Joe Mazzulla’s reaction to being named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March was unexpected. After being congratulated for the honor, the Boston Celtics’ head coach responded, “It’s the dumbest thing ever,” as tweeted by Justin Turpin.
Despite his lighthearted dismissal, Mazzulla’s leadership helped guide the Celtics to an incredible 14-1 record in March, including a perfect 8-0 mark on the road. The Celtics’ dominance during the month, capped off by Mazzulla’s recognition, was historic.
This latest Coach of the Month title is Mazzulla’s fourth, putting him past former head coach Brad Stevens into second place on the Celtics’ all-time list. He now sits just two wins shy of Doc Rivers’ franchise record.
March wasn’t just another successful month for the Celtics under Mazzulla. It was filled with historic milestones, including the franchise’s first 6-0 road trip. Boston’s six consecutive road wins came with dominating double-digit victories over Utah, Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Memphis.
Mazzulla’s squad didn’t just win; they obliterated their opponents. The Celtics outscored their road foes by an astonishing 121 points, the ninth-largest margin of victory for any team in NBA history during a single month. These feats helped the Celtics tie a franchise record for the most consecutive road wins by at least 10 points.
Boston’s stellar play didn’t just happen on the road. The team started the month with a series of home victories, including wins over Denver, Portland, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Lakers, and Utah. The Celtics’ only slip-up in March came on March 12, when they were narrowly defeated by the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-112, at home.
After that loss, the Celtics responded with nine straight victories, including impressive wins against Miami, Brooklyn, and the six teams on their historic road trip. These accomplishments helped Mazzulla secure the Coach of the Month award for the second consecutive year, having also won the honor in March 2024.
