Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes he dodged a serious problem during the 2023 NBA playoffs. But JJ Redick made sure to issue Mazzulla a reality check.
Mazzulla was Redick’s guest on episode 176 of “The Old Man & the Three” podcast. The Celtics coach was asked about his opinion on the Milwaukee Bucks acquiring Damian Lillard.
Mazzulla responded by making a point about not knowing how events will actually fall into place. He used the example of his Celtics chasing the 1-seed in the East last season, only to lose out to the Bucks. The Bucks then ended up losing to the 8-seed Miami Heat. But as Redick hilariously reminded Mazzulla, so did the Celtics.
“You just don’t know. I think people don’t say that enough,” said Mazzulla. “What if we would’ve got the 1-seed and lost to the 8-seed? I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now. So like, thank you God for protecting us from the 1-seed.”
“Coach, I hate to tell you, but you did lose to the 8-seed,” Redick responded.
Joe Mazzulla : “What if we would’ve got the 1-seed and lost to the 8-seed? I probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
JJ Redick : “Coach, I hate to tell you, but you did lose to the 8-seed.” 😂
(Via @OldManAndThree ) pic.twitter.com/Udmxd3a3is
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BASKETBALLonX) October 6, 2023
While the Bucks did lose to the Heat in the first round, they did so with an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak missed two and a half games during the series as the Bucks lost to the Heat in 5.
The Celtics were nearly swept by the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and trailed 3-0 before pulling off three wins in a row. Jimmy Butler was also battling a worsening ankle injury from the previous round.
The Celtics did get further in the 2023 playoffs than the Bucks, but they both lost to the 8-seed all the same. The difference is, losing to an 8-seed as a 1-seed can cost a coach his job (as was the case for Mike Budenholzer), but oddly that doesn’t happen when you lose to the 8-seed as the 2-seed.
