Joe Mazzulla on Motivation Fueling Celtics' 20-0 Home Record: 'Build a Connection and Identity with the City'

The Boston Celtics are an NBA-leading 32-9 and have set a franchise record for their best home start to a season.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday, the Boston Celtics took a 117-98 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. This season, the Celtics are 20-0 in home games. The 1985-86 Celtics hold the NBA record for most home wins in a season.

Per Inside The Celtics, when asked about the 1985-86 Celtics' 40-1 record, Joe Mazzulla expressed that he isn't focused on the breaking the figure. The head coach stated that his goal is to build a connection with the city of Boston.

“The goal has been to build a connection and identity with the city and with the team, to where they give us this lift and this level of this support that they have when we play a certain type of way, Celtics basketball. We’ve done that for the first 20 games at home. That’s been the goal.”

Mazzulla further explained that chasing records can become unhealthy.

“When you play for the Celtics, there’s a ton of records, traditions, great players. If you chase them all, you’re bound to let yourself down… I think it’s more about living in that space of what Celtics basketball is all about and playing the best we can for as long as we can.”

Boston's next game is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 19, against the Denver Nuggets at TD Garden; tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. EST. 

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