tuesday the importance of maintaining consistency in approach, stressing that the process remains the same regardless of the game.
“What it takes to win a playoff game is what it takes to win a regular season game,” Mazzulla said, describing the biggest lesson he learned from last postseason. “You’re not going to have an expectation as to how it’s going to go. That’s the most important thing – very similar to the regular season. We’ve done pretty much every adjustment possible. In the playoffs, obviously, the timing of that adjustment is a little bit different depending on the series and where you are at. But it comes down to the same thing. Can you do the most important details at the highest level of stress and physicality?”
While Mazzulla and the Celtics went through an intense workout session, Brad Stevens met with the media ahead of the postseason to discuss various topics. Here are some key points from his discussion.
Jrue Holiday’s extension
“I think we all can see it. Jrue came here, joined our team, and all he tried to do was add to winning. For a guy that is as accomplished as he is, that’s used to more usage, more reps, more touches, and all those other things – that never even came into play. All that came into play was, what kind of a teammate am I being? And how can I help us win?
“I just think that, when you look at the kind of player that he is, what he’s capable of on any given night, but also the fact that he can play off the ball and be as effective as he’s been, I just think it shows another layer of what a guy can do. I’ve been really impressed with Jrue, and I think that, as you look at a person like him, and you think about the long term of a group, you think, obviously, you need really good players and guys that can play on both ends of the court. But you also want people that the young players can look up to, and he is a person they should look up to and certainly do look up to.”
Last week, the Celtics and Holiday agreed to a four-year, $135 million extension, cementing that the five-time All-Defensive selection will be sticking around throughout the team’s championship window, erasing any lingering doubts about his future with the team.
Stevens has gushed about Holiday since day one, and he has been a perfect fit. Although his usage is at a career-low, his defensive talent and versatility have been evident all season. Moreover, he’s brought a steady hand to the offense.
With extensions for Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Holiday – and Tatum set for a supermax this season offseason, the Celtics have secured their core for the foreseeable future. The only remaining question is Derrick White, which Stevens addressed.
What the Jrue Holiday extension means for Derrick White
“I can’t talk about much with things that we’re not allowed to discuss until July 1. But Derrick has had an amazing year. Derrick is a huge, huge part of our team, and we want him around for as long as we can keep him around.”
White has solidified himself as one of the league’s premier two-way players and is undoubtedly a cornerstone of the Celtics’ success. So, unsurprisingly, Stevens and the front office appear fully committed to retaining him.
With the Tatum extension anticipated to be finalized early in free agency, prioritizing an extension for White will swiftly climb to the top of Stevens’ agenda this offseason.
Currently under contract for next season, White is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
Why they signed Neemias Queta to the 15th roster spot
“First of all, Neemy has been great when he’s been with us. We’ve had moments this year when we’ve had only two bigs available, and oftentimes with Neemy, he’s been able to come in and really fill a role and keep our team at a high, high level.
“The likelihood of anybody that you sign at that 15th spot playing huge moments in a playoff run is pretty low. But he’s shown that he’s able to do that if surrounded by the right guys in the right role. That was one thing. And then, obviously, with the contract that we signed, we think he is more than just a right-now player. We think he’s a guy that can help us in the future.”
When looking at his season stats, Queta’s numbers won’t pop off the page. The Portuguese native appeared in 28 games, averaging 5.5 points, 0.8 blocks, 0.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds (1.9 offensive) in 11.9 minutes per game. However, his effectiveness around the rim, ability to set screens, and rebounding prowess have provided consistent minutes throughout the season for the Celtics.
Recognizing the importance of nurturing young talent, especially considering upcoming CBA restrictions and current salary cap limitations, it’s clear why the Celtics have chosen to secure Queta’s future with the team, preventing him from testing the free-agent market this offseason.
At 24 years old and appearing in just 482 career NBA minutes, the Celtics view Queta as a piece they can develop, and there is obvious potential.
Joe Mazzulla’s growth
“I said this at the end of last year. I said it at the beginning of this year. Joe did a really good job last year and then just picked up on it this year. Everybody in that second year of being a head coach learns a lot about navigating the season, the schedule, the team, and all the challenges that come along with that. I don’t think that’s unique to him. But I do think he’s done another really good job. I think that he’s as good as there is at getting a group on message, staying on that message, and being able to hone in on this task at hand. And this group is very consistent with that.”
Despite posting a remarkable record of 121-43 (.738) over his first two seasons — the best winning percentage in NBA history for a head coach — Mazzulla often faces undue criticism.
From the outset, Mazzulla has been undervalued. However, many fail to recognize the immense challenges he faced in assuming the reins amidst a depleted staff and the pressure of leading a team fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals.
With an offseason to prepare, Mazzulla had the opportunity to refine his coaching philosophy. Central to his approach are the core principles of mindset and attention, which will be crucial in the postseason.
As evidenced by their 64 wins, Mazzulla’s philosophy has worked pretty well for the Celtics, and he deserves credit for instilling that message within his team, especially considering the talent he manages.
The recurring college rumors
“I don’t get into any of the rumor stuff. I’ve got a heck of an opportunity here. We’ve been here 11 years now and got the chance to see this team do a lot of cool things and go a long way. Our goals have been the same since we’ve moved here. We’d like to get over that hump. I’ve got plenty enough to do right now rather than think about all that stuff.”
When Stevens described himself as a “Masshole” over three years ago, he meant it.
At 47 years old, it’s hard to completely rule out the possibility of him returning to the sideline at some point. People’s thoughts and plans can change over time.
However, Stevens appears quite content in his current role and excels at it. While he was undeniably a fantastic coach, he has found even greater success in the front office — a position he seems unlikely to vacate anytime soon.
Jeff Van Gundy’s role
“Jeff has been great, and I think it’s been all the way through that coaching staff. They’ve been terrific. Jeff, in his consultant role, our six player enhancement coaches, have been amazing with our stay-ready group. You watch those guys off the bench play all season, particularly in the last two games. Those guys can play, and they’re ready to play.”
“And then the coaching staff has been really good at making sure we’re on the right track every single game. I would say it’s all been great. I will say this: I’ve known Jeff for a long time and have gotten the chance to spend a lot of time with him over the years. It is fun watching a game with him when he doesn’t have to speak in 15-second soundbites. He’s pretty entertaining.”
In reshuffling their coaching staff during the offseason, the Celtics made some significant hires, bringing on board respected assistants Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, both well-regarded in NBA circles. Adding to the mix, the team made a notable addition in mid-October, with Jeff Van Gundy joining the brain trust.
Van Gundy, who had spent the past 16 years as a broadcaster with ESPN before being let go in company-wide layoffs, joined the Celtics with an impressive resume.
Serving 11 seasons as an NBA head coach, including stints in New York and Houston, Van Gundy amassed a solid 430-318 record and led his teams to the playoffs nine times. He notably steered the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999, though they ultimately fell to the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite his official role as a senior consultant in the front office, Van Gundy was a visible presence throughout the season, often seen at TD Garden and joining the team on road trips. He also played a vital role in the success of the Maine Celtics, helping them reach the G-League Finals. This season, Van Gundy’s wealth of experience and guidance proved invaluable to the Celtics.
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