The Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has received a request from an unidentified killjoy to cease attempting to obstruct the shots of his opponents.
Mazzulla said on Wednesday to Zolak & Bertrand of 98.5 The Sports Hub that he has been asked to cease his shot-blocking antics.
Mazzulla responded, “I’ve been told that I can’t do that anymore,” when asked if he anticipated blocking shots against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The head coach of Boston declined to say who advised him to halt when pressed.
The request was made after Mazzulla attempted to block Royce O’Neale, a forward with the Phoenix Suns, from making a jump shot last Thursday night during a timeout.
Mazzulla informed reporters following Boston’s commanding 127-112 victory against the visiting Suns that he did not want O’Neale to watch the ball go through the hoop because he had not yet made a basket.
Mazzulla said, “I saw a guy going in to try and get a shot” (via our very own Noa Dalzell). “I didn’t want him to feel good about himself by returning to the bench because he hadn’t made one. That’s a bench rule, and Gary (Washburn) asked me about it a month ago. Guys don’t take shots in front of our bench in order to feel good about themselves and return to their bench. The staff will participate in the contest if I ask the guys to.
Who doesn’t enjoy a little friendly rivalry these days?
That’s precisely the kind of insane behaviour that has won over a lot of Celtics supporters to the second-year manager.
It seems that someone isn’t a fan, but who is it?
Brad Stevens, was that him? How about Wyc Grousbeck? Perhaps NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who despises traditional uniforms?