From the team to the Celtics' Fan Base, Joe Mazzulla Guards Against Having a Sense of Entitlement

After having to dig out of a 17-point deficit against the Pelicans, Joe Mazzulla welcomes more opportunities for the Celtics to prove themselves in adverse situations like the one they overcame on Tuesday.

On Monday, the Boston Celtics picked up a 118-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. During the second quarter, the Celtics scored 25 points and held New Orleans to 24 points.

Boston entered halftime with a 10-point deficit. Per Inside The Celtics, Joe Mazzulla believes holding his team to a standard of perfection can be harmful.

“It feels like there's such an entitlement where we’re supposed to play amazing basketball every quarter, every game.… this expectation that it’s supposed to go a certain way all the time can be extremely unhealthy.”

Mazzulla said that Boston’s second quarter performance shifted momentum favorably.

“I thought the momentum changed for us in the second quarter, with how we started to defend and gave up a 24 point quarter. I loved the process of the shots that we got in the second quarter, and we can’t be defined by a result. We’re only going to feel good about ourselves when the ball is going in and that’s a recipe for short term success. I thought that was the issue in the second quarter, but I thought we played great.”

Boston's next game is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30, against the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden; tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. EST. 

Further Reading

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Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Top Heat in One of Their Best Performances This Season

Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'