Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla recently reflected on the team’s 2024 playoff run, highlighting the Indiana series as the most challenging.
Mazzulla shared his thoughts, saying, “That Indiana series was by far the toughest series,” despite the Celtics sweeping the Pacers in four games, as reported by John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal.
The Celtics finished the regular season with a 64-18 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Mazzulla emphasized that the series against Indiana was more difficult than it appeared, explaining, “It should have gone seven,” due to the unpredictability of the games.
Mazzulla pointed to key moments, including a near-miss on a late 3-pointer by Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith, which could have sent a game into overtime. He acknowledged that factors outside of their control played a significant role in the series’ outcome, making it feel closer than the 4-0 result indicated.
Boston’s road to the Finals saw them dispatch the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers in five games each, before sweeping the Pacers.
The Celtics eventually went on to face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, marking their second appearance in three years.
The Celtics’ playoff run culminated in an NBA Championship, their first since 2008, after defeating the Mavericks in five games.
