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Sam Cassell explains what makes Joe Mazzulla a ‘great coach’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Before the 2023-24 NBA season, the Boston Celtics hired Sam Cassell as an assistant coach under Joe Mazzulla. Months later, Cassell celebrated the first NBA title of his coaching career.
A three-time NBA champion as a player, including with the C’s in 2008, Cassell knows a thing or two about what it takes to win. Even before Mazzulla led Boston to Banner 18, Cassell believed the young head coach had what it took.
Cassell joined Chris Forsberg for an exclusive interview on the Celtics Talk Podcast to discuss why Mazzulla is the perfect coach for Boston.
“He’s a great coach,” Cassell said. “He’s a great coach who knows his stuff. He knows his stuff. He didn’t play in the NBA, people don’t consider him a player’s coach, but I played in the NBA and he’s a player’s coach. He lets the players decide when we practice and how we practice. So if you let the players do that, you’re a player’s coach.”
Mazzulla has built a reputation for it his unique coaching style and personality, but it is a style that clearly resonates with its players.
“He knows all the right buttons to push for guys. Put his feet on the gas pedal and take it off the gas,” Cassell added. ‘You have to know Joe Mazzulla to understand him.
“If you just see him on TV, you don’t know who he is because he doesn’t want you to know who he is. All he wants you to see of him is the coach of the Boston Celtics. But I know him personally. the court, and he’s a very good guy.”
Cassell then shared his best Mazzulla story, which you can listen to in the episode above or via the YouTube video below.
Also in the episode:
How do this year’s Celtics compare to last year’s team at this point?
Is the decline in defensive play solely due to injuries?
Breaking the Celtics’ three-point efficiency
What has Jayson Tatum done this year to take himself to the next level?
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