Boston coach is Celtics' cup of Joe

Eastern Conference champs have bought into Mazzulla's 'weird energy'

- KYLE HIGHTOWER

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla went viral after he sprinted to contest an opponent's practice basket heading into a timeout.

BOSTON When Boston Celtics guard Derrick White stood in the corner behind the three-point line late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final as teammate Jaylen Brown drove into the lane, drew defenders and flipped a pass toward him, White felt prepared for the moment. That's because Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had simulated scenarios just like it throughout the season.

"It starts in practice with them championship stations that Joe loves to do," White said. "It starts there and then (we) just continue to trust one another." White trusted Brown would make the correct basketball play, and it ended with White connecting on a tiebreaking three that ultimately secured Boston's place in the NBA Finals and a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

The play may also be a perfect example of how, in his second year as coach, Mazzulla has managed to help the Celtics recover from the disappointment of a season that ended on the cusp of the Finals a year ago. He has them four wins away from capturing the franchise's 18th championship.