Inside The Celtics

Joe Mazzulla Earns Third Coach of the Month Award

Bobby Krivitsky

Mar 20, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla directs his players.
Mar 20, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla directs his players. / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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For the third time, Joe Mazzulla has earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors. That ties Brad Stevens for the second-most in Boston Celtics' history. Doc Rivers has received this recognition a franchise-best six times.

Ime Udoka, who steered the Houston Rockets to a 13-2 record in March, won Western Conference Coach of the Month. Houston's now 38-36 and two back of the Golden State Warriors for the final spot in the Western Conference's play-in tournament.

On the heels of getting named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month in December, Mazzulla voiced, "I wish they would change it to Staff of the Month because I'm not doing it by myself."

The league should take the advice of Boston's bench boss on this matter.

Nonetheless, the Johnston, Rhode Island native helped guide his team to a 12-4 record in March while the Celtics routinely rested starters and spent six straight games away from TD Garden, their longest road trip this season. The C's went 4-2 in that stretch.

Mazzulla has helped Boston adhere to and make good on its "Win the day" mantra this season after they paid the price for often looking ahead last year.

The Celtics have benefited significantly from staying present, including in the win column, building an NBA-leading 59-16 record. If they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at TD Garden, where they've won ten straight games by an average of 24.3 points, they'll clinch the best record in the league.

Further Reading

Celtics Dialed in Defensively in Double-Digit Win Over Pelicans

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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