Joe Mazzulla says Celtics need time to heal in wake of Udoka ban / News - Basketnews.com

Boston's turbulent off-season will be faced by interim head coach Joe Mazzulla and the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

The Boston Celtics were supposed to enter the pre-season as one of the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference on the heels of their surprise run to the NBA Finals under rookie head coach Ime Udoka.

That was before Udoka was suspended for the upcoming season after a months-long investigation by an external law firm that found multiple violations of team policies for what sources told The Associated Press involve an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization.

The task of holding together the team and capitalizing on Boston's championship window has fallen to interim coach Joe Mazzulla, a 34-year-old assistant who was a candidate to land the Utah Jazz's coaching job.

He's had barely 72 hours to balance both learning of Udoka's suspension and being handed a dream opportunity, but Mazzulla said he will take his time giving people time to "feel and heal" as the team prepares to open training camp on Tuesday.

"You can't rush trust. You can't rush healing. You can't rush any of that," he said to a packed room at Celtics media day. "Regardless of what has happened, we have a great roster and we have a great opportunity. That's what I have to focus on."

Mazzulla has been a Celtics assistant for two seasons. His only head coaching experience was a two-year stint from 2017-19 at Division II Fairmont State in West Virginia.

He will take charge of a Celtics roster that features only one player, 36-year-old Al Horford, his senior. Free-agent acquisition Danillo Gallinari is the next closest in age — five weeks younger than Mazzulla.

None of the players who addressed the media had spoken with Udoka since his suspension was announced.

While they understand the privacy constraints that team officials are under, veteran Marcus Smart summed up the past handful of days in five words: "It's been hell for us."

Jaylen Brown said he's trying to remain optimistic as he digests everything.

"I believe in Joe. Joe believes in me. I've had conversations with him. I don't think he sees a limit," he said. "I think he's coming in excited. So I'm optimistic."

Mazzulla said his plan is to build on the foundation and culture already established and not try to shake things up too much.

For now, Mazzulla said he will look to foster a spirit of collaboration.

"I think we have to do this together," he said. "I don't think we need to speed up decisions or speed up identity. I think we have to be patient. We have to rely on the foundations that we built as far as relationships. And the foundations and habits that we built on the basketball court because they're successful."

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