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West Virginia University alum, Celtics HC Mazzulla getting closer to title

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla watches from the bench during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

MORGANTOWN — Just seconds earlier Derrick White’s 3-point shot had swished the net, and the Boston Celtics had completed one of the most difficult sweeps in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals for the second season in three years.

The Indiana Pacers had extended the Celtics as far as any team can be extending while winning four in a row, but now the celebration was getting underway on the court. Players hugging players, fans cheering and hugging each other.

Jaylen Brown having had an MVP performance in the final minutes with an incredible shot block and the pass that set up the winning basket; White had shaken off what was a 1-for-8 night from 3-point range prior to the winning basket, and the defense had shut the Pacers out over nearly the final four minutes to secure the victory.

As players sought out each other, their coach Joe Mazzulla was delaying his entry out onto the floor as he scanned the seats.

“For me, it was finding my wife first,’ Mazzulla said in his post-game press conference. “I wanted to make sure I had that moment with her.”

Family first, for the one-time West Virginia point guard who at 35 stands at the doorway of an NBA championship, much to the surprise of so many. Driven by an eternal flame that burned inside him to fuel his competitive nature, armed with the offensive basketball wisdom imparted upon him by playing for John Beilein and the fury and defensive beliefs he inherited from Bob Huggins, Mazzulla had stunned the basketball world by his ascension to prominence.

He and his wife, Camai, had paid their dues along the way and now were ready to enjoy the moment.

Born to coach, Mazzulla had directed himself down that road which led not only WVU but Fairmont State to the big time. Many doubted someone with such scant credentials and without a headline name could do what he’s done. He got the job as an interim, proved he was capable while being second guessed as only someone who is following the likes of Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn. K.C. Jones, Doc Rivers and Brad Steven as coach in Boston.

Coaching in the NBA may be the most difficult coaching assignment there is. The league is littered with coaching victims who couldn’t get along with temperamental superstars, but Mazzulla is the antithesis to that.

In a players league he is a players coach.

“One of the best gifts I have – and it’s why I got into coaching – is my ability to make relationships with guys,” he admitted after the game. “When I left college for the NBA, most people were hesitant about that because NBA guys get a bad rap about not being able to build relationships.

“But I felt like there’s a lot there. Just getting to know people, their families and what makes them tick and the things they love off the court … and then finding guys who are passionate about getting better as people and players. Jaylen is just one of those players. From the first day I’ve been here, he’s been more open minded toward his growing as a basketball player and you see what he’s done in the community

“I value the time I get to spend with him on and off the court. He just keeps getting better and better, and I’m happy for him.”

It’s that way with the entire team. Two years ago, they weren’t quite ready to win the championship and there was criticism of Mazzulla, but he put his head down and went forward, following his instincts and believing in his players.

“You get to know these guys as people, and you get to see how much they really care about doing anything and everything it takes to win. You see how it impacts them and their families. To see them be normal and open and have that sense of joy …. that’s kind of why we do what we do,” Mazzulla said.

There were critical moments a year ago when the Celtics let things get out of hand and the coaching staff addressed that. Practices include working at “championship stations” around the floor where they work on things that often can be overlooked yet win titles.

“It’s details, things you can’t take for granted; sometimes as small as getting the ball in bounds. It’s little things we see on a nightly basis that can impact winning and affect losing. We just practice them over and over and over again until they become second nature,” Mazzulla said.

It seemed in the Pacers series that no matter what the Celtics needed to do at critical moments they could get it done.

“The guys did a great job of understanding that a game is not supposed to go a certain type of way. You have to find different ways to win,” Mazzulla said.

“You have to learn to protect leads. You have to come back if you are behind. You have to learn to execute in close game situations. You have to communicate adjustments and you have to make plays, be tough minded.

“As many situations as we can put ourselves into heading into the Finals is important. The guys have done a good job of winning games in many different ways.”

And, the players are appreciative of what Mazzulla and his staff have done.

“The coaching staff has been unreal,” Derrick White said after making the winning shot. “Always pushing me, always there for me, always supporting me, ups and downs, they always believed in me. I love them. It really starts with them.”

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