Joe Mazzulla's locker room speech after Celtics-Grizzlies speaks volumes

https://us.yahoo.com/sports/joe-mazzullas-locker-room-speech-140800540.html



Joe Mazzulla's locker room speech after Celtics-Grizzlies speaks volumes

Darren Hartwell
Tue, November 8, 2022 at 6:08 AM



The Boston Celtics didn't set any shooting records Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies. But head coach Joe Mazzulla was very pleased with what he saw from his team -- especially on the defensive end.


In his postgame speech following Boston's 109-106 win, Mazzulla praised the Celtics for their defense, which held Memphis to its fourth-lowest point total of the season.


"(We're) 3-0 in our last three games because of our defensive execution and our offensive management and organization," Mazzulla told his players in the locker room.

"Let that be a springboard for our defense. That defense was who we were and what helped us get there. That's got to be our identity along with our offense. That's a hell of a job. Our shifts, our intentionality and our attention to detail."


The Celtics prided themselves on defense last season, leading the NBA in almost every defensive metric and relying on their lockdown D to power them to the 2022 NBA Finals.

That defensive intensity has been lacking at times in 2022-23, as Boston ranks outside the top 10 in points allowed per game (111.3) and has given up more than 115 points in six of its first 10 contests.

But Mazzulla's speech proves defense is still very much a priority within the Celtics' locker room, and the results showed Monday night, where the C's racked up five steals and six blocks -- three of which came against Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant -- to earn a gritty road win.

Early-season defensive struggles were to be expected without starting center Robert Williams, but it appears the team is finding its rhythm on that end. The Celtics lead the NBA in offensive rating amid their 7-3 start, so if they can continue to improve defensively, they'll be very hard to beat.


Bob
MY NOTE: You go, Joe!!


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Coach Joe Mazzulla says that any time is a good time for some  . . .

DEFENSE!!!

Ime was defense first scoring second. CJ is offense/scoring first, defense second. Wait until RWIII comes back. He has to be jumping out of his skin to get back on the floor with this team. But I've said this before. This current team sans RWIII has to go through this baptism by fire on the defensive end. And it looks like things are paying off.

A couple tougher games coming up vs. Denver and ATL sandwiched in between with a slice of OKC.

Oh, and BTW...we're tied for 2nd now at 8-3. MIL almost came a game closer last night. They fair better in OT than we do.

db

I think CJ may be tipping the NBA scales this season with his Offense First/Defense Second. There is a lot of scoring going on in the league this year it seems like. Nothing to prove that just a feeling. Just seeing a lot of big final scores in the 120+ range it seems.

Defense at the precise, right time seems to be the trend. Not defense all the time. I don't know. Just talking out loud. Anyone? Bueller?

db