Joe Mazzulla's Viral Quote Captures Celtics' Mindset in Banner 19 Quest

Bobby Krivitsky | Sep 6, 2024

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla holds up the trophy as he celebrates after winning the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics are no stranger to being the hunted. While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown became NBA champions for the first time last season, their first sharing the floor in their primes, they've dominated the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade.

Tatum and Brown have led the Celtics to at least the Eastern Conference Finals in six of their first eight years together. That includes coming within two wins of lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2022.

While it's a familiar state to them, it helps to have a head coach who relishes the challenge that comes with an NBA title defense, a feat not done successfully since the Warriors did so in 2017-18 with the quartet of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.

"People are gonna say the target is on our back, but I hope it's right on our forehead in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot," Joe Mazzulla told host John Karalis on Locked On Celtics. 

Boston, who is returning 13 of 15 players on standard contracts with the franchise last season and could convert Lonnie Walker IV's Exhibit 10 deal to one to add him to the mix, also boasts the most talented top eight in the Association.

Furthermore, between Brown's Olympic snub, which he said is providing him with "all the motivation in the world," and Tatum getting benched multiple times in Paris, which he described as "challenging and humbling," the Celtics have ample ammunition as their upcoming title defense turns into a revenge tour.

Further Reading

Celtics Rookie Scheierman Following Path of Elite Quarterbacks

Byproduct of New CBA Threatens Jordan Walsh's Roster Spot with Celtics

Lonnie Walker IV Delivers Motivated Message about Joining Celtics

Jayson Tatum Shares Warning to Celtics at Championship Ring Fitting

Evaluating Oshae Brissett's Best Options in Free Agency

Top 5 Games on Celtics' 2024-25 Schedule

Brad Stevens Shares Encouraging Rehab Update on Kristaps Porzingis

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About 'Challenging and Humbling' Olympic Experience

Here's What to Know about Jaylen Brown's Boston XChange

Jayson Tatum Gets Candid about Relationship with Jaylen Brown

Al Horford, Raising Cane's, and a Region that Loves Him

On Derrick White and the Fuel for Unprecedented Journey to NBA's Best Role Player