Celtics ‘sicko’ coach Joe Mazzulla one game away from proving critics wrong
NY Post
DALLAS — The difference between weirdo and genius is winning.
Joe Mazzulla, after enduring a firestorm of criticism, is now experiencing the positive part — the praise of his basketball acumen as the 35-year-old sits one win away from breaking Bill Russell’s record as the youngest coach ever to win an NBA title.
Think about that turnaround for a second. Only a year ago, Bostonians wanted him fired. He was their interim coach at first following the shock suspension of Ime Udoka, who engaged in “an intimate relationship with a female staff member,” according to ESPN. Udoka was popular among the players. He brought a defense-first identity that carried the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals.
So when Mazzulla’s Celtics bombed in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat, the vultures quickly circled. It must’ve been Mazzulla’s fault, right? The players didn’t change, just the coach. The blame went straight to the sideline to the easy target, Mazzulla, who was an unpolished public speaker with a cold demeanor and looked, from a distance, unapproachable.
How could the players connect with a coach like that?
If suspending Udoka was the right thing for protecting the organization, it was the bad move for basketball.
Clay Holmes is trusting that Mets officials have a grand plan this offseason that will explain the roster’s makeover.
Danny Wolf is as honored with his Jewish Joker nickname — a nod to Nikola Jokic — as he is amused by Draymond Green’s profane reaction to it.
The Jets are taking a chance on another quarterback, signing former college star Hendon Hooker to the practice squad Thursday.
Chris Harris is grateful for his promotion from defensive backs coach to interim defensive coordinator for the Jets for the final three games of the season, following the firing earlier this week of veteran coach Steve Wilks.
The Chiefs have an optimistic outlook on Patrick Mahomes’ 2026 prospects.
It wasn’t a losing fight for the Yankees. Rather, it wasn’t a fight at all.
This was the finest hour of Mike Brown’s young Knicks tenure.
Ben Sauls, come on down!
Could Michael Porter Jr. go from salary dump to All-Star?
So, the most recent team to beat the Giants pointed out vulnerabilities in Jaxson Dart in the days leading up to the game?
The Kids are coming to St. Louis.
Two members of the Mets starting rotation are set to represent the USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The Knicks won’t be raising a banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden to commemorate their victory in the 2025 NBA Cup, and you can count your humble narrator among the faction that wishes they’d chosen differently. I’m not quite sure when it became mandatory to rinse as much fun out of sports as possible, but we’re sure trying.