Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Mazzulla Kept the Main Goal in Perspective at Celtics Practice on Monday
Just a week ago, the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the NBA's first In-Season Tournament by the Indiana Pacers. On Saturday night, Indiana was defeated by the Celtics' archrival, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the championship game.
Monday, Joe Mazzulla got asked if there were any motivating factors for Boston after the outcome of the last week. The C's bench boss cut the question short.
"Well, that was my whole point in the beginning was like, if we're gonna use all our emotional energy to do this one thing and we still have 61 games left, what's gonna be our motivation after that?"
Mazzulla preached that every game should be viewed with ultimate significance.
"And so, are we frustrated that we didn't get a chance to win a championship? Yes, but do we have to see that things that go into winning a championship are the things that go into winning on a Monday night in the middle of January when no one really wants to play?"
In his second season at the helm, experience has fared Mazzulla well. He acknowledges the standard the Celtics need to hold themselves to in order to finally capture their 18th banner. Every day and matchup hold the utmost importance, and Boston needs to embed itself with the mindset of perfection in order to maintain the best habits on their path towards a championship.
"And so, like, we're really fighting for that mindset, and that identity is, 'can things be important all the time,'" Mazzulla said. "But yeah, pissed off that you don't get a chance to win at it, but we have to fight for that mindset all the time."
The Celtics will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night for the start of a two-game set at TD Garden.
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