Joe Mazzulla spent a yr working alongside Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka two seasons in the past.
Mazzulla, then an assistant, watched Udoka information Boston to its first NBA Finals look in 13 years. Shortly after, in fact, Udoka’s inappropriate relationships scandal sparked the top of his time with the C’s and opened the door for Mazzulla’s takeover. However despite the fact that the cut up was ugly, Mazzulla admits he realized a factor or two from the present Houston Rockets head coach.
“Once you’re capable of work for a man who’s been within the league so lengthy, you are capable of perceive the ebb and circulate of a season,” Mazzulla advised reporters after Boston’s win Friday evening towards Houston, based on CLNS. Media. “I feel the way in which he dealt with the NBA locker room, the way in which he dealt with an NBA season, there have been issues he had a expertise for as a result of he performed and he coached. So you may simply study from it.
Mazzulla’s Celtics bought the higher of Udoka’s Rockets and rapidly turned a aggressive first half right into a lopsided sport 109-86. Boston’s protection held Houston to 30 factors within the second half and 10 of 36 3-pointers the complete sport. This evening reminded the Western Convention’s worst group in 3-point taking pictures — and second-to-last within the NBA — how far aside the 2 groups presently are.
Udoka, earlier than the sport, provided the Celtics phrases of congratulations following their 2024 championship. The third-year head coach is in a a lot completely different state of affairs however continues to make progress with the Rockets, main his younger core to guide the league in rebounds (48.9) and offensive rebounds (14.2) – preserving Boston within the rearview mirror.
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“Glad for them, for positive and never stunned,” Udoka advised reporters, based on Souichi Terada of MassLive. “It was nonetheless taking place and so I took the steps that they took earlier than I bought there after which the yr I used to be there, clearly, with no success that yr. I do know it stored everybody coming again and it motivated me to do it as soon as I bought there. I am extraordinarily excited for them and I am not stunned by the soar they’ve made.
