JJ Redick reminds the Celtics coach of a harsh fact
With Joe Mazzu on the side
December 16, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla watches from the sidelines as they face the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. Mandatory credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes he has avoided major trouble in the 2023 NBA playoffs. But JJ Redick gave Mazzulla a reality check.
Mazzu was Redick’s guest on episode 176 of “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. The Celtics coach was asked for his opinion on the acquisition of Damian Lillard from the Milwaukee Bucks. Mazzulla replied that he did not know how events would actually unfold. He used the example of the Celtics chasing the 1 seed in the East last season but losing against the Bucks. The Bucks then lost to the eighth ranked Miami Heat. But since Redick hilariously remembered Mazzulla, so did the Celtics.
“You just don’t know. I don’t think people say that enough,” Mazzulla said. “What if we were a one seed and lost to an eight seed? I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. So I thank God for protecting us from one seed.
“Coach, I hate to break it to you, but you lost to an 8 seed,” Redick replied.
Although the Bucks lost to the Heat in the first round, they did so with an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek anomaly missed two and a half games during the series as the Bucks lost to the Heat by five.
The Celtics narrowly beat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, falling 3-0, before reeling off three straight wins. Jimmy Butler was also battling a sprained ankle from the previous round.
The Celtics got past the Bucks in the 2023 playoffs, but both lost by 8.
Leave a Reply