Many people doubt that the Boston Celtics can compete this season because star forward Jayson Tatum will miss games due to an Achilles injury. However, head coach Joe Mazzulla isn’t paying attention to the noise.
“If I ever get to the point where I’m basing my motivation off the expectations of others and people I haven’t met before, I’ll retire. Quit,” Mazzulla said Monday, via WEEI’s Justin Turpin.
The Celtics aren’t just missing Tatum this season; they’ve also lost a handful of impactful players this summer.
Boston traded guard Jrue Holiday and forward Kristaps Porzingis, and allowed centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet to leave in free agency.
Although the Celtics are missing several of their top players, the roster still has enough talent to compete and win.
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Boston has one of the best guards in the NBA, Jaylen Brown, who has been a four-time All-Star and is capable of being the No. 1 player on several teams.
Just because the Celtics will look quite different this season doesn’t mean they can’t find ways to win important games. Boston may face a slightly challenging start to the season as the players adjust to new rotations, but Mazzulla is the right coach to help everyone learn to play together effectively.
Featured image via David Butler II/Imagn Images
