Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is not a fan of the phrase “defending champions,” even when that is what his crew is. “Defending a title” is often used to explain the earlier season’s champion, however Mazzulla feels it isn’t aggressive sufficient, and it isn’t the mindset he desires his crew to have when the 2024-25 NBA season begins.
“The phrase ‘defending a title’ is a really passive-aggressive time period,” Mazzulla stated on the Locked on Celtics podcast. “For those who take a look at the animal kingdom, among the strongest animals do not defend; they’re essentially the most aggressive, they usually assault essentially the most. Whether or not you’ve got received or have not received, your mindset cannot change. You need to perceive what goes into profitable and dropping, decide to the main points each day, and stay aggressive. You are not defending one thing, you are attacking a brand new purpose.”
After beating the Dallas Mavericks in six video games in June to win the Celtics’ first title since 2008, Boston will enter the upcoming season because the crew everybody else within the NBA is chasing. However Mazzulla desires his crew to be on the assault, a sensible mindset when you think about no crew within the NBA has gone back-to-back in championships for the reason that 2017/2018 Warriors.
“Persons are gonna say the goal is on our backs, however I hope it is proper on our brow in between our eyes,” Mazzulla stated.
The Celtics are favored to repeat as champions given they’re returning all the important thing gamers who helped them elevate the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. They signed Jayson Tatum to a contract extension, they already took care of an extension for Jrue Vacation earlier than the postseason started. Derrick White received an extension and so did Sam Hauser. There is not a weak spot on this crew, identical to there wasn’t one final season, and even with Jap Convention foes just like the 76ers and Knicks making main upgrades, a ticket to the NBA Finals nonetheless goes by Boston.
Going back-to-back will probably be troublesome, and the Celtics can wager that each crew will probably be out to get them. However with Mazzulla’s mindset, it would not sound like opposing groups can depend on Boston letting off the fuel or dropping sight of the purpose simply because the crew received all of it final season. The Celtics may have their first take a look at as quickly because the season begins on Oct. 22, as they will face off towards the Knicks proper after elevating their 18th banner inside TD Backyard and getting their championship rings.
