How will Mazzulla keep C’s motivated? Forsberg and Giles argue originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
As the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics can expect to have a target on their back during the 2024-25 season. The hunters will become the hunted after finally bringing the elusive Banner 18 to TD Garden.
Joe Mazzulla does not concern about being targeted. In fact, he looks forward to it.
“People will say the target is on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead between our eyes,” the C’s coach said on a recent episode of the Locked On Celtics a podcast. “I hope I can see the red dot.”
Mazzulla is unsurprisingly motivated going into the new campaign, but how will he keep his players from settling for the pursuit of a repeat? Chris Forsberg and Tom Giles discussed in a new episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast.
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“I’m not worried about complacency with these Celtics,” Forsberg said. “Because I know the coach probably the day after he got off that duck boat was sitting there telling them, ‘This is what we’re going to do next year. This is how we’re going to continue this.’ I don’t get nervous about this team and the idea of going down on day one.”
Giles agrees that the Celtics will not let their foot off the gas.
“Joe Mazzulla will not allow that,” he said. “That’s why I think he’s the perfect coach this season. I mean, the intensity with the description of the target on their back, just how he spun that, just kind of tells you a lot about Joe Mazzulla in General Li talked about it at times last year, just how they’re trying to find the game in the game, and he’ll continue to do that through training camp, through the regular season.
“I’m not worried about that. I think he’s the perfect guy for them because he’s so competitive and so hyper-focused.”
USA Basketball has added another chip to the shoulders of Celtics stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Brown was left out of Team USA’s roster and Tatum was benched for two of the six games, including the semifinal against Serbia.
“If there was an opportunity for Tatum and Brown to get some content,” Forsberg said. “To be like, ‘Hey, we finally got this trophy, we proved we’re elite players.’ And Team USA in particular was like, ‘Wait, just in case you need a little more fuel in a new season.
“And if I’m the rest of the league, I’m like, ‘Man, why are we giving this team more motivation?’
Also in the episode:
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How many games will the Celtics win this season?
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Who is the biggest threat in the Eastern Conference?
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What do you want Jaylen Brown to improve on this year?
