Shams Charania Takes Temperature of the League on Joe Mazzulla

The senior NBA insider recently shed light on how some around the NBA view the Boston Celtics' second-year head coach.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

In a recent appearance on Jones & Mego with Arcand on WEEI, senior NBA Insider Shams Charania recently talked about the league's perspective on Joe Mazzulla.

Mazzulla, who has hit the ground running since getting thrown into the fire last season, is closing in on win no. 100 as coach of the Boston Celtics. In his second season as the C's head coach, the Johnston, Rhode Island native has guided them to an NBA-leading 42-12 record. They're four games ahead of the second-best team in the Association, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After taking the temperature of how some around the NBA view Mazzulla, Charania shared, "Around the league, he has been known as someone who has obviously paid the dues [and] has been working and grinding at it for several years now. I haven't heard much other than the hardworkingness."

The second-year bench boss is placing more of his imprint on this iteration of the Celtics, including instructing them to crash the glass more, especially from the corners, to create more possessions. It's a prime example of how he's helping his team win on the margins.

It also captures that Mazzulla maximized his first full summer of preparation, an offseason in which he also took full advantage of his first chance to select his own coaching staff. In adding individuals like Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, he's assembled one of the best staffs in the Association.

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