NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HEAT VS. CELTICS

May 19, 2023

Joe Mazzulla

Boston Celtics

Game 2: Pregame

Q. Joe, Spo was talking the other day about some of the high-profile coaches in the league being let go, some of the more successful coaches in the league getting let go, like Doc, like Monty. He just thought it was a terrible thing. What's your reaction to that and how have you kind of got adjusted to that pressure and expectation of being in that head seat?

JOE MAZZULLA: Just perspective. It's understanding that regardless of who you are, [some] things are in your control, some things aren't. At the end of the day, as coaches we are all doing the best we can, and that's it. When it's your time, it's your time.

Q. And I guess kind of your view of the leadership of that position, the accountability of that position, do you put things on you when you guys come up short? Is it kind of a collective responsibility? How do you look at that?

JOE MAZZULLA: I mean, I think it starts with us. So you know, like you said, we're the leaders. We're out in the front and it's our job to set the temperature, set the tone. When it doesn't go well, that's what we are held accountable to. We are not the only job where that's the case, and so that's just how the world works. It is what it is.

Q. Rob yesterday was talking about the film session. He said that guys were shown a lot of hurtful things. What was the tone of that film session, considering the mistakes that were made, and how do you think guys are reacting?

JOE MAZZULLA: He said they were shown hurtful things?

Q. The stuff they saw on the video was hurtful, I guess because of the mistakes that they were making.

JOE MAZZULLA: Yeah.

Q. The tone of that film session, how would you characterize it and how do you think guys are going to respond?

JOE MAZZULLA: This is a strong locker room. So they stick together. They hold each other accountable. They always respond. I have full faith and trust that they will. The film session was just a collaboration of us with each other, just being honest about what we thought about certain points of the game and where we need to be better.

Q. Jimmy takes a lot of shots in different areas of the court. He likes to attack baseline and he likes to pull up like right around the paint. How much of a challenge is it to jump from a series where you're going up against James Harden, a lot of threes and layups, to somebody who likes to operate in different parts of the court?

JOE MAZZULLA: Each series presents different challenges. Each team, you kind of get into a rhythm of how you're guarding a certain team or certain players. This team plays much different than our last series. That's just something that we have to adjust to, have to be ready for. Get a quick feel on that and just continue to execute the game plan.

Q. You talk about the human element and human factor with these guys. How vocal are you before a game, halftime? How have you judged that and how have you learned as you've gone along in the season?

JOE MAZZULLA: Yeah, that's part of the job, is understanding the temperature of the team and what they need at a certain time and trying to be that for the guys. At the same time, giving them the space and opportunity to do it for each other.

I think it just depends how the season is going, how the game is going, how certain stretches are going. The most important question you have to ask yourself as a coach is what does the team need in this situation?

Q. Malcolm was added to the injury report yesterday. Is he available tonight?

JOE MAZZULLA: I believe so.

Q. And same starting five?

JOE MAZZULLA: Yes.