Marcus smart is "excited" about coaching additions

[cman88]

https://nesn.com/2023/06/marcus-smart-excited-for-additions-to-celtics-coaching-staff/

The Boston Celtics made some changes to their coaching staff following the completion of the 2022-23 NBA season.

First, the C’s added former player turned coach Sam Cassell to Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff at the beginning of June and just a week later, Boston added Charles Lee, snagging the assistant from the Milwaukee Bucks after a five-year run.

Celtics veteran guard Marcus Smart spoke to Sports Illustraded’s Bobby Krivitsky about the changes in Boston.

“I’m very excited about Coach Cassell and Coach Lee coming on board. Both have championship pedigree and know what it takes to get there,” Smart told Krivitsky. “Coach Cassell won three championships as a player, and Coach Lee won with the Bucks. Hopefully, the Boston Celtics are next!”


Smart explained to Krivitsky that he has been traveling out of the country and had not had the chance to speak with either Cassell or Lee but planned to as soon as he got home. When asked if Smart would lend any guidance to the new additions, he declined.

“I am a player, not the coach. I try and give my input when it’s needed or when they ask, but I try and leave the play calling to the staff,” Smart explained. “They did a fantastic job last year of putting us in the right place to succeed.

“Coaches’ job is to draw up the plays, and it’s our job to execute. Movement and team basketball are very important, and we will continue to be a connected and cohesive group out there. We love playing with each other, and this is a very, very close-knit locker room.”

Smart added that more often than not, NBA championships are won by the team with the better defense. Smart noted how well the Denver Nuggets played defense against the Miami Heat to secure their first title in franchise history.


“The Nuggets were tenacious on defense, which is what really stood out to me. Defense wins championships,” Smart said. “And I think that showed again in this year’s finals.

“Defense wins championships. Shots come and go, but if you play tenacious defense and pride yourself on that side of the ball, good things will usually happen. Good defense usually leads to good offense and easier shots in transition as well.”

With new coaches in place to assist Mazzulla in his second year, Boston will just need to solidify its roster to make a run at Banner No. 18 next season.

maybe i'm reading into it, but there seems to be subtle shots at Joe in there.

[Birdman]

I agree, sounds like he putting Mazzulla down

[mobilija]

Huh? You will have to point out where you think he is dissing Mazzulla. I don't see it....at all.

They did a fantastic job last year of putting us in the right place to succeed.

  The opposite of a subtle shot

What I noticed is that he gave himself away to be a frequenter of this board!

. Defense wins championships

[Smartacus]

When a player says something positive about a new situation, it does not have to be always be a veiled shot at the previous situation. Is it possible that Smart is just truly excited (not "excited") to be adding 2 extremely capable assistant coaches without it needing to be a shot at Mazzula?

[Surferdad]

When a player says something positive about a new situation, it does not have to be always be a veiled shot at the previous situation. Is it possible that Smart is just truly excited (not "excited") to be adding 2 extremely capable assistant coaches without it needing to be a shot at Mazzula?

True. Let's just stop such thoughts. On the coaching staff, Smart said:

“They did a fantastic job last year of putting us in the right place to succeed.

[letsgoblue86]

Will be funny when Marcus isn’t even on the team next year

[Vermont Green]

“Coaches’ job is to draw up the plays, and it’s our job to execute. Movement and team basketball are very important, and we will continue to be a connected and cohesive group out there. We love playing with each other, and this is a very, very close-knit locker room.”

Yeah, don't over read into this.  These are all pretty pat answers.

The quoted part is what caught my eye, not because it is a shot at anyone, but rather because I think he is referencing an important point.  In my view, the team does need to improve overall movement.  The high pick and role is the primary movement or action, but the Celtics don't have enough secondary action.  People just stand at the 3-point line, predictable, easy to defend.

Then of course Smart provides the obligatory "defense wins championship" mantra.  I see this as all pretty benign stuff.

[MattyIce]

Will be funny when Marcus isn’t even on the team next year

if

[SHAQATTACK]

Hope they tell him what he needs to hear.

No shooting , no heat checks or ride the bench
Play defense
Work the ball , pass often .

No hot dog bone head crap 

Yeah…..Joe needs to GO !

[dannyboy35]

 So does this mean Marcus is going to go back to giving full effort on d and stop stranding the big man at the top of the key vs quick guards? Can’t stand this guy.

[SparzWizard]

“I am a player, not the coach" and "Coaches job is to draw up the plays, my job is to execute" sounds like shots at Joe, sorta implying that he wasn't doing his job as a head coach last season.

[Goldstar88]

https://nesn.com/2023/06/marcus-smart-excited-for-additions-to-celtics-coaching-staff/

The Boston Celtics made some changes to their coaching staff following the completion of the 2022-23 NBA season.

First, the C’s added former player turned coach Sam Cassell to Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff at the beginning of June and just a week later, Boston added Charles Lee, snagging the assistant from the Milwaukee Bucks after a five-year run.

Celtics veteran guard Marcus Smart spoke to Sports Illustraded’s Bobby Krivitsky about the changes in Boston.

“I’m very excited about Coach Cassell and Coach Lee coming on board. Both have championship pedigree and know what it takes to get there,” Smart told Krivitsky. “Coach Cassell won three championships as a player, and Coach Lee won with the Bucks. Hopefully, the Boston Celtics are next!”


Smart explained to Krivitsky that he has been traveling out of the country and had not had the chance to speak with either Cassell or Lee but planned to as soon as he got home. When asked if Smart would lend any guidance to the new additions, he declined.

“I am a player, not the coach. I try and give my input when it’s needed or when they ask, but I try and leave the play calling to the staff,” Smart explained. “They did a fantastic job last year of putting us in the right place to succeed.

“Coaches’ job is to draw up the plays, and it’s our job to execute. Movement and team basketball are very important, and we will continue to be a connected and cohesive group out there. We love playing with each other, and this is a very, very close-knit locker room.”

Smart added that more often than not, NBA championships are won by the team with the better defense. Smart noted how well the Denver Nuggets played defense against the Miami Heat to secure their first title in franchise history.


“The Nuggets were tenacious on defense, which is what really stood out to me. Defense wins championships,” Smart said. “And I think that showed again in this year’s finals.

“Defense wins championships. Shots come and go, but if you play tenacious defense and pride yourself on that side of the ball, good things will usually happen. Good defense usually leads to good offense and easier shots in transition as well.”

With new coaches in place to assist Mazzulla in his second year, Boston will just need to solidify its roster to make a run at Banner No. 18 next season.

maybe i'm reading into it, but there seems to be subtle shots at Joe in there.

[Atzar]

Some of you just hear whatever you want to hear in these interviews, lol.

[gouki88]

I think it's an incredibly long bow to draw to try and interpret this as some weird undermining of the coach. Smart is excited about the coaches, as am I

[Roy H.]

It's interesting to see how the staff is built.  With Ime, it was mostly guys he had worked with or who he knew through the Portland basketball scene.

With the current stay it's two former Celtics players and a really respected assistant coach.  As far as I know, none has a prior connection to Joe.