Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla drops truth bomb on ‘desperate’ teams after blowout loss to Knicks

The Celtics displayed a lackluster performance against the Knicks, yet Joe Mazzulla isn’t quick to blame his team. Throughout the 2023-24 season, the Boston Celtics have dominated their opponents, making their recent display of mortal basketball quite surprising. In their recent loss to the New York Knicks, they suffered their second consecutive defeat, a rarity this season, with a final score of 118-109 that doesn’t accurately reflect the Knicks’ dominance.

The Knicks showcased a higher level of intensity, particularly in rebounding and scoring inside, highlighting the differing approaches of the two teams. Understandably, with the Celtics having secured homecourt advantage throughout the postseason, their focus on preserving key players and avoiding injuries may explain their recent decline in performance. However, Joe Mazzulla acknowledges the challenge posed by facing “desperate” teams like the Knicks and the Milwaukee Bucks, who are still fighting for playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.

Although the Celtics’ playoff position is secure, uncertainties remain, especially with the second seed still within reach, particularly with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury affecting the Bucks. This incentive fueled the Knicks’ determination to excel in their recent matchup against the Celtics.

While it’s reasonable for the Celtics to ease up during the remaining regular season games, the drop in their performance level, especially in the past two games, is disappointing, particularly for Mazzulla, who aims to lead the franchise to its 18th championship. Losing is inevitable in sports, even for a formidable team like the Celtics this season, and it’s more understandable as the regular season draws to a close. However, what concerned Mazzulla the most during their loss to the Knicks was the lack of effort, particularly in the first half.

Despite his concerns, Mazzulla remains optimistic, believing in the old adage that one can learn more from losing than winning. In his postgame press conference, he expressed dissatisfaction with the first-half effort but found some pride in the team’s late-game resurgence, especially from the reserves who reduced the deficit in the fourth quarter. Mazzulla commended their competitive spirit and sees it as a valuable learning opportunity for the team moving forward.