Celtics' Jayson Tatum credits offseason coaching hires for Joe Mazzulla's growth

Joe Mazzulla's career as an NBA head coach began under difficult circumstances. 

He was thrust into the limelight with the 2022-23 season just days away. He was tasked with building on the work of Ime Udoka, who was suspended and eventually released for breaching organizational policy. 

Worst of all, Mazzulla was leading a coaching staff that his predecessor had constructed.

This past summer, Mazzulla rebuilt his coaching team. In came Sam Cassell and Charles Lee. Former Celtics guard Phil Pressey also joined the ranks. 

According to Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who was speaking to Robby Kalland of Dime Uproxx, rebuilding the coaching staff has allowed Mazzulla to flourish. 

“Getting that year under his belt, I think it was big,” Tatum said. “He got a whole offseason to prepare, he got the coaching staff and hired some guys that best fit him and the style he wanted to coach. And I think you’ve just seen him relax a lot more and he’s a lot more sure of himself and a lot more comfortable in his position as the head coach, and he’s taking responsibility.”

Mazzulla still has one of the toughest jobs in basketball. He has five players that are capable of being primary options on an NBA team. Yet, he's got them all pulling in the same direction. Everyone on the Boston roster is sacrificing. There's one goal, which is to win a championship.

Then, there's the constant media pressure that comes with being in Boston. The city expects success. Nothing other than a championship is celebrated. 

Mazzulla is learning to navigate that pressure while also sticking to his preferred offensive and defensive systems. That means the Celtics take a significant amount of threes. In fact, they're first in attempted threes per game and made threes per game. 

Boston currently sits at the top of the Eastern Conference. They have the best record in the league. Mazzulla is winning over his harshest critics. His coaching staff has empowered him to embrace his role as the Celtics head coach. 

Nevertheless, questions will continue to be asked of Mazzulla until he guides his team to a championship. 

Celtics fans will be hoping that happens later this year.