Home NBA Interim HC Joe Mazzulla not surprised by Celtics’ hot start this season

Interim HC Joe Mazzulla not surprised by Celtics’ hot start this season

The Boston Celtics’ scorching run to start this 2022-2023 season comes in with no surprise for interim coach Joe Mazzulla.

Mazzulla noted that more than his coaching, the Cs’ type of play stands superb and is the primary reason for their sizzling beginnings.

“No,” Mazzulla said Saturday when asked whether he was surprised with the Celtics’ strong start, per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss. “They’re good players and good people. They’re better at playing than I am coaching, so I’m not surprised.”

Despite coming off a splendid emergence and an NBA Finals run last season, assumptions have swirled that Boston might struggle with Ime Udoka being barred by a year-long suspension for breaking team rules, as Mazzulla was just lately tapped by top executive Brad Stevens to call the shots with few weeks remaining to start the new season.

It turned out that the ball club has defied the odds and expectations. The Celtics have etched a 10-3 record to begin things out, now currently sitting in the second place of the Eastern standings behind conference rival Milwaukee Bucks. On those wins, they topped several contenders in the likes of the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Miami Heat

Behind their top-rated offensive rating (119.4) which ranks first in the league by a wide margin is Jayson Tatum’s blazing displays. The superstar forward is currently averaging 32.3 points in 50 percent shooting to go with 7.2 boards and 4.1 assists in 37.5 minutes of play, making a solid statement for a potential MVP-calibre season.

Mazzulla and the Celtics will seek to stretch their winning ways as they face the OKC Thunder on Monday.

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