Last season was an incredible season for the Boston Celtics as they became the most successful NBA team when they claimed their 18th championship. While winning a title is a significant achievement, head coach Joe Mazzulla, during Celtics Media Day shared his thoughts on the offseason.
During the media chat, Joe Mazzulla emphasized that despite being the reigning champions, the Celticsโ mindset would not change based on their previous success. He highlighted the importance of staying grounded and forward-focused, regardless of how last season ended.ย
Whether we would have lost last year, our goal would be to win a championship this year. We want to win a championship every single year. Thatโs the goalโฆ the standardโฆ the expectation, so what happened in the past really doesnโt change when we step foot in the building. On this day, itโs to win a championship.
Joe Mazzulla said to the media
The Boston Celtics are aware that this season would be a tough one and with targets on their back, they are ready to attack for the title. Central to that would be the efforts of star duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.ย
Both players had a difficult summer with Brown being snubbed by Team USA when Kawhi Leonard got injured. For Tatum, his star-showing for the Celtics didnโt assure him a starting spot, instead two DNPs at the Paris Summer Olympics.ย
Jayson Tatum on how head coach Joe Mazzulla reacted to his Olympics DNP
Jayson Tatum has been a major topic of discussion since the Cโs won its first championship since 2008, from being snubbed for the Finals MVP. His relationship with teammate Jaylen Brown has been called into question since then.ย
Furthermore, he also faced adversity during Team USAโs Olympic gold medal run, where he was benched in two games. During the recent media day, he was asked about head coach Joe Mazzullaโs reaction to the challenges he faced this summer, where he offered insight into the supportive relationship he shared with his coach.
I talked to Joe a lot. Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two games at the Olympics. That was odd. But if you know Joe, it makes sense.
Jayson Tatum recently said to the reporters
As a result, both Tatum and Brown enter the new season with plenty of motivation with Tatum aiming to silence his critics. The Celtics who are the favorites once again are determined to defend their title with renewed focus and drive.