The current meltdown the Boston Celtics are experiencing during the 2023 postseason — mainly the domination at the hands of the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals — is a seemingly glaring indictment of the job Joe Mazzulla is doing as full-time head coach after beginning the season as an interim emergency fill-in.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix isn’t seeing the imminent elimination Boston is facing as the nail in the coffin for Mazzulla’s coaching tenure, however. Instead, Mannix sees Mazzulla’s close relationship with Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens as a reason why the West Virginia star’s coaching tenure is safe.