Since taking the head coaching job with the Boston Celtics, Joe Mazzula has been willing to offer his unfiltered thoughts.
During a recent appearance on Boston radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub, the feisty coach shared his latest thoughts. If Mazzulla had his way, the NBA would introduce a rule that would allow fighting during games.
The NBA championship-winning coach cited the sport's entertainment value when he expressed his hope for the game to be more active in the league.
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October 26, 2024. Detroit, Michigan, USA. Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula leaves the court after defeating the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. (David Rezinek Imagine Images)
“I think the biggest thing we take money away from people from an entertainment standpoint is they can't fight anymore,” Mazzula said. “I wish they could bring back the fighting.”
He argued that “a little brawl” is one of the most entertaining elements of any game.
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“I mean, we're not talking about taking away the entertainment league. What's more fun than a little brawl?”
The 36-year-old coach added that the power play, which effectively gives a temporary advantage in the number of players on the court, should be on the NBA table.
“So basketball is one of the only sports that doesn't have a power play,” Mazzulla said.
“I think in soccer, you just give a 'blue card' to a player where he has to be sent off. It's 10-9. I think we should play the power play. Let's say, or let's say you get a take foul,'' and you get one shot, but if you miss it, you don't get paid for that take foul, so you don't actually get paid. So you need something like a take foul or a power play on. If it's technical, you have to play 5-on-4 for 5 seconds or make 3 passes. ”
October 28, 2024. Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula reacts during the first half of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford Images)
In June, Mazzula became the youngest coach to win an NBA title. He was 35 when the Celtics won their league-record 18th championship.
This isn't the first time Mazzula has drawn attention to his tenacity in pushing for a league-sanctioned fight. During a Celtics-Suns game in March, Mazzula attempted to block a shot from an opposing team player.
In the fourth quarter of the game in question, Celtics star Jaylen Brown intercepted a pass, sprinted the other way and pulled off an impressive dunk. The turnover resulted in a timeout, and Suns forward Royce O'Neal attempted a shot shortly after the whistle.
Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzula makes a point during the first half of the basketball team's Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Players often casually throw shots they know won't count after the referee blows the whistle, and coaches usually don't challenge that.
Mazzulla tried to rush and block O'Neal's 3-point shot, but it ended up hitting the rim and bouncing off.
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Mazzula explained his actions in the post-match press conference.
“I saw a player go in to take a shot and he didn't make it. And I didn't want him to feel good about going to the bench,” Mazzula said. “(Boston Globe reporter) Gary (Washburn) asked me about that a month ago. That's the bench rule. Players go back to the bench to feel good about themselves. I'm not going to shoot in front of the bench just for the sake of it.''I'm going to ask the players to contest, but the staff has to do the same. ”
The Celtics are off to a 4-0 start this season. The Indiana Pacers will host Boston on October 30th.
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