How good is Coach Maz? (Update: Interim Removed)

[Celtics2021]

Congrats Mazz! 

So I assume Ime is officially fired right? Basically a free agent now as well?

Not officially fired yet is my guess — there’s probably some language in his contract that allows him to be moved to a different role — but he’s certainly able to talk to any team and the Celtics will not stand in his way.

[Moranis]

Congrats to Mazz.  Glad to get the certainty.

[tonydelk]

Wonder how the players feel.  They were big advocates of Ime.  They seem to like Mazz.

 Celtics Tweets
John_Karalis
John Karalis 🇬🇷 🇺🇦 @John_Karalis
3m

Udoka is no longer part of the Celtics organization.
Dick

@John_Karalis John, do you have any insight on the teams control of Ime Udoka? Can we still trade him or is he even contractually tied to the Celtics?

[radiohead]

Congrats Mazz! Now go get that chip!

[Goldstar88]

I guess Joe is doing a good job after all. Imagine that. 


The Boston Celtics announced Thursday morning that Joe Mazzulla has been named the team's full-time head coach, officially replacing Ime Udoka, and also received a contract extension.

"As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader," Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement announcing the decision. "He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission. We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point, and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future."

Mazzulla, 34, was named the team's interim coach back in September -- just days before the start of training camp -- after Udoka was suspended by the team for the 2022-23 season for multiple violations of team rules.

He has since led Boston to the NBA's best record of 42-17 entering the All-Star Break, and will be coaching Team Giannis this weekend in the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.

[hwangjini_1]

Great! Does this leveling up mean he unlocks access to all his timeouts now?

[PAOBoston]

Great! Does this leveling up mean he unlocks access to all his timeouts now?

Hopefully they put in a clause in his contracts to use up x amount of timeouts per year.

[slamtheking]

not a surprise they took the Interim off the title.  timing is a bit of a surprise but guess it looks better for him to coach the all-star game as a Coach than an Interim Coach.

Since the slim chance of Ime returning have been put to bed, I wonder if the C's can finagle an asset from another team willing to hire him like they did when they let Doc go to the Clips.

[radiohead]

Wonder how the players feel.  They were big advocates of Ime.  They seem to like Mazz.

 Celtics Tweets
John_Karalis
John Karalis 🇬🇷 🇺🇦 @John_Karalis
3m

Udoka is no longer part of the Celtics organization.
Dick

@John_Karalis John, do you have any insight on the teams control of Ime Udoka? Can we still trade him or is he even contractually tied to the Celtics?

Interesting. How did they get out of that contract with Ime? An amicable settlement/buyout?

[footey]

The poll results here I kind of shocking. Plurality rank Maz in bottom third of NBA coaches, despite him being leading candidate for COTY.  Strange.

[liam]

I think coach Maz is an excellent coach who took over a bad situation and made it work!

[tonydelk]

The poll results here I kind of shocking. Plurality rank Maz in bottom third of NBA coaches, despite him being leading candidate for COTY.  Strange.

I think for some people they thing with the talent on this team anyone could coach it to this record.  Mazz has made a few mistakes at the end of games not calling timeouts that could have lead to the loss.  If they win no one is saying anything but since they loss it's because he doesn't know what he is doing.  He's a very young first time head coach who will make many mistakes while he finds out what works for him.  If he was coaching the Magic no one would care. 

[Goldstar88]

I think coach Maz is an excellent coach who took over a bad situation and made it work!

Not only did he make it work, he improved the offense significantly. Last year the C’s were 12th in the league, this year they are tied for 3rd. Since Rob has come back the defense has been very good as well, almost into the top 5. Players have been in and out of the lineup all year, which was not the case last season and the C’s still have the best record in the league. He’s doing a great job.

[footey]

The poll results here I kind of shocking. Plurality rank Maz in bottom third of NBA coaches, despite him being leading candidate for COTY.  Strange.

I think for some people they thing with the talent on this team anyone could coach it to this record.  Mazz has made a few mistakes at the end of games not calling timeouts that could have lead to the loss.  If they win no one is saying anything but since they loss it's because he doesn't know what he is doing.  He's a very young first time head coach who will make many mistakes while he finds out what works for him.  If he was coaching the Magic no one would care.

Actually may have more to do that this poll was first conducted right after the Miami loss, when fans were upset that Joe didn't call a timeout. This was during a 3 game losing streak.  My bet is that most of the votes were cast shortly after that game, during that losing streak? 

I wonder if the results would be different if the poll were taken today. I would hope so.

I just voted and put him in the top 1/3, and would rank him higher if given the chance.   I am particularly pleased with how he has developed the bench play, and emphasized spacing and ball movement on offense. I think he is a better offensive coach than Ime. Ime is a better defensive coach.

[Vermont Green]

The Boston Celtics announced Thursday morning that Joe Mazzulla has officially been named the team’s head coach, replacing Ime Udoka, and also received a contract extension. – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN